Multi Supplier Framework Agreement for Healthcare 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 to establish a multi-supplier framework agreement for the supply of healthcare equipment to multiple sites operated by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board. The framework will facilitate the procurement of goods through a cascade or request for quotes (RFQ) mechanism. The estimated aggregate expenditure over the term, including potential extensions, is €1,000,000 (excluding VAT). The initial award for all four lots is estimated at €300,000 (excluding VAT).

The scope of work is divided into four distinct lots, each leading to a separate framework agreement:

• Lot 1: Healthcare Simulation & Clinical Skills Training Equipment This lot covers equipment used for simulating healthcare scenarios and training clinical skills.
• Lot 2: Immersive Healthcare Simulation and Virtual Reality Learning Environment This lot focuses on advanced simulation technologies, including virtual reality, for healthcare learning.
• Lot 3: Nursing Skills Laboratory & Clinical Ward Environment Fit-Out This lot involves the provision and potentially installation of equipment and furnishings to create functional nursing skills laboratories and clinical ward environments.
• Lot 4: Occupational Therapy & Independent Living Skills Training Suite This lot encompasses equipment and resources for training in occupational therapy and independent living skills.

Framework members appointed to each lot will be contacted to receive RFQs for specific goods. The framework agreement does not guarantee the award of any goods contract; calls-off will be made based on need and supplier performance. The contracting authority may use a cascade method, contacting the highest-ranked supplier first, or an RFQ process for values under €50,000.

3. Background & buyer context

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) is initiating this procurement to establish a multi-supplier framework agreement for healthcare equipment. This initiative aligns with the broader objective of enhancing educational and training facilities within the further education and training sector in Ireland. The establishment of this framework is intended to streamline the procurement process for essential healthcare training equipment, ensuring that LCETB and its associated institutions have access to necessary resources for skills development. The procurement strategy focuses on creating a multi-supplier framework to foster competition and ensure a broad range of suppliers can meet potential demand.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

To be considered for this tender, bidders must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Turnover requirement: Confirmation of a minimum annual turnover of €1,000,000 in each of the last three financial years.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €13 Million for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Public Liability: €6.5 Million for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Product Liability: €6.5 Million for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence. Tenderers must confirm that their insurance policies will cover the Republic of Ireland and that there are no exclusions or restrictions that could materially impact coverage. Formal confirmation from an insurance company or broker will be required from successful bidders prior to contract award.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender, beyond the requirement for insurance policies to cover the Republic of Ireland.

Tenderers must also submit a European Single Procurement Document (eESPD) and declare that they satisfy the selection criteria for each lot applied for.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award of the framework agreement will be based on the criteria outlined in Part 3 of the RFT. Tenderers must achieve a minimum of 60% on all tender award criteria, excluding price. The specific weighting for each award criterion is not detailed in the provided extract, but it is understood that the evaluation will consider both quality and price. The contracting authority is not bound to accept the lowest priced tender.

The overall award will be determined by a combination of quality and price, with a minimum scoring threshold of 60% required for award criteria excluding price.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the 'electronic tender box' on www.etenders.gov.ie. Tenders submitted by any other means will not be accepted.

The submission must include:

• European Single Procurement Document (eESPD): Completed electronically.
• Tenderer’s Statement: A scanned, signed copy on the tenderer's letterhead, accepting the RFT provisions.
• Pricing Schedule: Completed as per Appendix 2.
• All other required documentation: As specified throughout the RFT.

Tenderers must follow the RFT format and respond to each element in the order presented. Documents must be in Word, Excel, or PDF format. The file size limit per upload is 250MB, with a total limit of 2GB. Tenderers must ensure they click the "Submit" button to finalise their submission.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The framework agreement will have an initial term of 2 years, with the contracting authority reserving the right to extend it for up to two additional periods of 12 months each, not exceeding 4 years in aggregate. Goods contracts awarded under the framework may extend beyond the framework's expiry.

• Payment terms: Subject to and made in accordance with the Goods Contract (Appendix 7).
• SLAs/KPIs: Not specified for this tender.
• Liquidated damages: Not specified for this tender.
• Termination: The framework agreement may be terminated for serious breaches or insolvency of the framework member.
• IP ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting: Permitted, but a single Prime Contractor must be designated with overall responsibility.
• Guarantees/Bonds: Not specified for this tender.

Prices quoted must remain valid for 12 months from the tender deadline. Currency variations over the contract term will be borne by the tenderer.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Multi-lot framework with potential for low call-off volume: While the aggregate estimate is €1,000,000, the initial award for all lots is only €300,000. The framework does not guarantee any minimum purchase volume, meaning suppliers could be appointed but receive minimal or no business.
• Cascade vs. RFQ call-off: The procurement strategy involves both cascade (first-ranked supplier) and RFQ (for <€50,000) methods for awarding individual contracts under the framework. This introduces uncertainty in the volume of work a specific supplier might receive.
• No specified minimum for SMEs: While SMEs are encouraged to participate and larger enterprises are asked to consider including them, there is no explicit minimum percentage or number of SMEs required within proposals or subcontracting arrangements.
• Insurance confirmation: While specific insurance levels are stated, formal confirmation from the insurer will be requested prior to award, meaning this is a critical pre-contractual step.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a multi-supplier framework, allowing for participation by a range of businesses.

• Who can credibly bid: Businesses with demonstrated experience in supplying healthcare simulation, VR, nursing lab, or independent living skills training equipment. Turnover requirements of €1M annually suggest medium-sized enterprises or larger are well-positioned, but smaller, specialised firms could bid if they meet this threshold or form consortia.
• Consortium/sub-contracting: Allowed. Tenderers can form groups of undertakings or designate a Prime Contractor with subcontractors. This provides a pathway for SMEs to participate by partnering with other firms.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Moderate. Completing the eESPD, Tenderer's Statement, and Pricing Schedule, along with gathering insurance and financial evidence, will require dedicated effort. The lack of detailed technical evaluation criteria suggests a focus on compliance and basic financial/insurance checks.
• Pwin signal: The framework structure suggests a competitive process. The absence of an incumbent mention and the multi-supplier approach indicate the market is open. However, the €1M turnover requirement and high insurance levels may naturally favour established players.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: Request For Tender SEG Healthcare.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified for this tender
• Contact email / clarification portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Most important attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 6: Framework Agreement