Single Party Framework Agreement for bespoke electrical control and automation panels

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

This tender seeks to establish a Single Party Framework Agreement for the design, manufacture, testing, supply, delivery, installation, and commissioning of custom bespoke electrical control and automation panels. These panels are intended for use within educational facilities operated by Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The agreement aims to appoint a "strategic partner" rather than a sole supplier, fostering mutual benefits and knowledge sharing.

The scope of work encompasses:

• Design: Developing custom electrical control and automation panel designs. This includes the configuration and integration of automation systems, industrial automation services, and related hardware and software. The objective is to enable end-to-end consistency from planning and engineering to operations, modular automation, and IT/OT convergence on a fully integrated platform.
• Manufacturing: Producing the bespoke electrical control and automation panels according to the designed specifications.
• Testing: Conducting comprehensive testing, including:
• Full ISO 9001 quality-assured Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT).
• Full ISO 9001 quality-assured (or similar) Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
• Testing must ensure compliance with relevant standards such as EN ISO 13850 and EN 60204-1:2018 + A1:2025 where applicable.
• Supply: Providing the manufactured and tested panels.
• Delivery: Transporting the panels to designated educational facilities within KWETB's operational area.
• Installation: Installing the panels at the educational facilities.
• Commissioning: Ensuring the panels are fully operational and integrated into existing systems.

A critical requirement is that all proposed equipment must be fully integrated with the current KWETB (CELTEC) automation platform/operating system. This system is based on Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 technology-enabled PLCs using Standard Robot Command Interface (SRCI) in TIA Portal V19.0 or newer.

The initial call-off contract is anticipated to involve the supply of 12 x Electrical Panel/Enclosures, with specific details provided in Appendix 2 (24V Panel - Front Connectors Requirements). The estimated value for this initial contract is between €100,000 and €250,000. Follow-on supplies and new supplies directly linked to the initial contract are also envisaged, though there is no guarantee of additional contracts.

3. Background & buyer context

Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) is a statutory education and training authority established under the Education and Training Boards Act 2013. It operates under the governance of the Department of Education and SOLAS, delivering further education, training, apprenticeship, youth, and community education services across Counties Kildare and Wicklow. KWETB collaborates with industry, employers, and community stakeholders to provide learner-centred programmes supporting skills development, workforce upskilling, innovation, and regional economic growth.

This procurement is driven by KWETB's need to establish a Single Party Framework Agreement for custom electrical control and automation panels. These panels are required for use within KWETB's educational facilities. The organisation, specifically through its CELTEC division, has a strong track record in delivering industry-responsive training in manufacturing, robotics, automation, electrical systems, and instrumentation, supporting over 125 companies. The strategic intent behind this tender is to appoint a "strategic partner" to ensure mutual benefits and knowledge sharing, rather than simply a supplier.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered eligible:

• Turnover requirement: Tenderers must demonstrate a minimum average annual turnover of €200,000 for each of the three preceding financial years.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €13 million limit for any one claim or series of claims.
• Public Liability: €6.5 million limit for any one claim or series of claims.
• Product Liability: €6.5 million limit for any one claim and in aggregate.
• Professional Indemnity: Minimum limit of €1.5 million for any one claim or series of claims.
• Certifications: Tenderers must demonstrate measures in place to ensure the delivery of a quality service, for example, by way of an externally certified system. Compliance with relevant Environmental legislation and guidelines is also mandatory.
• Past experience: Tenderers must demonstrate successful delivery of services of a comparable nature and scale within the last five years.
• Personnel: Tenderers must demonstrate access to at least the minimum numbers of skilled personnel stated (specific numbers not detailed in this extract).
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award of the framework agreement will be based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), determined by a combination of qualitative and price criteria.

Criterion Weighting (%) Sub-criteria