Supply, delivery, installation, maintenance of tools and equipment for T4 subjects

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 the supply, delivery, installation, and maintenance of tools and equipment for Technology subjects at Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School. The estimated value for these goods is €60,000 (excluding VAT). The contract requires tenderers to provide a comprehensive list of specified equipment, detailed in the provided pricing schedule.

The scope encompasses the provision of a wide array of items across several categories, including:

• Drawing and Design Equipment: This includes items such as magnetic drawing equipment for chalkboards (compasses, set squares, rulers), T-squares, portable desktop drawing boards, graphics/DCG wooden box sets, steel rules, scaled rules, circle templates, flexi-curves, French curves, erasing shields, surveyor's measuring tapes, cutting mats, Show-me boards, scissors, and spray mount. It also covers water-soluble paints, foam board, pocket measuring tapes, glue guns with sticks, and electronic label makers.
• Hand Tools: This section details a variety of woodworking and metalworking hand tools. Examples include beech bench hooks, tenon saws, dovetail saws, bench planes, carpenters mallets, Warrington hammers, coping saws, marking gauges, try-squares, sliding bevels, measuring tapes, chisels (bevel edge and mortise), bit braces, auger bits, flat bits, claw hammers, carpenter's pincers, tinsman's mallets, mitre/corner clamps, hand mitre saws, hole-saws, files (smooth, needle, "Abra"), engineer's calipers (inside, outside, Vernier), dividers, centre punches, scribers, steel squares, stainless steel rules, universal bevels, stocks and dies sets, file cards, tinmans folding bars, pop riveting kits, ball-pein hammers, tinmans snips (straight and curved), hacksaw frames and blades, junior hacksaw frames and blades, glass cutters, hand-held engravers, letter stamps, combination spanners, drill sets, counter sink drills, leather sandbags, boxwood bossing mallets, vice grips (sheet metal), combination pliers, long-nose pliers, assorted screwdrivers, nail punches, Allen keys, combination oilstones, paper guillotines, G-clamps, sash cramps, and lathe pen turning kits.
• Power Tools: This category specifies portable cordless power tools, including 18-volt cordless routers with chargers and batteries, assorted router bits, non-slip router mats, 18-volt portable jigsaws with cases, chargers, and batteries, orbital sanders, palm sanders, pyrograph machines, cordless drills, airbrushes with head assemblies, and portable oil-less diaphragm type air compressors.
• Structure and Mechanisms: This section includes construction sets for building models of structures and mechanisms, packs of plastic gear wheels, pulley sets, shafting/shaft converters, plastic/wooden wheels, and assorted M3 and M4 screws, nuts, and washers. It also lists construction straws.
• Safety Equipment: This covers wall-mounted first aid cabinets, safety signs, non-mist safety goggles, ear defenders, face shields, student aprons, soap/hand cream dispensers, hazard warning floor tape, safety spectacles, handling gloves, fume displacement units, plastic bins, hand paper rolls, bench brushes, sweeping brushes, and industrial wet/dry vacuum cleaners with specific dust class ratings and HEPA filters.
• Machine Tools and Storage: This includes items such as vertical bandsaws, scroll saws, magnetic folding machines, guillotine-notchers, wood turning lathes, drilling machines, belt sanders, vacuum form cutting machines, vacuum forming machines, thermoplastic sheet strip heaters, plastic dip coating units, and electric sharpening systems. It also specifies tool storage presses.
• Digital Technologies and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM): This section lists requirements for laptops suitable for running laser cutters and 3D printers, visualisers, 3D printers, portable CNC design/vinyl cutters, and laser cutters/engravers.

All equipment supplied must meet the specified technical requirements, including dimensions, materials, power ratings, and warranty periods. The tender also notes that portable tools should be cordless where possible, and for power tools, the same brand should be supplied to ensure battery interchangeability. Installation and commissioning of certain equipment are required.

