Single Party Framework for the provision of Fixed Voice and Voice over IP (VoIP) Services and Associated Products and Services

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 provision of fixed voice and Voice over IP (VoIP) services, along with associated products and services, for the Irish Prison Service (IPS). The framework will cover the supply, installation, maintenance, and support of these telecommunications systems across multiple locations.

The scope of work includes:

• Provision of Fixed Voice and VoIP Services: This encompasses the core telecommunications infrastructure required for the IPS.
• Associated Products and Services: This is a broad category that will likely include hardware (telephones, network equipment), software, installation, configuration, and ongoing support.
• Staff House Telephony System: The IPS operates a staff house telephony system across 14 locations. The framework must support and potentially upgrade or replace this system.
• Prisoner Phone System (PPS): The IPS also operates a Prisoner Phone System (PPS) across 14 locations. The framework will cover the provision and management of this system.
• Minimum Voice Channel Capacity: The proposed SIP Trunk solution must provide a minimum of 400 simultaneous voice channels to the IPS Voice Core.
• Service Availability: The services must be available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.
• Contract Duration: The framework agreement is expected to last for a minimum of six years, with potential for extensions.
• Mobilisation and Go-Live: The service must be in operation within 3 months of contract award.
• Maintenance and Support: Ongoing maintenance and support for all provided systems are a key component of the service.
• Potential for Supplementary Tenders: The framework allows for the invitation of supplementary tenders for specific services or products under the agreement.

The framework aims to consolidate the provision of these essential communication services, ensuring a consistent and reliable service across all IPS facilities.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is driven by the Irish Prison Service's need to establish a consolidated and modern telecommunications infrastructure. The existing systems include a Staff House telephony system and a Prisoner Phone System (PPS), both operating across 14 locations. The establishment of a single-party framework agreement indicates a strategic decision to centralise the management and provision of these critical voice services. This approach is likely intended to achieve greater efficiency, cost control, and service consistency compared to managing multiple disparate contracts. The tender documents do not explicitly link this procurement to a specific government programme, but it aligns with general public sector objectives for digital transformation and efficient service delivery.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: The tendering party must confirm that its turnover exceeded €1,200,000 per annum in each of the last three financial years.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million for any one claim or series of claims.
• Public Liability: €6.5 million limit for any one claim or series of claims.
• Product Liability: €1 million limit for any one claim or series of claims.
• Cyber Insurance: €1 million limit for any one claim or series of claims.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award of the contract will be based on the principle of the "lowest cost tender that also meets all the minimum requirements of the qualitative award criteria." This indicates a price-focused award mechanism, where the most economically advantageous tender will be selected from those that satisfy all mandatory qualitative requirements. The specific weighting and scoring methodology for qualitative criteria are not detailed in the provided metadata.

Criterion Weight (%) Sub-criteria