Design, Supply, Installation and Commissioning of Automated Welding and Precision Metal Fabrication Equipment

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

This procurement seeks the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of automated welding and precision metal fabrication equipment. The estimated value for the goods contracts is €550,000 (excluding VAT) over the contract term and any possible extensions. Tenderers can bid for one or multiple of the three lots.

The scope of work is divided into three distinct lots:

• Lot 1 – Turnkey Robotic Welding Cell: This lot requires a complete robotic welding cell solution.
• Lot 2 – Turnkey CNC Fibre Laser Cutting Machine: This lot requires a CNC-controlled fibre laser cutting machine.
• Lot 3 – 2 x Multi-Functional Handheld Fibre Laser System Equipped with an Integrated Wire Feeder: This lot requires two handheld fibre laser systems, each featuring an integrated wire feeder for multi-functional capabilities.

The equipment is primarily intended for use at Kerry ETB’s Kerry College. Specific technical requirements and specifications for each lot are detailed in Appendix 1 of the tender documents. Compliance with relevant industry standards, including ISO 9013 for angularity performance, EN 12254 for safety windows, BS EN 60825-1 for laser product safety, BS EN ISO 11553-1/2 for laser processing machine safety, and EN 207 for welding helmets, is mandated.

The contract will be awarded under an open procedure. Tenderers must submit a compliant tender that addresses all requirements outlined in the Request for Tender (RFT). The successful tenderer will be responsible for the full lifecycle of the equipment, from design and supply through to installation and commissioning.

3. Background & buyer context

Kerry Education and Training Board (ETB) is procuring automated welding and precision metal fabrication equipment to enhance its educational and training capabilities at Kerry College. This procurement aligns with the ETB's objective to provide advanced manufacturing training. The initiative aims to equip students and trainees with skills relevant to modern industrial practices. The tender is conducted under an open procedure, inviting economic operators to compete for the supply of these specialized goods. The estimated value of the procurement is €550,000 (excluding VAT). The contracting authority seeks to encourage participation by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), suggesting a strategic aim to foster local business engagement and skill development within the region.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet specific criteria to be considered compliant and eligible for evaluation. These criteria are assessed through the European Single Procurement Document (eESPD) and supporting documentation.

• Economic and Financial Standing: Tenderers must declare via eESPD that they satisfy the financial and economic standing requirements for each lot applied for. Supporting documentation must be provided upon request.
• Insurance: The successful tenderer must hold specific insurances for the term of the Goods Contract:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Product Liability: €6.5 million
• Professional Indemnity: Not Applicable Tenderers confirm by signing the Tenderer's Statement that they will obtain and hold these insurances, that their territorial limits include Ireland, and that they are not aware of any exclusions that would materially impact coverage.
• Certifications: While not explicitly listed as mandatory selection criteria in the provided extract, compliance with standards such as ISO 9013, EN 12254, BS EN 60825-1, BS EN ISO 11553-1/2, and EN 207 is required for the equipment specifications.
• Past Experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / Facility Constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers must also declare via eESPD that no mandatory grounds for exclusion apply, or if they do, that sufficient measures are in place to demonstrate reliability. Reliance on the capacity of other entities (subcontractors) requires those entities to also submit a separate eESPD and provide proof of resource availability.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The evaluation of tenders will be conducted in accordance with the Award Criteria outlined in Part 3.3 of the RFT. Tenderers must achieve a minimum of 50% on all Award Criteria. The specific weighting and sub-criteria for scoring are not detailed in the provided extract, but the overall approach will determine the most economically advantageous tender. The RFT states that the Contracting Authority does not bind itself to accept the lowest priced or any tender.

The split between price and quality (MEAT) is not explicitly stated in the provided text.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the eTenders platform (www.etenders.gov.ie). Late tenders will not be considered. Tenders must be in English.

