Supply of Classroom Equipment and Materials for Home Economics Studies

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 supply of classroom equipment and materials for Home Economics studies. The framework will serve post-primary schools and other City of Dublin ETB centres. The estimated total value of the framework over its life is €600,000.

The scope of work involves the provision of a range of items essential for Home Economics education. While a comprehensive list of specific items is not detailed in the provided metadata, the tender documents reference a "Home Economics Equipment List, Specifications and Tendering Guidance" from the Department of Education (July 2025). This guidance document is expected to detail the exact specifications, quantities, and potentially include items such as:

• Slot-in Electric Cookers: Specified with dimensions (c. 600x600x900 mm high), domestic classification, 4-plate ceramic hob, at least one dual-circuit ring, and a double oven with easy-clean enamel interior.
• General Classroom Equipment and Materials: This will encompass a broad spectrum of items required for practical Home Economics lessons, including but not limited to:
• Kitchen appliances and utensils.
• Sewing machines and related materials.
• Textiles and fabrics.
• Food ingredients and consumables.
• Cleaning supplies.
• Safety equipment.
• Storage solutions.
• Educational resources and aids.

The framework agreement will allow the City of Dublin ETB to issue Purchase Orders for specific requirements as they arise. Deliveries will be made to live educational environments, including post-primary schools, colleges, and education centres across Dublin. Tenderers must demonstrate the capability to deliver to these settings while minimising disruption to students and staff. Additional centres or schools may be added to the framework at the discretion of the City of Dublin ETB during its term.

3. Background & buyer context

The City of Dublin Education and Training Board (ETB) was established on 1st July 2013 under the Education and Training Boards Act, 2013. This procurement aligns with the ETB's responsibility to provide educational resources to its network of schools and centres. The tender follows guidance from the Department of Education's "Home Economics Equipment List, Specifications and Tendering Guidance" (July 2025), which advises educational bodies to utilise existing contracts or seek competitive tenders for such supplies. The procurement process is also informed by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) website, which suggests checking for suitable frameworks. The value of the procurement (€600,000) necessitates advertising on www.etenders.gov.ie, as it exceeds the €25,000 threshold for public advertisements. The strategic driver is to ensure that post-primary schools and ETB centres are equipped with the necessary materials and equipment to deliver effective Home Economics education.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Confirmation that turnover exceeded €150,000 during one of the last three years.
• Insurance:
• Employers Liability: €12.7m
• Public Liability: €2.6m
• Product Liability: €1m
• Bidders must confirm they have these insurances in place or can obtain them if successful.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender, beyond a general requirement for an appropriate quality assurance programme (either 3rd party certified or a comprehensive in-house system).
• Past experience: Demonstration of successful delivery of 2 previous comparable projects involving the components detailed within the recent past. These projects must be comparable in scope and complexity to the subject matter of this tender.
• Personnel: Confirmation that the tenderer will have sufficiently trained staff to support the contract. Evidence of necessary training and qualifications for assigned staff will be required if successful.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Deliveries are to City of Dublin ETB schools and centres. No specific geographic constraints for the bidder's location are stated.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), determined by a combination of cost and quality criteria.

Tenderers must achieve a minimum of 60% of the maximum marks for each qualitative criterion (Quality, Delivery, Reliability, Account Management, Green Procurement) to proceed.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must complete and submit the following:

• Tender Response Document (TRD): This document requires detailed responses to various sections, including compliance, financial and technical capacity, and qualitative award criteria. Specific page limits apply to certain sections.
• Pricing Schedule: To be submitted as per Appendix 3a.
• Form of Tender: Must be completed and signed.
• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD): To be completed via eTenders.
• Declarations: Including Article 57 declaration (personal circumstances), statutory obligations, and confirmation of information accuracy.
• CVs: Not explicitly mentioned, but personnel details are required within the TRD.
• Case studies: Two previous comparable projects must be detailed within the TRD.
• Referee Form: Appendix 7 requires details of two referees.
• Insurance Evidence: Confirmation of current insurance or a letter from a broker confirming ability to obtain required levels.
• Tax Clearance: Confirmation of tax compliance, verifiable through Revenue's online facility, or provision of a paper certificate or application status.
• Quality Assurance System Details: Information on the quality management system, whether 3rd party certified or in-house.
• Product Specifications: Product specifications, technical data sheets, catalogues, and/or brochures to support the proposed solution.
• Submission Portal: All submissions must be made via eTenders.

