IDA Ireland USA (West Coast) PR Agency Services

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 | :-------------- | :---------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------- | :---------------- | :--------- | :--------------- | :----- | :--------- | :---------------- | :-------------------------- | :---------------- | IDA Ireland USA (West Coast) PR Agency Services 79416000-1 (Public relations services) €850,000 excl. VAT Not stated Open Procedure Single US West Coast 2 years + 1 year extension 14 September 2026, 12:00 November 2026

2. Scope of Work

This tender seeks to establish a single-party framework agreement for Public Relations (PR) Agency Services on the US West Coast. The primary objective is to support IDA Ireland's Global Communications team in showcasing Ireland as a leading investment location for companies seeking to establish or expand their international operations. The services will focus on amplifying IDA Ireland's messaging to US West Coast companies, with the goal of attracting further Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from this market.

The core activities for the appointed PR agency include:

• Media Relations: Ensuring IDA Ireland's brand and Ireland's business proposition achieve prominent presence across West Coast media, specifically within print and digital channels.
• Sector Focus: Prioritising positioning within the technology sector, as well as life sciences (medical technologies and biopharma), and financial services. Occasional media exposure and coverage beyond the Bay Area is also sought.
• Messaging Amplification: Supporting the communication of IDA Ireland's strategy, "Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025-29," and highlighting Ireland's attributes such as its skilled workforce, FDI track record, pro-business policies, ease of doing business, strong third-level education sector, and access to the European market.
• Target Audience Engagement: Engaging with US West Coast companies, particularly those in the San Francisco Bay Area, which have a significant presence in Ireland.
• Geographic Reach: While the primary focus is the US West Coast, the agency will be expected to provide occasional media exposure and coverage beyond the Bay Area.
• Strategic Alignment: Supporting IDA Ireland's four key strategic objectives: Strengthen long-term investment, Scale cutting-edge innovation, Drive sustainable change, and Maximise regional opportunities.
• Growth Driver Focus: Aligning PR efforts with key growth drivers identified by IDA Ireland: digitalisation and AI; semiconductors; health; and sustainability, across core sectors including Life Sciences, International Financial Services (IFS), High Value Manufacturing, Engineering, and Technology and Content & Consumer Services.

The framework agreement will be for an initial term of two years, with an option to extend for a further one year, up to a maximum of three years. The estimated total value of services over the potential three-year lifetime of the agreement is €850,000 excluding VAT.

3. Background & buyer context

IDA Ireland, a globally leading Investment Promotion and Development Agency (IPDA), is responsible for attracting and developing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Ireland. The agency operates with national responsibility and has client engagements across the US, Europe, and Asia. IDA Ireland's head office is in Dublin, with regional and overseas offices, including two on the US West Coast (Palo Alto and Irvine).

This procurement is driven by IDA Ireland's 2025-2029 strategy, "Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation." This strategy builds on past successes in transforming the Irish economy, which has seen the FDI sector become a national asset, contributing 11% of total national employment and over €38 billion annually. Ireland is recognised internationally as a centre for value and knowledge creation, with significant annual exports.

The agency aims to attract further FDI from the US West Coast, a key market where numerous companies leverage Ireland as an entry point to the EU. The PR agency will support the amplification of IDA Ireland's messaging to this specific market. IDA Ireland currently engages Berlin Media Relations for PR services across its East Coast territory, indicating a strategic approach to market coverage.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for this tender:

• Turnover Requirement: Tenderers must confirm compliance with the minimum turnover requirement by indicating "Yes" in the provided table where turnover in relevant years equals or exceeds the minimum. Specific figures for this tender are not explicitly stated in the provided text, but the general requirement for confirmation is present.
• Insurance: Bidders must hold, or undertake to obtain if successful, the following insurance levels:
• Employers Liability: €13,000,000 or foreign equivalent per claim or series of claims.
• Public Liability: €6,500,000 or foreign equivalent per claim or series of claims.
• Professional Indemnity: €6,500,000 or foreign equivalent on an ‘each and every claim’ basis and in annual aggregation.
• Cyber Insurance: €5,000,000 or foreign equivalent on an ‘each and every claim’ basis.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past Experience: Tenderers must have at least one reference project that meets the stated minimum requirements. Specific details on the nature, size, or period for these references are not detailed in the provided extract.
• Personnel: The tender requires a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 Core Team members to be proposed. Minimum years of experience for these roles are not specified in the provided extract.
• Geographic / Facility Constraints: The PR agency must be based on the West Coast of America.

