Certified training programme in Sustainable Food Packaging

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 Food Drink Ireland Skillnet seeks proposals for the provision of a certified training programme in Sustainable Food Packaging. The programme is intended for individuals employed within the Irish food and drink sector. The contract will be established as a single-party agreement with the selected tenderer. The estimated value is €25,000, subject to trainee numbers, with no guaranteed expenditure. The initial contract duration is one year, with an option to extend by a further year, up to a maximum of three years, contingent on satisfactory performance, business needs, and budget availability.

The successful provider will be expected to:

• Deliver an education programme specifically for food and drink manufacturers to support learners in developing a sustainable packaging strategy for their businesses.
• Acknowledge Food Drink Ireland Skillnet funding, the Food Drink Ireland Skillnet Network, and project partners in all public information provided on courses delivered for the Network, in the required format.
• Provide reports, data, and information by deadline dates and in the prescribed format established by the network contract and Skillnets guidelines.
• Provide any additional information requested by the Network from time to time.
• Collect all evaluation data required by the Network and pass it to the Network manager in a standardised format on agreed dates.

The programme's target duration is 10-12 half-day sessions. The learning methodology should primarily be online, incorporating a combination of lectures, working groups, projects, theses, and reading. Tenderers should consider company time constraints and the difficulty of releasing employees for extended periods, incorporating part-time, blended, distance learning, or e-learning options where possible. The programme should ideally be certified, with assessments emphasising practical application of learning transferable to the business. The minimum, maximum, and recommended number of students per programme must be outlined in the proposal.

3. Background & buyer context

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is published to invite suitable organisations to provide proposals for the provision of a Sustainable Training Programme for the Food Drink Ireland Skillnet network. The Food Drink Ireland Skillnet network is funded by member companies and grant assistance from Skillnet Ireland Ltd, through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation, Research and Science. Funding for the Food Drink Ireland Skillnet is confirmed on an annual basis. The Food Drink Ireland Skillnet was launched in 2013 and is dedicated to training within the Irish Food and Drink sector, jointly funded by the government and companies within the sector. Ibec is the promoter of the Food Drink Ireland Skillnet Network and will act as the Contracting Body. The procurement aligns with government policy, including the Action Plan for Climate Change and the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy, driven by changing consumer demands and the strategic priority of sustainability within the food production sector.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance: Not specified for this tender.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience:
• Outline of relevant experience in delivering similar projects, specifically the successful design, development, and delivery of similar programmes.
• Experience within a network structure (with multiple organisations) is preferred, either within the Food Sector or across any other sector where learnings can be transferred to the Food and Drink sector.
• A minimum of 2 referees' names and contact details are required. Each reference should specify recent, directly relevant training services provided at specific sites and outline the training delivered (name of programme, duration, number and type of trainees). References to open public programmes are acceptable, but identification of in-company programmes for companies relevant to the Food and Drink sector would be an advantage.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Trainees must generally be in paid employment within private sector enterprises in the Food and Drink sector and be based in the Republic of Ireland. Employees from organisations funded or part-funded by public funds cannot receive grant aid.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The selection is based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). A minimum overall score of 42 is required.

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document:
• Cover sheet (Appendix III).
• Overview of the Organisation: A brief summary of the organisation, its activities, services, and structure relative to the education requirement.
• Proposal: An outline of the proposed course including:
• Programme structure / modules / method of delivery
• Topics
• Learning methodology
• Qualification received
• Student Assessment Process
• Minimum, Maximum, and Recommended number of students per programme.
• Cost – broken down into fixed costs (e.g., tutor cost, venue cost) and variable costs (e.g., certification, materials).
• Processes in place to manage training development, delivery, evaluation, and feedback to the network.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: Fees stated in proposals should be fixed amounts for courses. All prices quoted should be in Euros and be inclusive of VAT.
• Case studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Declarations:
• Completed, signed, and dated declaration (Appendix IV).
• Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC): A valid TCC is a pre-condition for contract award. Tenderers must declare compliance with taxation legislation and confirm their ability to submit a valid TCC if requested.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be emailed as a soft copy to [email protected] by Friday, 28th August 2026, before 5 pm. Late tenders will not be considered.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract will be for an initial period of 1 year, with an option to extend by a period of 1 year, to a maximum of 3 years. Contract extension is dependent on satisfactory performance, business needs, and budget availability. Invoicing is to be submitted on a course-by-course basis. If a course spans more than one year, alternative invoicing arrangements allowing for two invoices may be implemented. All information provided by tenderers must be treated in strict confidence, subject to obligations under law, including the Freedom of Information Act. Any conflicts of interest must be fully disclosed; failure to do so may lead to disqualification or invalidation of an award.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The contract value is stated as "€25,000 subject to trainee numbers," with no guaranteed expenditure. This structure implies that the actual contract value could be significantly lower or higher depending on uptake, making financial forecasting for bidders challenging. Funding for the Food Drink Ireland Skillnet is confirmed annually, meaning contract extensions are subject to ongoing budget availability, introducing a degree of uncertainty for longer-term planning. The tender specifies a preference for online or blended learning methodologies, which may limit providers who primarily offer in-person training. The requirement for certification with a heavy emphasis on practical application suggests a need for providers with strong industry links and demonstrable impact measurement capabilities.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is open to organisations with proven experience in designing, developing, and delivering training programmes, particularly in the food sector or transferable skills. A strong track record in sustainable packaging or related environmental/sustainability fields would be advantageous. The requirement for online/blended learning and certification with practical application suggests that specialist training providers or consultancies with established course structures and assessment methods are well-suited. Consortium bidding or subcontracting is not explicitly mentioned but is not prohibited. The bid preparation effort is likely moderate, requiring a detailed proposal outlining course content, methodology, and pricing. Given the specific nature of the training and the target audience, the incumbent provider, if any, may have an advantage due to existing relationships and programme familiarity. However, the open tendering process suggests genuine competition is sought.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: RFP for Provider of a Sustainable Packaging Programme to the FDI Skillnet 2026.doc
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email / clarification portal: Queries to be made via eTenders questions and answer facility. Email address for submission: [email protected].
• Most important attachments:
• Appendix I – Specification of Requirements
• Appendix II – Instructions to Tenderers
• Appendix IV – Declaration