A mandatory site visit is not specified.

7. Key dates & process

The pricing proposal must remain valid for 12 months from the tender deadline.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Length: The framework agreement is for 12 months from the deadline for submission of tenders.
• Payment Terms: Not specified in the provided metadata.
• SLAs/KPIs: Not detailed in the provided metadata, but implied through criteria like delivery schedules and reliability.
• Liquidated Damages: Not specified.
• Termination: The Framework Member's appointment can be terminated forthwith and without liability by the Client under specific conditions, including material breach, failure to perform obligations, insolvency, or cessation of business. Accrued obligations remain.
• IP Ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting: Not specified.
• Guarantees/Bonds: Not specified.

Tenderers must accept the City of Dublin ETB Terms and Conditions of Framework without amendment.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Single-Party Framework: The establishment of a single-party framework agreement limits competition to one supplier for the duration, potentially reducing flexibility for the buyer if market conditions or needs change significantly.
• Turnover Requirement vs. Contract Value: The stated turnover requirement of €150,000 in one of the last three years is significantly lower than the total framework value of €600,000. This could indicate a desire to encourage smaller or newer entrants, or it might be a minimum threshold that doesn't fully reflect the potential scale of individual purchase orders.
• Department of Education Guidance: The tender explicitly references the Department of Education's "Home Economics Equipment List, Specifications and Tendering Guidance" (July 2025). Adherence to these specifications is critical, and any deviation could lead to disqualification.
• Minimum Scores for Qualitative Criteria: The requirement to achieve a minimum of 60% on each qualitative criterion means that a strong bid on cost alone will not secure the contract if quality aspects are not adequately addressed.
• No Price/Quality Split Specified: While criteria are weighted, the exact percentage split between cost and quality is not explicitly stated as a single figure (e.g., 60/40). The cost criterion is weighted at 30%, implying a 70% weighting for all qualitative criteria combined.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a single-party framework agreement with an estimated total value of €600,000.

• Who can credibly bid: A credible bidder would be a supplier with established experience in providing classroom equipment and materials, particularly for educational settings. They must demonstrate the capacity to meet the specified quality standards and delivery requirements for Home Economics studies. The turnover requirement of €150,000 in one of the last three years is accessible to many small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, the need to provide two comparable project references and meet insurance requirements will filter out businesses with limited track records.
• Consortium or sub-contracting: The documents do not explicitly prohibit consortium bids or sub-contracting. However, as a single-party framework, the primary responsibility and contractual relationship will be with the awarded entity. SMEs might consider partnering if they cannot meet all requirements individually.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Preparing a bid for this tender would likely require significant effort. This includes detailing product specifications, developing quality and delivery methodologies, outlining contract management and green initiatives, and gathering supporting documentation (references, insurance, tax clearance). An estimate of 10-20 days of dedicated effort for a small team is plausible, depending on existing documentation and product catalogues.
• Pwin signal: The tender is open, but the requirement for specific product specifications and quality standards, alongside the need for past project references, suggests that incumbent suppliers or those with a strong existing presence in the educational supply market may have an advantage. The single-party nature of the framework also means the buyer is seeking a primary supplier, potentially favouring firms with a comprehensive offering.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s): CFT8638595 - FWA for Home Economics - APPENDIX 3 - TRD - Final .docx; CFT8638595 - FWA for Home Economics - APPENDIX 7 - Referees.docx; CFT8638595a - FWA for Home Economics - APPENDIX 5a - FWA Undertaking.docx; CFT8638595 - FWA For Home economics - Appendix 9 - DOE List.pdf; CFT8638595 - APPENDIX 2a - Locations.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: CFT8638595
• Contact / Clarification Portal: eTenders.gov.ie
• Most Important Attachments:
• APPENDIX 3 - TRD - Final .docx (Tender Response Document)
• APPENDIX 9 - DOE List.pdf (Home Economics Equipment List, Specifications and Tendering Guidance)
• APPENDIX 5a - FWA Undertaking.docx (Terms and Conditions of Framework)