Digital Content Production and Related Services in support of Public and Stakeholder Engagement

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 | :--------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------- | :-------------- | :------- | :------------- | :--- | :------- | :-------------- | :------------------ | :-------------- | Department of Culture, Communications and Sport Digital Content Production and Related Services in support of Public and Stakeholder Engagement Not stated €775,000 Not stated Open procedure Not stated Ireland 24 months 2026-10-20 16:00 Not stated

2. Scope of Work

The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (DCCS) seeks to procure digital content production and related services to support public and stakeholder engagement. The estimated value for the proposed Services Contract is €775,000 (excluding VAT) over an initial term of 24 months, with a potential extension of up to 12 months.

The scope of services includes, but is not limited to:

• Digital Content Production: This encompasses the creation of various digital assets. Specific types of content are not detailed in the provided extract, but the context implies a need for engaging materials for public and stakeholder communication.
• Related Services: This is a broad category that will likely include strategy, planning, distribution, and analysis related to the digital content.
• Public and Stakeholder Engagement: The core purpose of the services is to facilitate effective communication and interaction with the public and various stakeholder groups relevant to the Department's remit.
• Support to the Department: The services are intended to directly assist the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport in achieving its communication objectives.

The tender documents specify that the contract will be awarded under an open procedure, with the potential for multiple lots, although the number of lots is not stated. The contract duration is a fixed 24 months, with an option for the Contracting Authority to extend it by up to 12 months. Tenderers are required to provide all-inclusive pricing in Euro, exclusive of VAT. The contract will be governed by the terms and conditions outlined in Appendix 5 of the RFT.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is initiated by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (DCCS) to enhance its capabilities in digital content production and related services. The objective is to improve public and stakeholder engagement through effective digital communication strategies. The tender is being conducted under an open procedure, as per the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016. The Department aims to encourage participation from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and larger enterprises are encouraged to consider including SMEs in their proposals. The estimated expenditure for the services is €775,000 (excl. VAT) over the contract term.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must satisfy the following criteria to be considered compliant:

• Turnover requirement: Tenderers must demonstrate a substantial turnover track record and experience in providing digital content production and related services for citizen engagement. Financial details for 2022 and 2021 must be provided, including overall turnover, turnover specifically for digital services, and the number of associated clients for digital services. If the establishment date is more recent, pro-rata turnover/profitability information is required.
• 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: N/A
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Tenderers must have substantial experience in the provision of digital content production and related services in support of citizen engagement for clients with a national and/or international profile. Specific project numbers or values are not detailed in the extract.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers must also declare via eESPD that they satisfy the selection criteria and that no mandatory grounds for exclusion apply, or provide evidence of reliability if exclusion grounds do apply.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The Services Contract will be awarded on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender. The award criteria and their weighting are as follows:

Tenderers must achieve a minimum of 50% on each individual non-cost related criterion. The specific scoring for "Experience, Track record and Team" is not detailed in the provided extract.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the eTenders platform (www.etenders.gov.ie). Key submission requirements include:

• Method statement / response document: Tenderers must follow the format of the RFT and respond to each element in the order presented. The RFT itself must not be altered.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: All Tenderers must complete the Pricing Schedule at Appendix 2. Prices must be all-inclusive, in Euro, and exclusive of VAT.
• Case studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Declarations:
• European Single Procurement Document (eESPD) must be completed electronically.
• Tenderer’s Statement (Appendix 3), signed and scanned, confirming acceptance of contract terms.
• Declaration as to Personal Circumstances of Tenderer (Appendix 4).
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Disclosure of any Registrable Interest.
• Declaration of independent preparation of the Tender.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via the electronic tenderbox on www.etenders.gov.ie. File size limits apply (250MB per file, 2GB total). Tenders must be submitted in English.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The Services Contract will have an initial term of 24 months, with an option for the Contracting Authority to extend it for up to 12 months. Payments for Services will be made in accordance with the Services Contract at Appendix 5. Tenderers must confirm their acceptance of the Services Contract terms by signing the Tenderer’s Statement; amendments to the contract are not permitted. Currency variations over the contract term will be borne by the Tenderer. The successful Tenderer must maintain specified insurance levels throughout the contract term. Compliance with environmental, social, and labour laws is mandatory. Any Registrable Interest must be fully disclosed.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Estimated Value vs. Contract Term: The estimated value of €775,000 over a potential 36-month period (24 + 12 months) suggests an average annual spend of approximately €21,500. This relatively low annual spend for digital content production and engagement services might indicate a specific, potentially niche, or limited scope of work, or that the Department anticipates fluctuating demand.
• Broad Scope: "Digital Content Production and Related Services" is a broad description. The lack of specific examples or detailed requirements in the provided extract means Tenderers will need to make significant assumptions about the exact nature and volume of work.
• SME Encouragement: While common, the explicit encouragement for SMEs and larger enterprises to include SMEs in proposals suggests the Department may be looking for a supplier with a strong SME integration strategy or potentially a consortium bid.
• No Site Visit: The "Not Used" notation for site visits indicates no mandatory site visit is scheduled for Tenderers to inspect the Contracting Authority's premises.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured to be accessible to a range of suppliers, with a specific encouragement for SMEs. A credible bidder would likely be a small to medium-sized enterprise with demonstrable expertise in digital content creation, social media management, and public engagement strategies. Larger enterprises are also invited to bid, but are encouraged to consider how they will incorporate SMEs into their proposals, either as subcontractors or through partnerships. The bid preparation effort is likely moderate, requiring detailed responses to the RFT, completion of the eESPD, and submission of a pricing schedule. The tender does not explicitly mention an incumbent supplier. The emphasis on SMEs and the broad service description suggest the competition is open to firms that can offer specialized digital services rather than a full-service agency, or to consortia formed to meet the requirements.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: [20260914_RFT_DigitalServices.pdf]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Contact: Queries via the messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie.
• Key Attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 5: Services Contract