Consultancy Service for the Design, Development and Delivery of an interactive Online Training programme titled, ‘Understanding Self-Harm’

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

The contract requires a service provider to design, develop, and deliver an interactive online training programme titled, ‘Understanding Self-Harm’. This programme is intended for members of the public and must focus on action learning outcomes. The service provider will operate under a Single Party Service Contract.

The core activities and deliverables include:

• Design and Development: Creating the structure, content, and interactive elements of the online training programme. This involves translating the subject matter of 'Understanding Self-Harm' into an engaging and effective digital learning experience.
• Delivery: Making the online training programme accessible and operational for the target audience. This implies hosting, technical support, and user management aspects related to the online platform.
• Content Focus: The programme must be interactive and emphasize action learning outcomes, meaning participants should be able to apply what they learn.
• Target Audience: The primary audience is members of the public.
• Integration: The service provider may need to cooperate with third-party suppliers for integration purposes, as specified in Schedule 1 of the contract. This cooperation should not incur material costs for the service provider.
• Partnership: The service provider will deliver the services in partnership with the HSE and any other entities contracted by the HSE.
• Reporting and Information: The service provider must maintain accurate records and provide information to the HSE upon request, relating to the services and their obligations. This includes providing access for audits and inspections.
• Quality Management: The service provider must operate a comprehensive quality management system and comply with legal requirements and standards set by recognised bodies.
• Implementation Plan: Services will be rolled out according to an agreed Implementation Plan (Schedule 8).
• Change Management: The service provider must adhere to a Change Control Procedure for any modifications to the agreement or services.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement follows a tender advertised by the Health Service Executive (HSE) on 10/09/2026. The intention was to award a Single Party Service Contract for the provision of an online training programme focused on 'Understanding Self-Harm'. The programme is designed for members of the public and aims to achieve action learning outcomes. The HSE is the contracting authority, and the scope of the contract extends to all sectors of the HSE, including public health systems and organisations funded or contracted by the HSE. The contract is a direct award following a tender process, with the Service Provider having submitted a successful bid.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: €6.5 million per claim.
• Employer’s Liability Insurance: €12.7 million per claim.
• Product Liability Insurance: €6.5 million per claim.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: €6.5 million per claim.
• Deductibles for Public Liability, Product Liability, and Professional Indemnity are €6,500 per claim. Employer's Liability has a €0 deductible.
• Insurances must be maintained from the Commencement Date until six years following the completion of the Term for Professional Indemnity, and until completion of the Term for Public Liability and Employer's Liability.
• Certifications:
• The service provider warrants it will operate a comprehensive quality management system.
• Not specified for other specific ISO/EN/BS standards or registration bodies.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: The service provider must ensure services are rendered by appropriately experienced, qualified, and trained personnel. A dedicated "Service Lead" must be appointed, available at all times and acting as a single point of contact.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Review meetings will take place at a location designated by the HSE within the Republic of Ireland. The service provider must comply with HSE safety and security requirements if accessing HSE premises.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The tender documents do not explicitly detail the award criteria or scoring methodology. However, the contract agreement states that the Service Provider's Tender Response, including any clarifications, forms part of the agreement. The order of precedence in case of conflict is: 1) the terms of the Agreement, 2) the Tender Response, and 3) the HSE Tender Document Pack. This implies that the evaluation would have been based on the HSE Tender Document Pack and the bidder's response against the requirements outlined therein. The contract value of €100,000 suggests a procurement likely falling under EU thresholds where detailed scoring might not be mandated in the same way as higher-value contracts.