The submission must include:

• Electronic Single Procurement Document (eESPD): Completed and submitted electronically. If previously used, confirmation of accuracy and continued satisfaction of selection criteria is required.
• Tenderer’s Statement: A scanned, signed copy on the tenderer's letterhead, accepting RFT requirements. Signatures must be legible.
• Pricing Schedule: Completed as per Appendix 2. Prices must be all-inclusive (excluding VAT), quoted in Euro, and remain valid for six months from the tender deadline.
• Other Documentation: All documentation required by the RFT must be submitted.
• Format: Tenders should be uploaded as a ZIP file. Files must be readable using Word, Excel, or PDF reader. There is a file size limit of 250MB per file and a total limit of 2GB.
• Declarations: Declarations regarding personal circumstances (Appendix 4) and any registrable interests must be provided.
• Mandatory Site Visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission Portal: www.etenders.gov.ie. Tenderers must associate their company with the competition on the platform before submitting.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The Goods Contract terms are detailed in Appendix 5. Key aspects include:

• Term: The contract term is to be inserted, with a reservation for extension periods up to a maximum number of extensions on the same terms, subject to legal obligations.
• Payment Terms: Payments will be made in accordance with the Goods Contract.
• Price Adjustments: Prices can only be increased or decreased on the first anniversary of the Effective Date and subsequent anniversaries, based on a specified price index.
• Currency Risk: Any currency variations over the contract term are borne by the tenderer.
• Termination: The contract can terminate with 14 days' notice.
• Sub-contracting: The successful tenderer must designate a single entity (Prime Contractor) responsible for the contract, irrespective of sub-contracting.
• Confidentiality: Tenderers must treat all information disclosed by the Contracting Authority as confidential.
• Environmental, Social, and Labour Law: The successful tenderer and subcontractors must comply with all applicable environmental, social, and labour laws.
• Tax Clearance: Compliance with tax laws is a condition of the contract. The successful tenderer must provide Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Lot Structure: The division into three distinct lots allows for potential fragmentation of the market, where a single supplier might not be able to offer solutions across all three, or conversely, a large supplier might dominate one lot.
• SME Encouragement: While positive, the explicit encouragement for SMEs to form relationships with larger enterprises or other SMEs suggests the Contracting Authority anticipates that the full scope might be challenging for individual small businesses, potentially indicating complex technical requirements.
• No Professional Indemnity Insurance: The explicit "Not Applicable" for Professional Indemnity insurance for this equipment supply contract is unusual for complex technical installations and could indicate a focus on the physical goods rather than design consultancy, or a risk allocation decision by the buyer.
• Estimated Value vs. Lot Structure: The total estimated value of €550,000 is modest for three distinct turnkey equipment lots, which could imply either very specific, limited-scope requirements per lot or a conservative estimate.
• Foreign Subsidies Regulation: Tenderers must comply with Regulation (EU) 2022/2560 on Foreign Subsidies, requiring notification of foreign financial contributions if the procurement value meets certain thresholds. This adds a compliance layer for non-EU bidders or those with significant foreign ownership.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured into three lots, offering potential opportunities for SMEs.

• Who can credibly bid: SMEs with specialised expertise in robotic welding, CNC laser cutting, or handheld laser systems could bid for individual lots. Larger enterprises with broader capabilities might bid for multiple lots or the entire package. The requirement for specific certifications and adherence to stringent safety standards (ISO, BS EN) will filter bidders.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: Consortiums and sub-contracting are permitted. SMEs are explicitly encouraged to form relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises to participate. This indicates a willingness to accept collaborative bids.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Given the technical specifications, the need for detailed proposals, pricing schedules, and compliance documentation (eESPD, Tenderer's Statement), bid preparation could require 10-20 days of focused effort for a single lot, potentially more for multiple lots or complex consortium arrangements.
• Pwin signal: The tender is open and uses an open procedure. There is no explicit mention of an incumbent supplier. The encouragement for SMEs and consortia suggests the market is not expected to be dominated by a single large player, though specialized technical knowledge is paramount. The value is moderate, suggesting it's not a flagship project for a major multinational but could be significant for a specialist SME.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: Request for Tender Advanced Manufacturing.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Most Important Attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing
• Appendix 3: Tenderer’s Statement
• Appendix 5: Goods Contract