Design and Development of Content Management System for a Data Stories Platform

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 contract involves the design and development of a Content Management System (CMS) for the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to facilitate the creation and management of data stories relevant to the local government sector. The CMS must be cloud-native or cloud-hosted within the existing LGMA Azure tenancy and is expected to scale from approximately 50 to 200 user accounts within the first year.

Key activities include:

• Content Authoring: Provide an intuitive authoring environment for non-technical users to create, edit, and publish data stories.
• Workflow Management: Implement configurable approval stages (Draft → In Review → Approved → Published) and task assignments.
• Notifications: Enable workflow notifications and alerts, integrating with email and Microsoft Teams.
• Content Scheduling: Allow scheduling of content publishing/unpublishing dates and maintain an editorial calendar.
• Governance: Establish content governance with defined roles and responsibilities.
• Security: Ensure robust content access security, including authentication and access controls.
• Compliance: Support compliance with GDPR, accessibility standards, and other regulatory requirements.
• Analytics: Provide analytics and reporting capabilities on content usage and user behavior.
• Integration: Facilitate integration with existing SharePoint/OneDrive libraries and external data sources.

The project will be rolled out in three phases, starting with internal access for LGMA staff, followed by access for Local Authority (LA) staff, and finally, public access for external stakeholders.

3. Background & buyer context

The procurement of this CMS is aligned with the LGMA's strategic objectives to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of local government services. The LGMA aims to improve the dissemination of information and data stories to both internal staff and the public. This initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize local government operations and improve public engagement. The contract is expected to support the LGMA's ongoing commitment to transparency and accessibility in local governance.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum average annual turnover of €300,000.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €2.6 million
• Product Liability: €6.5 million
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million
• Cyber Insurance: €3 million
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: A minimum of 3 examples of previous comparable work must be provided.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Bids will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The lowest cost tender that meets all minimum requirements will be awarded the contract. There are no specified minimum scoring thresholds per criterion or overall.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documents:

• Method statement / response document: Use the provided template; page limits not specified.
• CVs: Include CVs for key personnel; page count not specified.
• Pricing schedule: Must follow the specified format using the provided template.
• Case studies: Provide a minimum of 3 case studies with value ranges.
• Declarations: Include ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest declarations.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via eTenders; specific format rules not stated.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

Key contract terms include:

• Term and extension structure: The contract duration is not explicitly stated but includes a warranty period of 3 months post-go-live.
• Payment terms: Not specified.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Uptime service level objectives of 99.5% during business hours and 99% outside business hours.
• Liquidated damages: Service credits will apply for SLO breaches.
• Termination clauses: The contracting authority reserves the right to terminate the contract under specific conditions.
• IP ownership: Custom code developed for the LGMA will either vest in the authority or be licensed on a perpetual basis.
• Sub-contracting rules: Not specified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Potential risks and concerns include:

• Turnover threshold: The minimum turnover requirement of €300,000 may limit participation from smaller firms.
• Geographic constraints: Not specified, but the requirement for integration with existing LGMA systems may favor incumbents.
• Funding dependency: The contract's continuation may depend on future funding, which is not guaranteed.
• Tight timelines: The expected go-live date in September 2026 may pose challenges for bidders to meet all requirements within the timeframe.

10. SME fit assessment

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

• Credible bidding capacity: Firms with experience in developing CMS solutions, particularly in public sector contexts, are well-suited.
• Consortium or sub-contracting: Allowed, enabling SMEs to collaborate to meet financial and technical requirements.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Bidders should anticipate several days to prepare a comprehensive submission.
• Pwin signal: The presence of a defined budget and the potential for ongoing support may indicate a favorable bidding environment, although the lack of past winners listed may suggest a competitive field.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: RFT CMS.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Not specified.
• Important attachments: Supporting Document 1 (LGMA Brand Guidelines), Supporting Document 3 (High Level Design).