3. Background & buyer context

Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School is procuring tools and equipment to support its Technology subjects. The tender is driven by the need to equip the school's practical rooms and workshops with the necessary apparatus for student learning and practical instruction. The detailed equipment lists indicate a focus on Applied Technology and Technology curriculum areas, suggesting a curriculum development or enhancement initiative. The estimated value of €60,000 points to a significant investment in the school's practical facilities. The tender is conducted under an open procedure, indicating a desire to source from the widest possible market.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender. However, a note states that "In line with current legislation, where a company has an annual turnover of less than €12 million then audited accounts are not necessary."
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €12.7 million for any one claim arising out of a single occurrence.
• Public Liability: €6.5 million for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Product Liability: €6.5 million for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Certifications: Not explicitly stated as mandatory for all bidders, but specific equipment must conform to standards such as EN352/BS5108, EN60335-2-69, BS2092, and ISO thread form.
• Past experience: Tenderers must provide a minimum of two examples of projects of similar nature, scale, and value to the requirements being sought.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are not explicitly detailed with scoring weights in the provided extract. However, the tender is awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). This typically involves a balance of quality and price. The pricing schedule requires bidders to confirm that their proposed warranties meet the minimum requirements stated in the specifications.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit the following:

• Pricing Schedule: A detailed pricing schedule, in the format provided, must be completed. This includes confirming that required certifications and warranties meet minimum requirements.
• Case Studies: A minimum of two examples of past projects of similar nature, scale, and value must be provided.
• Declarations: Tenderers must confirm their tax status by supplying their Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Equipment Specifications: Tenderers must provide details for each item, including Tenderer's Reference for Alternative, Manufacturer, Catalogue No., Number of Years Warranty, Unit Cost (€ Exc. VAT), VAT %, and Total Cost (€ Exc. VAT and € Incl. VAT).
• Warranties: Confirmation that warranties meet the minimum stated in the specifications/pricing schedules is mandatory.
• Substitutions: Written notice of any proposed substitution must be provided with a minimum of 7 working days’ notice.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Installation and Commissioning: Tenderers supplying specialist equipment must install, commission, and sign off for safe use.
• Warranties: A minimum warranty period is specified for various items, with some requiring a minimum of 10-year warranties for hand tools and 2 or 3-year on-site warranties for power tools and machinery. Servicing costs during the warranty period must be included in the tender price.
• Delivery: Items are required to be supplied and installed on or before 30th November 2026.
• Termination: Either party may terminate the contract with 14 days' notice if the contract is not performed for 30 calendar days. Termination is also possible for breaches capable of remedy within 30 days of a written request.
• Payment Terms: Not explicitly detailed, but standard prompt payment legislation would apply.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Detailed Equipment List: The tender contains an extensive and highly specific list of equipment with detailed specifications. This requires bidders to have a thorough understanding of the technical requirements and potentially source from multiple manufacturers.
• Delivery Deadline: The requirement for supply and installation by 30th November 2026, shortly after the tender deadline, suggests a tight mobilisation period.
• Framework Mention: For certain items (e.g., TECH/B/201 Laptop, TECH/B/203 3D Printer), the documents mention availability through existing frameworks or specific suppliers (Oide, RS Group). Bidders should clarify if they are expected to supply through these channels or if they can offer alternatives.
• Warranty Inclusions: The requirement to include servicing costs during the warranty period within the tender price is a key cost consideration for bidders.
• Age Restrictions: A note regarding age restrictions for the Vertical Bandsaw (TECH/B/101) due to Health & Safety advice indicates a need for bidders to be aware of and comply with relevant legislation.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that specialise in the supply of educational equipment, tools, and machinery, particularly those with established supply chains for technical and vocational subjects.

• Credible Bidders: SMEs with a strong track record in supplying educational institutions, particularly secondary schools, would be well-positioned. Specialisation in areas like hand tools, power tools, machine tools, or digital manufacturing equipment would be advantageous. Bidders must be able to meet the insurance requirements and provide the specified warranties.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The tender documents do not explicitly prohibit or encourage consortia or sub-contracting. However, given the breadth of the equipment list, a consortium approach might be viable for a group of SMEs to cover all requirements.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing a bid would require significant effort, likely in the range of 10-20 days for a dedicated team. This is due to the extensive equipment list, detailed specifications, the need to source multiple items, and the requirement for past project examples.
• Pwin Signal: The tender is open, suggesting no explicit incumbent advantage is stated. However, the detailed specifications and the mention of existing frameworks for some items could favour suppliers already familiar with these channels or those who can efficiently source the specified items. The tight delivery deadline may also favour suppliers with readily available stock.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: [PS T4 Subjects Hansfield ETSS 68101M.x.xlsx]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact Email/Portal: Clarifications were to be submitted no later than 15:00hrs on 1st October 2026. Specific contact details are not provided in this extract.
• Key Attachments:
• [PS T4 Subjects Hansfield ETSS 68101M.x.xlsx] (Pricing Schedule/Equipment List)
• Relevant sections of the tender documents detailing insurance and warranty requirements.