Evaluation of the NCSE Education and Therapy Service

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 National Council for Special Education (NCSE) seeks tenders for an evaluation of its Education and Therapy Service. This procurement is conducted under an open procedure. The estimated expenditure for the services is €81,300 (excluding VAT) over the contract term, with potential for extensions.

The core of the service requirement is to conduct an evaluation of the NCSE Education and Therapy Service. While specific day-to-day activities are not detailed, the tender documents indicate the following constituent elements and requirements for the successful bidder:

• Research Proposal: Tenderers must submit a detailed research proposal outlining their general approach and methodology. This proposal should be no more than 1,500 words.
• Statement of Understanding: A statement of understanding of the research required, contextualised within the current Irish research and policy landscape, is mandatory. This statement must not exceed 400 words.
• Team Composition: The tender requires identification of a Principal Investigator and details of the proposed research team. CVs for the Principal Investigator and each research team member are required, with individual CVs not exceeding 3 A4 pages. These CVs must detail qualifications and experience in carrying out similar work, along with relevant references and publications.
• Subcontracting: If any aspects of the project are to be subcontracted, details of the third parties involved, including contact information and CVs (not exceeding 3 A4 pages each), must be provided.
• Planning and Timescale: A detailed outline of the project timescale is required, including timelines for distinct phases, tasks, and outputs. This breakdown should specify the total number of days, days allocated to specific phases/outputs, and clear start and finish dates for the project and its elements.
• Costing: Tenderers must provide an overall fixed price cost (excluding VAT) and indicate VAT separately. Itemised costs must include daily rates for the Principal Investigator and research team members, and a breakdown of overhead, administration costs, and any expenses.
• Project Management: An outline of the project management approach is required, detailing how objectives will be achieved on time and within budget, along with proposed reporting arrangements to the NCSE.
• Ethical Considerations: Tenderers must outline any potential ethical issues and how they will be addressed.
• Contingency Planning: Details of staff availability conditions, notice periods, and contingency plans for urgent situations are required to ensure minimal impact on the research.

The contract term is not explicitly stated but allows for extensions of up to 12 months, with a maximum of two such extensions.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is initiated by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), an independent statutory body established under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. The NCSE's remit includes ensuring that the education system meets the needs of all students with special educational needs. The current tender seeks an evaluation of the NCSE's Education and Therapy Service. This initiative aligns with the NCSE's ongoing efforts to assess and improve the services it provides to students with special educational needs across Ireland. The evaluation is intended to inform future policy and operational decisions regarding these vital services.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet specific criteria to be considered for evaluation. These include:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance: The successful tenderer must hold the following insurances for the term of the contract:
• Employer’s Liability: €12.7 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Product Liability: €6.5 million
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Tenderers must provide details of three recent studies or similar projects in comparable organisations, including contact details for recommendations.
• Personnel: CVs for the Principal Investigator and research team members are required, detailing qualifications and experience.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers must also declare that no mandatory grounds for exclusion apply to them as per Regulation 57 of the EU Public Procurement Regulations, or provide evidence of remedial measures if exclusion grounds do apply. They must also satisfy the selection criteria outlined in Part 3.2 of the RFT.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Criterion Weight (%) Sub-criteria