Tenderers are required to confirm their compliance with these minimum requirements. Reliance on a parent company's resources to meet turnover requirements is permitted.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award of the contract will be based on the evaluation of tenders against defined criteria. While specific scoring weights and sub-criteria are not detailed in the provided extract, the tender process follows an Open Procedure under EU Directive 2014/24/EU. The evaluation will identify the tenderer that best meets IDA Ireland's requirements. It is stated that IDA Ireland does not bind itself to accept the lowest priced or any tender. Presentations may be used to moderate provisional marks, potentially adjusting them upwards or downwards based on the clarity and satisfaction demonstrated by the tenderer.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers are required to submit the following documents as part of their tender response:

• Tender Response Document: This document, provided as Appendix 1, must be completed to provide all necessary details for a sufficient response. It should clearly identify where text is supported by additional information such as organisational charts, detailed work programmes, or CVs.
• Form of Tender (Pricing Response Proposal): Provided as Appendix 2, this document must be completed, signed, and returned. Failure to sign or complete it in the required format will result in rejection.
• Tenderers Statement: To be included within the Form of Tender.

These documents must be submitted as separate documents. All submission documents must be in Word, Excel, or PDF portable document format. Documents requiring a signature must be signed by an authorised signatory. The fully completed documentation should be clearly marked with the tender title and the Tenderer's Name.

Tenderers are also advised to review, but not submit at this stage, the Framework Agreement and Contract Terms and Conditions (Appendix 3) and the Confidentiality Agreement (Appendix 4).

7. Key dates & process

Presentations by selected tenderers are likely to occur in October 2026.

8. Contract terms that matter

The framework agreement will have an initial duration of two years, from November 2026 to November 2028, with an option to extend for one additional year, up to November 2029. Supplier performance will be continually monitored. Contracts awarded under the framework will be for a duration of two years, with a potential one-year extension, and may extend beyond the framework agreement's expiry date.

All prices tendered must be all-inclusive, expressed in US dollars ($) only, and exclusive of applicable taxes. Currency variations over the contract term will be borne by the Tenderer. The framework agreement does not permit the entire obligations of the Contractor to be subcontracted, and any subcontracting requires the sole discretion and consent of IDA Ireland. Tenderers will be considered the prime contractors and the sole point of contact for contractual matters, assuming sole responsibility for service delivery.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Estimated Value vs. Contract Term: The estimated total value of €850,000 excl. VAT over a potential 3-year term suggests an average annual spend of €283,333. This is a moderate value, but the tender is for a single party framework, which could imply a concentrated effort from the successful bidder.
• Geographic Constraint: The requirement for the PR agency to be based on the US West Coast significantly narrows the potential bidder pool.
• No Post-Tender Negotiations: As an Open Procedure, IDA Ireland will not enter into discussions regarding agreement terms and conditions with preferred tenderers post-submission. Any issues with the proposed contract terms must be raised during the query period.
• Presentation Moderation: While additional marks are not awarded for presentations, they can be used to moderate provisional scores, potentially leading to adjustments based on the clarity and satisfaction demonstrated.
• Incumbent Mention: IDA Ireland currently engages Berlin Media Relations for PR services on its East Coast territory. While not directly relevant to the West Coast tender, it indicates an existing relationship and a structured approach to PR coverage.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a single-party framework, meaning only one supplier will be appointed. While IDA Ireland encourages participation by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and suggests exploring relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises, the nature of the PR services required for a global investment promotion agency suggests a need for significant market reach and established media relationships on the US West Coast.

A credible bidder would likely be an established PR agency with a strong track record and demonstrable expertise in media relations within the technology, life sciences, and financial services sectors on the US West Coast. The insurance requirements (€13m Employers Liability, €6.5m Public Liability, €6.5m Professional Indemnity, €5m Cyber) are substantial and may be a barrier for very small or newly formed entities.

Consortium or sub-contracting is permitted, which could allow SMEs to participate by partnering with other firms to meet the requirements. The bid preparation effort is likely to be moderate to high, given the need to detail service offerings, personnel, and pricing in the specified formats, and potentially prepare for a presentation. The mention of an existing incumbent for the East Coast suggests IDA Ireland values established relationships and proven performance.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: RFT for PR Agency Services US West Coast Final.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: 202608USAWCPR
• Contact Email for Support: [email protected] (for registration/submission difficulties, specifically for US-based SMEs)
• Key Attachments:
• Appendix 1: Tender Response Document
• Appendix 2: Form of Tender (Pricing Response Proposal)
• Appendix 3: Framework Agreement and Contract Terms and Conditions