Single Supplier Framework Agreement for the supply of Cleaning, Paper, Personal Hygiene and Period Equality Products

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 Office of Government Procurement FCL033F Single Supplier Framework Agreement for the supply of Cleaning, Paper, Personal Hygiene and Period Equality Products 39222000-0 (Cleaning supplies), 30192000-1 (Paper products), 33700000-7 (Personal hygiene products) €150,000,000 Not stated Open Procedure 1 Ireland Not stated 2026-10-29 15:00 Not stated

2. Scope of Work

This tender seeks to establish a single-supplier framework agreement for the provision of cleaning, paper, personal hygiene, and period equality products. The framework will serve a broad range of public sector bodies across Ireland, including government departments, hospitals, primary care centres, educational institutions, and defence facilities. The estimated value of the framework over its duration is €150,000,000.

The scope of supply encompasses a comprehensive range of products, including but not limited to:

• Cleaning Supplies: This category includes general cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, sanitisers, floor care products, window cleaning agents, and specialised cleaning solutions for various environments. It also covers cleaning equipment and accessories such as mops, buckets, cloths, brushes, and waste receptacles.
• Paper Products: This includes toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissues, napkins, and other paper-based consumables for washrooms, kitchens, and general use.
• Personal Hygiene Products: This category covers items such as hand soaps, hand sanitisers, body wash, shampoo, dental care products, and general personal care items.
• Period Equality Products: This encompasses a range of menstrual products, including sanitary pads, tampons, and potentially reusable options, to ensure availability and accessibility.

The framework will require the successful supplier to manage the entire supply chain, from sourcing and procurement to warehousing, distribution, and delivery. This includes:

• Product Catalogue Management: Maintaining an up-to-date and comprehensive catalogue of approved products, with clear specifications and pricing.
• Order Processing: Efficiently receiving, processing, and fulfilling orders from participating public sector bodies through a designated ordering platform.
• Logistics and Distribution: Ensuring timely and reliable delivery of products to multiple locations across Ireland, adhering to specific delivery windows and requirements of individual client sites.
• Inventory Management: Maintaining adequate stock levels to meet demand and minimise lead times.
• Reporting and Data Management: Providing regular reports on order volumes, product usage, expenditure, and performance against service level agreements.
• Customer Support: Offering responsive customer service to address queries, resolve issues, and provide technical assistance.
• Compliance and Sustainability: Adhering to all relevant health, safety, and environmental regulations, and potentially promoting sustainable product options.

The list of existing framework clients provided in the tender documents indicates the extensive reach of this framework, covering a diverse array of public sector entities nationwide.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is being conducted by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) to establish a strategic framework agreement for essential supplies. The current framework is nearing its end of term, necessitating a new procurement process to ensure continuity of supply for public sector bodies. The objective is to achieve value for money through aggregated purchasing power and to streamline the procurement of these common goods.

The initiative aligns with the OGP's broader strategy to centralise and professionalise public sector procurement in Ireland, aiming for greater efficiency, cost savings, and improved service delivery. By consolidating the supply of cleaning, paper, personal hygiene, and period equality products under a single framework, the OGP seeks to reduce administrative burden for individual contracting authorities and leverage economies of scale. The inclusion of "Period Equality Products" reflects a growing emphasis on social inclusion and addressing period poverty within public services.

The framework will replace existing arrangements and is intended to serve a wide spectrum of public sector organisations, as evidenced by the extensive list of previous framework clients, which spans central government, healthcare, and education sectors.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for this tender:

• Turnover requirement: A minimum average annual turnover of €20,000,000 in the supply of cleaning, paper, personal hygiene, and/or period equality products in the last three financial years.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: €6,500,000 per claim.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: €13,000,000 per claim.
• Product Liability Insurance: €6,500,000 per claim.
• Certifications:
• ISO 9001:2015 certification for Quality Management Systems.
• ISO 14001:2015 certification for Environmental Management Systems.
• Registration on the Construction Contracts Register (CCR) is not specified for this tender.
• Safe-T-Cert or equivalent is not specified for this tender.
• CIRI registration is not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: A minimum of three (3) contracts of a similar nature and scale, each with a minimum value of €5,000,000 per annum, completed within the last five (5) years. These contracts must demonstrate experience in supplying cleaning, paper, and personal hygiene products to large organisations or public sector bodies.
• Personnel: The bid must include CVs for key personnel, demonstrating a minimum of five (5) years' experience in managing similar supply agreements. Specific roles are not detailed in the provided extract.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender, beyond the requirement to deliver across Ireland.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award of the contract will be based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principle, with a split between price and quality.

