Oracle Database Administration Enterprise Level support services in an n-tier and Openshift Environment

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

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) requires Oracle Database Administration Enterprise Level support services. The services will be delivered within an n-tier and Openshift environment. The primary location for service delivery is Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 WK12.

The contract is for the provision of an IT Technical team of Oracle Database Administrators to support the DAFM's database environment. The estimated expenditure over the contract term, including potential extensions, is €13.2 million (excluding VAT). The contract duration is 24 months, with an option for up to two extensions of 12 months each.

Key activities and requirements include:

• Database Administration: Providing enterprise-level support for Oracle databases. This encompasses a range of administrative tasks essential for maintaining the health, performance, and security of the database systems.
• Environment Support: Operating within an n-tier architecture and an Openshift environment, requiring specific expertise in these technologies.
• On-site Presence: Resources are required to attend on-site at the specified work office location for a minimum of two days per week. Additional office attendance may be necessary for meetings and workshops.
• Project Transition: Tenderers must provide a 'Project Transition' proposal. This proposal should cover a minimum of four weeks and a maximum of six weeks, ensuring a smooth handover from the incumbent development team supplier.
• Security Compliance: Adherence to DAFM's security requirements, including cyber and information security policies. This includes completing DAFM’s Information Security training where requested. The Department is certified to ISO 27001:2013 and ISO 27001:2022 Information Security standards, and bidders must demonstrate expertise in working to ISO 27001 operations standards.
• Specific Expertise: Demonstrated expertise in PostgreSQL in a High Availability (HA) environment and Data Warehouse (DWH) support is required.
• Team Structure: The services will be provided as part of a Database Administration team, comprising both staff members and contracted resources.

3. Background & buyer context

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is procuring these Oracle Database Administration services to ensure the continued robust support of its critical IT infrastructure. The procurement is conducted under an open procedure, aligning with EU procurement regulations. DAFM holds ISO 27001:2013 and ISO 27001:2022 Information Security certifications, indicating a strong emphasis on data security and compliance. The estimated value of €13.2 million (excl. VAT) over the potential contract term suggests a significant scale of operation. The requirement for on-site presence and a structured project transition highlights the need for seamless integration with existing DAFM operations and a focus on knowledge transfer from any incumbent supplier. The policy to encourage SME participation indicates a strategic objective to foster broader economic engagement within public procurement.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following criteria to be considered:

• Turnover requirement:
• Minimum average annual turnover of €1 million (excluding VAT) derived from the provision of similar services.
• This turnover must have been achieved in a minimum of two out of the three most recent financial years, or for each year of establishment if the entity is newer.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €12.7 million limit per claim/series of claims arising from a single occurrence, per insurance year.
• Public Liability: €6.5 million limit per claim/series of claims arising from a single occurrence, per insurance year.
• Product Liability: Not applicable (n/a).
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million in the aggregate.
• Certifications:
• Expertise in working to ISO 27001 operations standards is required.
• Past experience:
• Demonstrated relevant experience in delivering similar services (Oracle Database Enterprise Level support in an n-tier and Openshift Environment) within the last three years.
• Tenderers must provide one example of a contract undertaken in the last three years (public or private) that matches the required service profile.
• A satisfactory written reference from the client for the submitted contract example is mandatory.
• Personnel:
• Resources are required to attend on-site for a minimum of two days per week.
• Geographic / facility constraints:
• Services are to be delivered at Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 WK12.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria will determine how tenders are evaluated once bidders have met the eligibility requirements. The evaluation will follow a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) approach, balancing price and quality.

Criterion Weight (%) Sub-criteria