Call for Tender for The Supply, Delivery and Commissioning Of FET Metal Fabrication equipment

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

Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) seeks tenders for the supply, delivery, and commissioning of Further Education and Training (FET) Metal Fabrication equipment. The procurement is structured into four lots, with a supplier able to tender for one or all. The contract duration is one year, with a potential for one extension of up to twelve months. The ETB serves approximately 34,000 students across Donegal, managing fifteen post-primary schools and eighteen FET Centres.

The specific items to be procured are:

• Lot 1: One (1) Bandsaw.
• Lot 2: One (1) Hydraulic 4 roller plate bending machine.
• Lot 3: One (1) Ornamental Bending Machine.
• Lot 4: One (1) Plasma Cutter.

All equipment must be delivered to Donegal College, Drumnahoagh, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. Tenderers must quote all-inclusive prices, including shipping, packaging, delivery, customs duties, taxes, levies, and administration charges, under Incoterms® 2020 DDP (Delivery Duty Paid). Prices must be valid for 12 months from the tender deadline. Currency variations over the contract term are the responsibility of the tenderer.

The contract includes requirements for:

• Account Management: Nominated dedicated Account Manager responsible for the main point of contact, relationship management, dispute resolution, feedback, and proactive efficiency discussions. Account management activities are non-billable.
• Personnel: Any proposed changes to nominated personnel require written notification and approval from the Contracting Authority, with replacements needing equal or better qualifications and experience.
• Invoicing: Monthly invoices are required, quoting a Contracting Authority purchase order number, and submitted to [email protected].
• Compliance: Award of the contract is conditional on acceptance of the Contract Terms and Conditions. Tenderers must fulfil obligations irrespective of changes in EU and national regulations.

A service and maintenance contract may be entered into with the successful tenderer without a further procurement process, at the sole discretion of the Contracting Authority.

3. Background & buyer context

Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) is procuring FET Metal Fabrication equipment as part of its commitment to providing a comprehensive range of quality education programmes. As one of 16 ETBs established under the Education and Training Boards Act 2013, Donegal ETB is the largest education and training provider in County Donegal. Its remit covers levels 1-6 of the National Framework of Qualifications and extends across the entire county, including island communities.

The ETB's vision is "Donegal ETB – transforming learning, changing lives," with a mission to offer education and training opportunities that help students achieve their full potential and contribute to their communities. The procurement aligns with the ETB's strategy statement (2022-2026) and its core values of excellence, equality, care, community, and respect. The equipment is intended for use within its Further Education and Training (FET) Centres. The ETB is funded by the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

To be eligible for evaluation, tenderers must demonstrate compliance with the following selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Confirmation of turnover for each of the last three years, or pro-rata if more recently established. Specific minimum turnover figures are not stated.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €12.7 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Product Liability: €6.5 million Tenderers must confirm these insurances will be in place from the contract's effective date, cover Ireland, and have no exclusions impacting the specified coverage. Formal confirmation from an insurance company or broker will be requested from the successful tenderer prior to award.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Successful delivery of two (2) comparable contracts in the past three (3) years.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Additionally, tenderers must confirm full tax compliance with Irish Revenue Commissioners rules. Evidence of self-declared information must be provided within seven calendar days of request, prior to award. Failure to provide evidence or providing inaccurate information may lead to elimination. Tenderers may use the European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) for legal and financial compliance, but must provide specific evidence for technical capacity.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded on the basis of the most economically advantageous compliant tender. Tenderers must achieve a minimum score of 50% for each qualitative criterion (B, C, and D) to avoid elimination. The lowest cost tender meeting the minimum qualitative requirements will receive the maximum score for cost. Qualitative criteria are scored using a system from "Outstanding" (90-100%) to "Poor" (1-24%), with less than 50% being unacceptable.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit their responses using the provided Tender Response Document and Appendix 5 Pricing Schedule. Key submission components include:

• Method statement / response document: Completed Tender Response Document, addressing all award criteria with detailed information.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: Completed Appendix 5 Pricing Schedule, with all-inclusive prices in Euro, exclusive of VAT.
• Case studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Declarations:
• Declaration of Bona Fides (as per Art. 57 of Directive 2014/24/EU).
• Confirmation of tax compliance.
• Confirmation of insurance levels.
• Confirmation of previous experience.
• Details of quality assurance, health & safety, and environmental policies.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via www.etenders.gov.ie.

7. Key dates & process

These dates are estimates and may be extended by the Contracting Authority.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term + extension: The contract is for one (1) year, with a potential for one (1) extension of up to twelve (12) months, subject to performance, business needs, budget, and legal obligations.
• Payment terms: Invoices are submitted monthly for the preceding month and must quote a Contracting Authority purchase order number.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Supplier performance will be continuously monitored. Specific SLAs/KPIs are not detailed in this section but will be agreed upon.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified for this tender.
• Termination clauses: Either party may terminate at 14 days' notice under specific conditions (e.g., breach capable of remedy within 30 days). The contract can be terminated for failure to fulfil obligations.
• IP ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting rules: Not specified for this tender.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified for this tender.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Indicative Budget vs. Contract Value: The indicative budget of €65,000.00 (excluding VAT) over the term and any extensions appears low relative to the insurance requirements (€12.7m Employers Liability, €6.5m Public/Product Liability). This suggests a potential mismatch or that the insurance is a standard requirement irrespective of the contract's scale.
• Lot Structure: The tender is divided into four lots, but the total indicative budget is for the "Contracts" (plural), implying the budget may be spread across all lots. Tenderers must clarify how the budget applies if bidding for multiple lots.
• Tight Timeline: The period between the tender issue date (August 24, 2026) and the submission deadline (September 16, 2026) is short, especially considering the clarification deadline (September 9, 2026).
• "Award to Runner Up" Clause: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to award the contract to the next highest-scoring tenderer if it cannot award to the designated successful tenderer, which is a standard but notable clause.
• No Amendments to Contract: Tenderers must accept the Contract Terms and Conditions as provided in Appendix 3 without amendment.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured to allow participation by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The Contracting Authority explicitly encourages SMEs to form relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises to meet financial, economic, or technical capacity requirements.

• Who can credibly bid: A credible bidder would be a supplier of metal fabrication equipment with a proven track record in supplying comparable items to educational or training institutions. While specific turnover figures are not stated, the insurance requirements suggest a business of a certain scale. SMEs can bid individually if they meet the criteria, or as part of a consortium.
• Consortium or sub-contracting: Consortiums and joint ventures are permitted. Tenderers can rely on the resources of other entities to meet requirements, provided they can prove these resources will be available. A single point of contact must be appointed for consortia.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Preparing a compliant bid will require detailed responses to technical and quality criteria, including outlining environmental and innovation initiatives. This could involve 5-10 days of effort for a focused bid team, depending on existing documentation and product knowledge.
• Pwin signal: The tender uses an open procedure, suggesting it is open to new entrants. The award criteria favour a balance of cost and quality, with quality and fitness for purpose carrying significant weight (40%). The "lowest cost tender that also meets all of the minimum requirements of the qualitative award criteria will receive the maximum score achievable under this criterion" indicates that price is a major factor, but only after minimum quality thresholds are met. There is no explicit mention of an incumbent.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename(s): Call For Tender for The Supply, Delivery and Commissioning of FET Metal Fabrication equipment for Donegal ETB.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: 8911890
• Contact email or clarification portal: Questions and Answers facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Most important attachments:
• Appendix 2 – Specification
• Appendix 5 – Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 3 – The Contracting Authority’s Terms and Conditions