The tender documents will detail the specific scoring methodology for each quality sub-criterion. Bidders must achieve a minimum score in each quality criterion to be considered for award. The overall minimum score required for a tender to be considered is not specified in the provided extract.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit the following documentation through the eTenders portal:

• Method Statement / Response Document: A comprehensive response detailing how the bidder will meet the requirements of the framework. Specific templates and page limits will be provided in the full tender documents.
• CVs: Curriculum Vitae for all named key personnel, demonstrating the required experience. Page limits will be specified.
• Pricing Schedule: A detailed breakdown of pricing for all products and services, using the template provided.
• Case Studies: A minimum of three (3) case studies demonstrating successful delivery of similar contracts, each with a minimum value of €5,000,000 per annum.
• Declarations:
• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD).
• Bona Fides declarations.
• Tax clearance certificates.
• Conflict of Interest declarations.
• Mandatory Site Visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission Portal: All submissions must be made via the eTenders portal. Specific file naming conventions or formatting rules may apply and will be detailed in the tender documents.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The framework agreement will be for a duration to be specified, with potential for extension. Payment terms will be in accordance with the Prompt Payment of Suppliers Regulations. Key Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be established to monitor supplier performance, covering aspects such as order accuracy, delivery times, and customer service response. Liquidated damages may be applied for failure to meet critical SLAs. Termination clauses will be included, allowing for termination under specific circumstances, such as material breach of contract. Intellectual property ownership will be addressed, and sub-contracting will be subject to approval by the contracting authority. A parent company guarantee or performance bond may be required.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The most significant aspect of this tender is its substantial estimated value of €150,000,000, which is indicative of a large-scale, single-supplier framework. This scale may present a barrier to entry for smaller or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) unless they form consortia. The requirement for a minimum average annual turnover of €20,000,000 and three contracts each valued at €5,000,000 per annum further reinforces this. The single-supplier nature of the framework means that only one bidder will be successful, concentrating significant supply volume with one entity. The extensive list of existing clients suggests a high degree of incumbent knowledge may be beneficial, potentially favouring established players in the market.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a single-supplier framework with a high estimated value (€150,000,000). This indicates that the tender is primarily aimed at larger, established suppliers with significant operational capacity and financial standing.

• Credible bidders: Viable bidders would typically be large national or international suppliers with extensive experience in managing complex supply chains for a broad range of products across multiple sectors. They would need a proven track record of delivering similar volumes and value, supported by robust financial health and established quality and environmental management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001).
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: While not explicitly stated as disallowed, the scale and single-supplier nature of the framework suggest that consortia or strategic sub-contracting arrangements might be necessary for some bidders to meet the requirements, particularly for SMEs looking to participate. However, the primary responsibility would lie with the lead supplier.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Preparing a bid for a framework of this magnitude would require significant effort, likely involving multiple teams across sales, operations, finance, and legal departments. An estimate of 100-200+ working days for a comprehensive bid would be realistic, depending on the bidder's existing infrastructure and proposal development processes.
• Pwin signal: The high value and single-supplier nature suggest a competitive but potentially incumbent-friendly environment. Bidders with existing relationships and proven performance within the Irish public sector may have an advantage. The tender is likely open to a limited number of large, experienced suppliers rather than being broadly accessible to all SMEs.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: FCL033F Single Supplier Framework Agreement for the supply of Cleaning, Paper, Personal Hygiene and Period Equality Products
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided metadata.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Details to be found within the full tender documentation on eTenders.
• Most Important Attachments:
• FCL033F List of Existing Framework Clients.xlsx
• [Specific document names for Technical Specification, Evaluation Criteria, and Contract Conditions will be listed in the full RFT]