Contracted Training Services for Cork ETB (Seven Lots)

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 tender seeks to establish a multi-party framework agreement for the provision of contracted training services across seven distinct lots. The framework will enable Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB) to procure training services as required. The services are structured into seven specific lots:

• Lot 1: Professional Driving: Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) – Artic
• Lot 2: Professional Driving: Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) – Rigid
• Lot 3: Professional Driving: Bus D Licence
• Lot 4: Basic Welding
• Lot 5: Coded Pipe Welding
• Lot 6: Pre Paramedic Training Programme – CCFET Morrisons Island Campus & Mallow Campus
• Lot 7: Intermediate Welding STC

The framework agreement is intended to be valid for 12 months from the tender deadline. Successful tenderers will be appointed as framework operators. Cork ETB will issue specific "Call-Off" contracts under this framework for actual training delivery.

Key activities and requirements for successful tenderers include:

• Service Delivery: Providing training services as specified within the chosen lot(s). This includes delivering training modules on a per-learner basis.
• Course Structure: Courses can have durations of 4 weeks, 10 weeks, 20 weeks, 21 weeks, or 41 weeks. Specific modules, such as "Emergency Medical Technician - 4 Week Course," are mentioned.
• Work Placement: For Lot 6, a 1-week Ambulance Work Placement is specified, scheduled for mid-June 2027.
• Recruitment: Course Recruitment Days are a potential activity.
• Personnel: Tenderers must demonstrate access to a minimum of four skilled personnel with sector knowledge and relevant skills. CVs for at least four staff must be submitted.
• Quality Assurance: Tenderers must operate an appropriate quality assurance programme, either third-party certified or a comprehensive in-house system.
• Health & Safety: Compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to 2014 is mandatory.
• Environmental Management: Tenderers should demonstrate operation of an environmental management system and minimise adverse environmental impact.
• Reporting: Timely submission of invoices, including final invoices upon course completion, is required. Notification to Cork ETB of any staff changes providing the service is also mandatory.
• Pricing: Tenderers must provide pricing on a per-delivered module per-learner basis. Prices are fixed for year one, with potential for increases in subsequent years linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

3. Background & buyer context

Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB) is procuring these training services to establish a multi-party framework agreement. This initiative aims to ensure a readily available pool of qualified training providers for various vocational and professional development areas. The establishment of this framework supports Cork ETB's mandate to provide accessible and relevant education and training opportunities within the region. The procurement is conducted under an open procedure, indicating a desire to attract a broad range of potential suppliers. The framework agreement is designed to streamline future procurement of these specific training services, offering flexibility and efficiency for Cork ETB.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

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

• Turnover requirement:
• Average annual turnover of €300,000 per annum over a three-year period.
• Pro-rata turnover is acceptable for recently established firms.
• Evidence of turnover must be provided promptly upon request. For sole traders or partnerships, a letter of confirmation from a senior partner may suffice.
• Insurance:
• Employers Liability: €13m
• Public Liability: €6.5m
• Professional Indemnity: €2.6m
• Cyber Insurance: €1m
• Tenderers must confirm these insurances are in place or can be put in place if successful. Evidence must be provided promptly on request.
• Certifications:
• Not explicitly stated as mandatory for all lots, but quality assurance systems (third-party certified or in-house) and health & safety systems (in line with Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005) are required.
• Past experience:
• Demonstrate comparable experience of similar nature, scale, and value to the required services.
• Provide a minimum of two (and up to three) reference contracts, detailing client name, contact, annual contract value, delivery dates, and a comparison to the subject matter of this tender. Referees may be contacted.
• Personnel:
• Access to a minimum of four skilled personnel with sector knowledge and relevant skills is mandatory.
• CVs for at least four staff must be submitted.
• Geographic / facility constraints:
• Not specified.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principle, with the following weighting:

Tenderers must achieve the minimum marks for Criteria B, C, and D to be considered for award.

