26-009F Provision of Test Partner Services

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1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

This procurement seeks a single framework agreement for the provision of independent testing and quality assurance services across Uisce Éireann's ICT estate. The contract will cover five main elements of testing services.

The core testing services include:

• Functional Testing: Verifying software features against documented requirements, using testers including business users to identify UI/UX issues and complex bugs missed by automated tools.
• Regression Testing: Re-testing existing features after updates or bug fixes to ensure new code has not introduced errors.
• Automation Testing: Developing scripts and frameworks for rapid, large-scale execution of repetitive tests.
• API & Integration Testing: Validating data flow and communication between internal modules and external third-party systems.

Non-functional testing services encompass:

• Test automation, tool & framework management: Developing and maintaining automated regression packs using Uisce Éireann's tooling.
• Performance & Load Testing: Assessing software performance under high traffic and stress to identify stability limits.
• Accessibility Testing: Ensuring product usability for individuals with disabilities, adhering to standards such as WCAG.
• Compatibility Testing: Verifying operation across various browsers, operating systems, and physical devices.

Strategic and managed services include:

• QA Consulting & Audits: Analysing existing testing processes to recommend improvements, tools, and strategies.
• Test Strategy & Planning: Creating roadmaps, test cases, and traceability matrices for full requirement coverage.
• Managed Testing Services: Assuming ownership of the QA function, including team leadership and real-time reporting.
• CI/CD Integration: Embedding automated testing into DevOps pipelines for faster release cycles.

Additionally, the scope includes:

• RPA (Robotic Process Automation) Service: Defining vision and ROI, aligning RPA strategy with business goals, creating repeatable processes, coordinating teams, and ensuring governance.
• Environment & Data Management: Managing non-production environments, coordinating cross-project environment requirements, data alignment, environment booking, configuration, usage, and demand. This also includes data readiness, implementing environment requirements, network connectivity/firewall requests, test application/account access, and test execution/application support.

3. Background & buyer context

Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) is procuring these Test Partner Services through a negotiated procedure. The requirement stems from the need for independent testing and quality assurance across its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) estate. This procurement is for a single framework agreement, indicating a strategic approach to managing its testing needs. The contract term is four years, with an option for a one-year extension, totalling a potential five years. A key consideration is the independence of the test partner, with specific restrictions preventing suppliers who have performed development or implementation services for Uisce Éireann from providing independent testing for those same systems. This aims to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure objectivity.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Average annual turnover of €7,000,000 for each of the two financial years preceding the submission deadline. This can be met by the applicant or by relying on the financial capacity of other entities, provided specific undertakings and documentation are submitted.
• Insurance: Not specified for this tender.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: A minimum of two contracts undertaken in the last three years that are similar in nature, scale, and complexity to the scope of this contract. These must have been carried out in a similarly demanding environment.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Additional mandatory requirements include:

• Health & Safety: Compliance with all applicable law, evidenced by a Safety Statement, Health and Safety Policy, or equivalent, including policy, management structure, responsibilities, training, accident procedures, and risk assessments. Details of enforcement actions or prosecutions by the HSA or equivalent bodies in the last five years must also be provided.
• Sustainability: Experience and technical capacity to implement sustainability measures, aligning with Uisce Éireann's Net Zero Carbon by 2040 commitment. This requires examples of contracts where sustainability actions were applied, details of supporting systems/certifications, and staff training.
• Quality: A documented and operational Quality Management System (QMS) relevant to the services.
• Employee Related Matters: No findings of unlawful discrimination by any court, tribunal, or comparable body in the last three years, or formal investigations by the Workplace Relations Commission, Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, or equivalent. If "Yes" is answered, sufficient evidence of corrective action must be provided.
• Business Continuity: A formal, documented Business Continuity Plan (BCP) or policy covering critical service continuity.
• Data Protection: No fines, penalties, or enforcement actions by a Data Protection Authority in the last three years. If "Yes" is answered, details of the context, regulator engagement, and compliance improvements must be provided.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The selection of the preferred tenderer will be based on the most economically advantageous tender. The evaluation will consider the following criteria:

Criterion Weight (%) Sub-criteria