Services to build, host and maintain an introductory eLearning course on children’s rights

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 Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) seeks to procure services for the building, hosting, and maintenance of an introductory eLearning course focused on children's rights. The successful tenderer will be provided with the course content and learning materials by the DCDE. The services will be hosted on a Learning Management System (LMS) or eLearning Portal.

The scope of work encompasses the following key activities:

• eLearning Course Development: Building the introductory eLearning course on children's rights. This involves translating the provided content into an interactive and accessible digital learning format.
• Hosting: Providing the necessary infrastructure and platform to host the completed eLearning course. This will be on an LMS or eLearning Portal.
• Maintenance: Ongoing support and upkeep of the hosted eLearning course. This includes ensuring the platform is functional, secure, and accessible throughout the contract term.
• Content Integration: The DCDE will supply the course content. The tenderer's responsibility is to integrate this content effectively into the eLearning module.
• Platform Management: Ensuring the LMS or eLearning Portal is operational and meets the required technical standards, including accessibility compliance.
• Initial Build and Deployment: The initial work to build and deploy the course is expected to be completed within approximately 4-5 months from the contract start.
• Mobilisation: A separate, shorter timeframe of approximately 1 month is allocated for the mobilisation phase, which likely precedes or overlaps with the initial build.

The estimated expenditure for these services over the contract term, including any potential extensions, is €140,840 (excluding VAT).

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is being undertaken by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE). The initiative aligns with broader government objectives related to education and awareness on children's rights. The development of this introductory eLearning course is intended to provide accessible learning material on this important subject. The DCDE is acting as the Contracting Authority for this competition. The procurement is being conducted under an open procedure, as defined by the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered compliant:

• Turnover requirement:
• Average annual turnover for the last three financial years must equal or exceed €56,336 (excluding VAT).
• Alternatively, if established more recently, turnover must equal or exceed €56,336 (excluding VAT) for the years established (pro-rata for companies established within one year).
• Insurance: The successful tenderer must hold the following insurances for the term of the Services Contract:
• Employer’s Liability: €12.7 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Product Liability: Not specified
• Professional Indemnity: Not specified
• Cyber: Not specified
• Motor: Not specified
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience:
• Minimum of two similar projects completed in the last five years.
• Details of the scale, dates, and services provided for these projects must be submitted.
• Details of two referees for these projects, including contact names and details, are required.
• Personnel:
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) of key personnel assigned to the project.
• CVs must demonstrate relevant skills and experience for the services sought.
• CVs must be no longer than 2 pages.
• Key personnel must be available to work over the proposed timeframe.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The Services Contract will be awarded based on the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT). The specific award criteria and their weighting are not detailed in the provided extract. Tenderers must ensure their submission addresses all requirements to achieve a favourable evaluation.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit their tender electronically via the eTenders platform. The submission must include:

• European Single Procurement Document (eESPD): An electronic version must be completed and submitted.
• Tenderer’s Statement: A scanned, signed copy of the Tenderer’s Statement (Appendix 3), printed on the tenderer's letterhead. Signatures must be legible.
• Pricing Schedule: Completed as per Appendix 2.
• CVs: For key personnel, no longer than 2 pages each.
• Past Project Details: Information on a minimum of two similar projects from the last five years, including scale, dates, and services provided.
• Referee Details: Contact information for two referees associated with the past projects.
• Declarations: As required by the RFT, including those related to personal circumstances (Appendix 4) and any potential conflicts of interest.
• Other Documentation: Any other documentation specified in the RFT or its appendices.

All documents must be in English and compiled for immediate reading using Microsoft Word, Excel, and/or PDF formats.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Term: 3 years.
• Extension Option: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to extend the term for a period or periods of up to 2 years, with a maximum of one such extension.
• Pricing Validity: All prices quoted must remain valid for 6 months from the Tender Deadline.
• Payment Terms: Subject to and made in accordance with the Services Contract (Appendix 5). Invoices are deemed accepted if no queries are raised within 14 days.
• Termination: Either party may terminate with 14 days' notice if a breach continues for 7 calendar days. Termination for breach is also possible with 30 days' notice if breaches are capable of remedy.
• Sub-contracting: The successful tenderer must designate a single entity (Prime Contractor) responsible for the contract, irrespective of sub-contracting.
• Confidentiality: All information disclosed by the Contracting Authority must be treated as confidential.
• Tax Compliance: Compliance with all applicable EU and domestic tax laws is a condition of the contract. Tax clearance verification will be required.
• Environmental, Social, and Labour Law: Compliance with all applicable obligations in these fields is required.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Estimated Value vs. Contract Term: The estimated contract value of €140,840 over a potential 5-year term (3 years + 2-year extension) suggests a relatively modest annual spend, which may influence the scale of resources expected from bidders.
• Insurance Requirements: While Employer's Liability and Public Liability are specified, Product Liability and Professional Indemnity limits are not. This could represent an area for clarification or a potential risk if not adequately covered.
• Content Provision: The DCDE will provide the course content. This means the tenderer's primary role is technical development and hosting, rather than content creation, which simplifies the scope but requires clear content handover processes.
• Mobilisation and Build Timeline: The tight 1-month mobilisation and 4-5 month initial build timeframe requires efficient project management from the outset.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured to be accessible to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The estimated contract value is moderate, and the scope focuses on technical build, hosting, and maintenance rather than extensive content development.

• Credible Bidders: SMEs with demonstrable experience in eLearning development, LMS hosting, and digital course maintenance are well-suited. Expertise in web accessibility standards (EN 301 549) is also relevant.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The RFT encourages SMEs to explore forming relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises. Sub-contracting is permitted, with the prime contractor retaining overall responsibility.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing a compliant bid will likely require 5-10 days of effort, involving technical writing, pricing, and compilation of supporting documentation like CVs and project references.
• Pwin Signal: The tender is open procedure, suggesting no incumbent is automatically favoured. The emphasis on SME participation indicates a desire for a competitive market. The key success factors will be a strong technical proposal, clear understanding of the hosting and maintenance requirements, and competitive pricing.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: [RFT for Technical Build of Childrens Rights eLearning Course.docx]
• 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 5: Services Contract