6. Submission requirements

Tender responses must be submitted using the provided Tender Response Document (TRD) and associated appendices. Key submission requirements include:

• Tender Response Document (Appendix 4 TRD.docx): This document must be completed in full.
• Page Limits: The response to the Quality element of the Award Criteria (Sections B and C) is limited to a maximum of 20 A4 pages in Arial 10 font.
• Pricing Schedule: Complete the Pricing Document (Appendix 3) for each lot tendered. Pricing must be per delivered module per learner.
• Declarations:
• Declaration of Bona Fides & Statutory Obligations (Article 57).
• Declaration re Statutory Obligations.
• Form of Tender.
• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) or Declaration of Personal Circumstances.
• Personnel Information:
• CVs for at least four staff members.
• Organisational chart (Appendix 2 of TRD).
• References: A minimum of two comparable contract references.
• Quality Assurance: Details of QA system (certified or in-house).
• Health & Safety: Details of H&S system (certified or in-house).
• Environmental Management: Details of EMS (certified or in-house).
• Submission Format: The entire tender response must be uploaded as a ZIP file to protect file names.
• Mandatory Site Visit: Not specified.
• Submission Portal: eTenders.

7. Key dates & process

The tender validity period is 12 months from the submission deadline.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Type: Multi-party framework agreement.
• Contract Length: 12 months from the tender deadline.
• Payment Terms: Payment within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice.
• Pricing: Tender prices are fixed for year one. Price amendments in subsequent years are at Cork ETB's discretion, linked to CPI.
• Termination: The contract may be terminated forthwith by Cork ETB for material breach, failure to perform obligations, insolvency, or cessation of business. A 14-day notice period may apply for remediable breaches.
• Sub-contracting: Tenderers must indicate if they intend to sub-contract. An ESPD is required for all subcontractors.
• Data Protection: Tenderers must confirm data subjects have consented to data processing for the competition.
• Confidentiality: Tenderers undertake to treat tender details and negotiations as private and confidential.
• Governing Law: Irish law applies.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Lot Structure: The division into seven specific lots means bidders may only be qualified for certain areas, potentially limiting the pool for each lot.
• Pricing Basis: Pricing is strictly on a "per delivered module per learner" basis, requiring detailed cost breakdown and potentially limiting flexibility for aggregate pricing.
• Tender Validity: A 12-month tender validity period is substantial and requires bidders to commit to pricing and resource availability for an extended period before contract award.
• Minimum Personnel: The requirement for a minimum of four skilled personnel, with CVs submitted, is a specific resource gate.
• MEAT with Minimum Scores: While cost is a significant factor (35%), the mandatory minimum scores for methodology, service team, and health & safety (Criteria B, C, D) mean a low-cost bid that fails on quality aspects will be disqualified.
• Framework vs. Direct Contract: This is a framework agreement, not a direct contract for services. Actual work will be via Call-Off contracts, meaning the 12-month term is for the framework itself, not necessarily the duration of any individual training delivery.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured to allow participation by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The turnover requirement of €300,000 is achievable for many established SMEs. The lot structure allows SMEs to focus on specific areas of expertise where they can compete effectively. Consortium bidding or sub-contracting is permitted, offering opportunities for SMEs to partner with larger firms or to subcontract specific elements if they lack certain capabilities.

The bid preparation effort is moderate, primarily involving completion of the TRD, pricing schedules, and gathering supporting documentation like CVs and references. The quality criteria (B and C) will require detailed responses, demanding significant time for articulation of methodology and team capabilities.

The tender is open, but the presence of minimum quality scores and the MEAT award criteria suggest that while price is important, demonstrable quality in methodology, team expertise, and health & safety will be critical differentiators. There is no explicit indication of an incumbent advantage, as this is a new framework. The Pwin signal is neutral, with success depending on a strong, well-articulated bid meeting all technical and financial requirements.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: Appendix 4 TRD.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided text.
• Contact: Cork ETB Contracted Training Officer (email/contact details not specified in provided text). Clarifications must be submitted 7 days before the deadline.
• Most Important Attachments:
• Appendix 4 TRD.docx (Tender Response Document)
• Pricing Document Appendix 3
• Invitation to Tender document (referenced for minimum rules)