6. Submission requirements

The provided documents do not detail the specific submission requirements for the tender itself (e.g., format of response, page limits, CV requirements). However, the contract agreement outlines ongoing submission and information requirements:

• Pricing Schedule: Not specified for the tender submission, but Schedule 2 details "Charges" (monies payable).
• Declarations: The European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) is mentioned as part of the Tender Response. Tax compliance evidence must be provided annually.
• Site Visit: Not specified for the tender submission.
• Submission Portal: Not specified for the tender submission, but the tender was advertised by the HSE.
• Other: The Service Provider must provide evidence of insurance upon request. They must also provide satisfactory evidence of tax compliance annually. Accurate and up-to-date books and records must be maintained.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: The contract has an Initial Term of 12 months from the Commencement Date.
• Extension: The HSE has the right to extend the contract for two additional 12-month periods, up to a maximum of 36 months total. Extensions require at least six months' written notice prior to the expiry of the current term.
• Payment Terms: Payment of Charges is in accordance with Schedule 2. Invoices are issued following completion of services. VAT is payable in addition to Charges at the rate prescribed by law. Payments are made in Euro to a nominated bank account, in accordance with the Prompt Payments Act 1997 (as amended). Interest is payable on overdue amounts.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not explicitly detailed in the provided contract sections, but the service provider warrants to operate a quality management system and provide services with due skill, care, and diligence.
• Liquidated Damages: Not specified in the provided contract sections.
• Termination: The agreement can be terminated in accordance with Clause 16 or Conditions 17-22 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Contract Version 7. Payments are due only up to the date of termination.
• IP Ownership: All Intellectual Property Rights in Proprietary Materials provided or made available by a Party remain vested in that Party. Data provided by the HSE remains vested in the HSE.
• Sub-contracting: Not explicitly detailed in the provided contract sections, but the service provider warrants to obtain equivalent warranties from any sub-contractors.
• Parent-Company Guarantee/Bond: Not specified in the provided contract sections.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Single Party Contract: The tender specified the intention to award a Single Party Service Contract, which may limit competition if not widely advertised.
• Limited Value: The estimated value of €100,000 is relatively low for a service involving design, development, and delivery of online training, potentially indicating a focused scope or a pilot phase.
• Broad HSE Definition: The definition of "HSE" is extensive, encompassing the Irish Public Health System, HSE-funded organisations, and public/private entities operating health and social care services. This implies potential for varied operational contexts.
• Order of Precedence: The contract clearly defines an order of precedence for governing documents (Agreement > Tender Response > HSE Tender Document Pack), which is crucial for managing potential conflicts.
• Data Ownership: All reports, forms, records, files, data, and materials derived from HSE information are the exclusive property of the HSE. Data file transfers upon termination are subject to HSE payment of reasonable costs.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with demonstrable expertise in designing, developing, and delivering online training programmes, particularly in sensitive areas like mental health or self-harm awareness.

• Credible Bidders: A viable bidder would possess a strong portfolio of e-learning development, instructional design capabilities, and experience in creating interactive content with measurable learning outcomes. Experience working with public sector clients, specifically healthcare or educational bodies, would be advantageous. The required insurance levels (€6.5m PI, PL, PD; €12.7m EL) are substantial and may be a barrier for very small or newly established firms without significant financial backing or access to specialist insurance.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The contract documents do not explicitly prohibit sub-contracting, but the warranty requirement for sub-contractors suggests it is permissible if managed correctly. Consortium bids are not explicitly mentioned but are a common route for SMEs to meet larger contract requirements.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Given the need to detail programme design, development methodology, and potentially provide evidence of quality management systems, bid preparation could range from 10-20 days for a focused SME, depending on their existing templates and proposal development capacity.
• Pwin Signal: The tender was advertised by the HSE, a major public sector body. The "Single Party Service Contract" designation suggests a specific provider was sought. Without information on previous tenders or incumbent providers, it's difficult to assess incumbent strength. The relatively modest contract value might suggest it's not a high-stakes strategic procurement for the HSE, potentially making it more accessible.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s): [App 3 Service Contract Agreement.pdf]
• eTenders CFT ID: HSE Ref 26697
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Most Important Attachments:
• [App 3 Service Contract Agreement.pdf] (The primary document provided)
• Schedule 1 (Services description)
• Schedule 2 (Charges/Pricing)
• Schedule 8 (Implementation Plan)