Supply, Delivery, Installation/Assembly and Commissioning of 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 tender seeks to establish a single-party framework agreement for the supply, delivery, installation/assembly, and commissioning of equipment for schools and centres under the Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB). The initial contract will focus on Monaghan Institute, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan, with the equipment required to be delivered and commissioned before the end of the calendar year or as otherwise agreed. The framework is subject to funding availability, and CMETB anticipates that other schools or centres may require similar equipment in the future, potentially leading to additional orders.

The scope of work encompasses the provision of specific types of industrial and fabrication equipment across 13 distinct lots. Tenderers are invited to bid for individual or multiple lots. The equipment categories include:

• Lot 1: CNC Milling Machine
• Lot 2: CNC Lathe
• Lot 3: Sheet Metal Laser Cutter-Water Jet
• Lot 4: Digital Reader for Lathes
• Lot 5: Ironworker Station
• Lot 6: Electric Metal Shear
• Lot 7: Multipurpose Welder
• Lot 8: Magnetic Drill Press (Portable)
• Lot 9: Chop Saw
• Lot 10: 3D Printer
• Lot 11: Laser Welder and CNC Cutter
• Lot 12: Fixture Table
• Lot 13: Fume Extractor

The successful tenderer will be responsible for the complete lifecycle of the equipment, from supply and delivery to installation, assembly, and final commissioning. This implies ensuring the equipment is fully operational and integrated into the intended learning or working environment at Monaghan Institute and potentially other CMETB facilities.

3. Background & buyer context

Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) is procuring this equipment to enhance the facilities available at its educational institutions, specifically commencing with Monaghan Institute. The tender is structured as a framework agreement to allow for future expansion of services to other CMETB schools and centres as funding becomes available. This approach aims to achieve efficiencies and cost savings over the duration of the framework. The procurement is conducted under an open procedure, adhering to the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016. CMETB aims to encourage participation from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and encourages larger enterprises to include SMEs in their proposals.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

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

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €13m
• Public Liability: €6.5m
• Product Liability: €6.5m
• Professional Indemnity: N/A
• 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.

Tenderers must confirm they will hold the specified insurances for the term of the Goods Contract and that their policies include Ireland within their territorial limits. A formal confirmation from the tenderer's insurance company or broker will be requested from the successful tenderer prior to award.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria for this tender are not explicitly detailed with percentage weightings in the provided extract. However, the tender documents state that "the lowest cost tender that also meets all of the minimum requirements of the qualitative" will be considered. This implies a strong emphasis on price, provided that all mandatory requirements are met. The evaluation process will first assess compliance with mandatory requirements and then evaluate tenders based on the stated award criteria, which are expected to include price as a significant factor.

The tender documents indicate that the Contracting Authority does not bind itself to accept the lowest priced or any tender.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the 'electronic tenderbox' on www.etenders.gov.ie. Any submissions by other means will not be accepted. Tenderers must ensure sufficient time for uploading documents, noting a file size limit of 250MB per file and a total limit of 2GB.

Key submission components include:

• European Single Procurement Document (eESPD): The electronic version must be completed and submitted.
• Tenderer’s Statement: A scanned, signed copy on the tenderer's letterhead, confirming acceptance of RFT requirements.
• Pricing Schedule: Must be completed using the provided documents at Appendix 2 for each Lot applied for. No alternative pricing formats will be considered.
• Declarations: Tenderers must declare they satisfy the selection criteria and that no mandatory grounds for exclusion apply, or provide evidence of reliability if grounds do apply.
• Supporting Documents: As specified in paragraph 3.2 of the RFT, which may include evidence of financial standing, technical capacity, and past experience.
• Format: Tenders must be submitted in English and compiled in a format readable by Microsoft Word, Excel, or PDF Reader.

A mandatory site visit is not specified for this tender.

7. Key dates & process

Note: The Tender Deadline is listed as 13th July 2026 in section 2.6.2, but the metadata and section 2.7.1 indicate a deadline of 20th July 2026 for queries and potentially for submission. The 13th July date appears to be an error in the document and the 20th July date is more consistent with the query deadline.

8. Contract terms that matter

The Goods Contract will have an initial term of 12 months, with the possibility of up to three extensions of up to 12 months each, subject to legal obligations. Prices quoted must remain valid for 6 months from the Tender Deadline. Price increases are permitted only on the anniversary of the contract's effective date, linked to a specified price index. Currency variations over the contract term are borne by the tenderer. Payments will be made in accordance with the Goods Contract at Appendix 5. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to operate outside the framework agreement if it offers better value for money.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The estimated value of €150,000-€500,000 (excl. VAT) over the Term and potential extensions, combined with the 13 distinct lots, suggests a potential for fragmentation of the contract value. The framework agreement approach means there is no guarantee of purchase quantity, and CMETB reserves the right to procure outside the framework. The tender documents mention compliance with Regulation (EU) 2022/1031 (International Procurement Instrument – IPI) and Regulation (EU) 2022/2560 (Foreign Subsidies) which may require additional declarations or notifications for certain bidders. The absence of specific turnover or past experience requirements could indicate an openness to new entrants, but also a reliance on other selection criteria for qualification.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a framework agreement with 13 lots, offering opportunities for SMEs to bid on specific equipment categories where they have expertise. The absence of explicit turnover or minimum past experience requirements suggests that smaller, specialised firms could be competitive, particularly if they can demonstrate technical capability and competitive pricing for individual lots. Consortiums or subcontracting are permitted, allowing SMEs to partner with larger firms or other SMEs to meet any implicit capacity requirements. The bid preparation effort is likely moderate, focusing on completing the eESPD, pricing schedules, and any required technical documentation for the specific lots bid upon. The "lowest cost tender that also meets all of the minimum requirements" suggests that price will be a significant factor, potentially favouring efficient SMEs.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: CFT Invitation to Tender Engineering.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Key Attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 3: Tenderer’s Statement