Request for Tender for the provision of a rapid evidence review in relation to confidence in maths among children and young people in Ireland with a particular focus on girls and young women

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 Education and Youth Request for Tender for the provision of a rapid evidence review in relation to confidence in maths among children and young people in Ireland with a particular focus on girls and young women Not stated €80,000 Not stated Open procedure Not used Ireland 6 months 2026-11-05T17:00:00 Not stated

2. Scope of Work

The contractor will provide a rapid evidence review concerning confidence in mathematics among children and young people in Ireland. The review will have a specific focus on girls and young women. The estimated value for this service is €80,000 (excluding VAT) over a contract term of 6 months, with a potential extension of up to 3 months.

The core activities for the contractor include:

• Conducting a rapid evidence review: This involves systematically identifying, appraising, and synthesising existing research and data on the topic.
• Focusing on confidence in maths: The review must specifically address the levels and factors influencing confidence in mathematics.
• Targeting children and young people in Ireland: The scope is limited to the Irish context and the age group of children and young people.
• Prioritising girls and young women: A significant element of the review will be to examine the specific experiences and challenges related to maths confidence for this demographic.
• Producing a comprehensive report: The output will be a detailed evidence review report, likely including findings, analysis, and potentially recommendations.
• Adhering to contract terms: The contractor must comply with the terms and conditions outlined in the Services Contract (Appendix 5) and the Confidentiality Agreement (Appendix 6).
• Submitting documentation via eTenders: All tender submissions must be made through the www.etenders.gov.ie platform.
• Ensuring data protection compliance: Tenderers must adhere to all applicable national and EU data protection laws, including GDPR.

The contract duration is a fixed term of 6 months, with an option for a single extension of up to 3 months. The contracting authority estimates the expenditure to be €80,000 (excl. VAT) over the term and any extensions.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is initiated by the Department of Education and Youth. The requirement for a rapid evidence review stems from a need to understand and address the factors influencing confidence in mathematics among children and young people in Ireland, with a particular emphasis on girls and young women. This aligns with broader governmental and departmental objectives related to educational attainment, gender equality in STEM fields, and supporting the development of essential skills. The specific policy drivers or programmes are not explicitly detailed in the provided text, but the focus suggests an initiative to improve educational outcomes and participation in mathematics for all students, particularly addressing potential gender disparities. No incumbent provider is mentioned.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following criteria to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €12.7 million (not required for self-employed).
• Public Liability: €6.5 million.
• Product Liability: €6.5 million.
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Services are to be provided within Ireland.

Tenderers must also declare via the eESPD that they satisfy the selection criteria and that no mandatory grounds for exclusion apply, or that sufficient remedial measures are in place. Supporting documentation for economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability, must be provided upon request.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are weighted out of 1000 marks, with a minimum of 50% required in each criterion. The tender documents do not explicitly state the price/quality split or the specific weighting of individual award criteria. However, the requirement for a minimum score in each criterion indicates a balanced approach to evaluation.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit the following documentation:

• Electronic Single Procurement Document (eESPD): Completed electronically via www.etenders.gov.ie.
• Tenderer's Statement: A scanned, signed copy on letterhead, accepting RFT requirements.
• Pricing Schedule: Completed as per Appendix 2.
• Declarations:
• Bona Fides (via eESPD).
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Declaration as to Personal Circumstances of Tenderer (Appendix 4).
• Declaration of preparation of tender independently.
• Other Documentation: Any supporting documentation requested for selection criteria.

Submissions must be made via the electronic tenderbox on www.etenders.gov.ie. Tenders must be in English and compiled in Adobe PDF Reader format. There are file size limits of 250MB per file and 2GB total.

7. Key dates & process

Note: The clarification deadline date (22 October 2025) appears to precede the RFT issue date (17 September 2026). This is likely an error in the source document and should be verified.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: 6 months, with an option for one extension of up to 3 months.
• Payment terms: Subject to and made in accordance with the Services Contract at Appendix 5.
• Price validity: All quoted prices must remain valid for 6 months from the Tender Deadline.
• Currency variations: Borne by the Tenderer.
• Termination: The Services Contract allows for termination with 14 days' notice.
• Sub-contracting: Permitted, with the Prime Contractor retaining overall responsibility. Subcontractors whose share of the contract exceeds 10% must meet specific selection criteria and provide an eESPD.
• Confidentiality: Tenderers must treat all disclosed information as confidential.
• Insurance: Mandatory insurance levels must be held for the term of the contract.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Clarification Deadline Anomaly: The stated clarification deadline of 22 October 2025 precedes the RFT issue date of 17 September 2026. This discrepancy requires clarification from the buyer.
• Limited Scope for a Rapid Review: While termed a "rapid evidence review," the 6-month contract term for a comprehensive review focusing on a specific demographic within Ireland might be tight, depending on the expected depth and breadth of the analysis.
• No Specific Technical Requirements: The RFT does not detail specific methodologies or expected outputs beyond a general "evidence review." This leaves significant interpretation to the bidder, which could lead to varied proposals.
• Focus on Girls and Young Women: While a clear focus, ensuring the review adequately addresses this specific demographic without overlooking broader trends requires careful methodological design by the bidder.
• Potential for SME Participation: The buyer explicitly encourages SME participation and collaboration with larger enterprises, indicating a desire for broad market engagement.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in research, evidence synthesis, and educational analysis, particularly concerning gender in education. A credible bidder would likely be a research consultancy or an academic research group with a proven track record in conducting literature reviews and producing policy-relevant reports.

• Consortium/Sub-contracting: Allowed. SMEs are encouraged to form relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises. A Prime Contractor will be designated, responsible for the overall contract, even if tasks are sub-contracted.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Estimating bid preparation effort is difficult without knowing the specific requirements for the technical proposal. However, for a research-focused tender of this value, it could range from 5 to 15 days of effort for a small team, including proposal writing, methodology development, and pricing.
• Pwin signal: The tender value (€80,000) is moderate, suggesting it is not a large-scale, high-value contract that might attract major consultancies solely on financial scale. The specific focus on a niche area (maths confidence in girls) might favour specialist research firms. No incumbent is mentioned, and the open procedure suggests a competitive market.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: [20260917 RfT Confidence in Maths Final.pdf]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie.
• Key Attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 5: Services Contract