HRB 2026 - Provision of Temporary Agency Resources

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

1. At a glance

Buyer Title CPV / category Estimated value Per-year Procedure type Lots Location Contract length Submission deadline Go-live / start |-----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------|----------|----------------|------|----------|------------------|-------------------------------|------------------| The Health Research Board HRB 2026 - Provision of Temporary Agency Resources 79620000 €5,000,000 €1,250,000 Open Not stated Ireland 2 years + 2 optional 1-year extensions 2026-06-16 09:00 2026-01-01

2. Scope of Work

The Health Research Board (HRB) requires a contractor to provide temporary agency resources for various roles within the organization. The contract is structured as a single-party framework agreement, with an estimated maximum spend of €5,000,000 over four years. The contractor will be responsible for sourcing and delivering suitable personnel to meet the HRB's short-term staffing needs, which may include covering maternity and carer’s leave.

Key activities include:

• Recruitment Process: The contractor must source candidates based on role profiles provided by the HRB, coordinate shortlisting, and manage notifications to candidates.
• Personnel Types: Agency staff will be required in both scientific and corporate support roles, with temporary contracts not exceeding eleven months. Extensions may occur with mutual agreement.
• Account Management: A dedicated account manager must be appointed to oversee the contract, maintain communication with HRB, and ensure service delivery.
• Invoicing: Monthly invoices must be submitted in PDF format, including timesheets and a Purchase Order number.
• Compliance: The contractor must ensure that all agency workers meet accessibility standards and that the HRB's operational needs are met without guaranteed volume or frequency of assignments.

3. Background & buyer context

The HRB is a statutory agency under the Department of Health, overseeing approximately €50 million in health research annually. This procurement is initiated to address ongoing staffing needs for temporary roles, ensuring that the HRB can maintain operational efficiency and support its mission of improving health through research. The contract aligns with the HRB's strategic objectives to enhance service delivery and operational stability.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum average annual turnover of €500,000 over the last three years.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13,000,000
• Public Liability: €6,500,000
• Professional Indemnity: €1,000,000
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Minimum of three comparable projects within the last three years, with at least two demonstrating experience in providing research and information management agency workers.
• Personnel: Must have access to suitably qualified resources across research, information management, and corporate support areas.
• Geographic constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Bids will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The evaluation will follow a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) approach, prioritizing quality over cost.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documents:

• Method statement: Complete the Tender Response Document (TRD) as provided, adhering to any page limits.
• CVs: A maximum of four CVs covering the required roles, with personal details redacted.
• Pricing schedule: Complete the specified format in the TRD.
• Case studies: Evidence of three comparable projects.
• Declarations: Include ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest declarations.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Responses must be submitted via eTenders, following specified format rules.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

Key contract terms include:

• Duration: Initial period of two years, with two optional one-year extensions, not exceeding four years in total.
• Payment terms: Monthly invoicing required, with payments made within 30 days of receipt.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Performance metrics will be established, with regular reviews.
• Liquidated damages: Not specified for this tender.
• Termination clauses: The contract may be terminated with 14 days' notice for breaches that are capable of remedy.
• IP ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting rules: Allowed, but the lead tenderer must maintain overall responsibility.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Potential risks and red flags include:

• Single-party framework: The contract is structured as a single-party framework, which may limit competition and flexibility.
• No guaranteed volume: The HRB does not guarantee any minimum volume or frequency of assignments, which could impact revenue predictability.
• High insurance requirements: The required insurance levels may pose a barrier for smaller firms.
• Account management: Non-billable account management activities may strain resources if not adequately factored into pricing.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is open to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that can demonstrate:

• Credible bidding capacity: Firms with experience in providing temporary staffing solutions, particularly in research and information management.
• Consortium/sub-contracting: Allowed, enabling SMEs to collaborate to meet financial and technical requirements.
• Bid-prep effort: Estimated at several days to compile required documentation and case studies.
• Pwin signal: The single-party framework may favor incumbents or larger firms, potentially impacting the competitiveness of SMEs.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: HRB Provision of Temporary Agency Resources RFT 2026.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email: [email protected]
• Important attachments:
• Appendix 1 – Agency Worker Protocol
• Appendix 2 – Resource Profiles
• Appendix 3 – Draft Framework Agreement Terms and Conditions