County Carlow Student Enterprise Programme Coordinator

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 procurement seeks a single service provider to deliver the County Carlow Student Enterprise Programme (SEP) over a two-year framework agreement. The programme aims to promote entrepreneurship among second-level schools in County Carlow. The maximum annual budget for this framework is €25,000 excluding VAT.

The contractor's responsibilities include:

• Recruitment and Registration:
• Recruiting secondary schools in County Carlow to participate in the SEP.
• Registering schools and student teams, managing all associated administration and communication.
• Collecting school registration forms and student GDPR forms for those attending the county final.
• Programme Delivery:
• Delivering up to four workshops/masterclasses per participating secondary school.
• Workshops will cover:
• Idea generation
• Market research
• Production
• Costing and pricing
• Finance
• Presentations
• Providing guidance for the preparation of a 6-page Business Report (Senior teams) and an A1 poster (Junior/Intermediate teams).
• Workshops are expected to be delivered in-person to schools and will typically consist of a double class (80-120 minutes), with adaptability required.
• Event Coordination:
• Coordinating and organising the SEP Launch Event, including inviting schools, identifying and organising speakers, and managing the event on the day.
• Coordinating and organising the County Final, including liaising with judges and Carlow County Council LEO personnel, organising venue and display stands, preparing teachers and students for presentations, issuing scoring matrices, and collating scores.
• Support for National Finals:
• Preparing County Final winners for the national final.
• Providing three mentoring sessions (maximum 60 minutes each) for each County Final winner (Senior, Intermediate, Junior categories) to help them prepare for the National Finals.
• Ensuring County Winners submit a business report/poster in digital format for National judges.
• Reporting and Liaison:
• Regular reporting to and liaison with Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office.
• Submitting a monthly spreadsheet detailing participating students, schools, visits made, etc.
• Contract Management:
• Nomination of a dedicated contract manager responsible for the overall working relationship, performance reporting, dispute resolution, and suggesting improvements. Contract management activities are non-billable.
• Garda Vetting:
• Undertaking Garda Vetting as required for personnel involved in the project.

Costs for venue hire and refreshments for the County Final will be borne by Carlow County Council's Local Enterprise Office and should not be included in the quotation.

3. Background & buyer context

Carlow County Council, through its Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Carlow, is procuring this service. The LEO's primary objective is to promote economic and entrepreneurial activity within the county, fostering local enterprise potential in the micro-business sector. This involves creating an enterprise culture, providing advice, training, mentoring, networking, and financial support.

The Student Enterprise Programme (SEP) is described as the flagship enterprise programme at second level nationally, involving approximately 22,000 students. For Carlow, the provision of a quality SEP is central to the LEO's enterprise promotional activities. The programme will be promoted across junior, intermediate, and senior categories in the 11 schools within the county. This procurement aims to engage a service provider to deliver the various stages of the SEP in these local schools, complementing the academic skills of teachers with practical business experience.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for evaluation. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance: Confirmation of the following insurances being in place is mandatory:
• Employer's Liability: €13,000,000 (where applicable)
• Public Liability: €2,500,000
• Professional Indemnity: €1,000,000
• Carlow County Council must be indemnified under the supplier's Employer's Liability (if applicable) and Public Liability insurances, either specifically or by way of an Indemnity to Principals clause.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Bidders must provide information demonstrating two examples of delivering a similar Student Enterprise Programme. Details should include company/organisation name, URLs, outputs, outcomes, and comparability to this initiative. Additional relevant experience of a similar nature should also be detailed.
• Personnel: Tenderers must specify the key lead and project team members, demonstrating their specific knowledge and experience in designing and delivering successful Student Enterprise programmes.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender, beyond the programme being delivered within County Carlow.

Tenderers may rely on the resources of other entities to meet these requirements, provided they can prove these resources will be at their disposal. If a consortium or joint venture is formed, a single point of contact responsible for overall delivery and authorised to sign the agreement must be appointed.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The framework will be awarded to the most economically advantageous compliant tender, evaluated against the following criteria:

The cost criterion is calculated based on the lowest cost tender receiving maximum points. Qualitative criteria require a minimum score of 50% of the maximum marks for each criterion.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the eTenders.gov.ie postbox facility.

• Method statement / response document: Tenderers must provide detailed information in the Tender Response Document (TRD) covering all aspects of the award criteria. Specific page limits for sections are not stated, but the "Resource Required" section indicates a maximum of 4 A4 pages for tenderer responses.
• CVs: Not explicitly mentioned, but "Relevant Expertise of Leader and Team" requires demonstration of specific knowledge and experience.
• Pricing schedule: A price per workshop delivered (inclusive of admin, travel, preparation/material development, and all other costs) is required. A separate cost for the coordination of the launch event, the County Final, and mentoring the winning teams should also be provided.
• Case studies: Two examples of delivering a similar SEP programme are mandatory under Criterion B.
• Declarations:
• Confirmation of tax compliance.
• Confirmation of required insurances.
• Acceptance of the Contracting Authority’s Framework Terms and Conditions.
• Disclosure of any conflicts of interest.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted electronically via the eTenders.gov.ie postbox facility.

Tenderers are prohibited from amending any text or content of forms or declarations provided.

7. Key dates & process

The dates are estimates and cannot be guaranteed. A tender validity period of 180 days is required from the closing date for submissions.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term + extension: The framework agreement is for a maximum period of two years. Contracts awarded under the framework may extend beyond the expiry date of the agreement.
• Payment terms: Not specified, but payment will only be made in respect of participating schools.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Regular reporting to Carlow County Council LEO is critical. Performance will be reviewed through contract management activities.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified.
• Termination clauses: Not specified.
• IP ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting rules: Tenderers may rely on the resources of other entities. If a consortium is successful, it must establish legal personality.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Single-Operator Framework: This structure means only one provider will be appointed, creating a high-stakes environment for bidders. The "single-operator framework" designation implies that once established, the single operator is entitled to be considered for all contracts within the scope.
• Low Maximum Budget: The maximum annual budget of €25,000 ex VAT is notably low for a two-year framework, suggesting a limited scope or potential for variable demand. This figure is explicitly stated as indicative, with no guaranteed expenditure.
• Recruitment Responsibility: The responsibility for recruiting secondary schools and student teams lies with the service provider, which could be challenging and resource-intensive, especially given the low budget.
• Garda Vetting Requirement: This adds an administrative and compliance step for the successful bidder.
• Tender Validity Period: A 180-day tender validity period is required, which is standard but requires bidders to commit resources for an extended evaluation phase.
• No Guaranteed Work: The documentation repeatedly states there is no guarantee of additional contracts beyond the initial programme, despite the framework's two-year duration.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is open to a range of service providers capable of delivering youth enterprise programmes. A credible bidder would likely be a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) or a sole trader with demonstrable experience in programme coordination, education, or youth development.

• Who can credibly bid: Organisations or individuals with a proven track record in coordinating educational programmes, particularly those focused on entrepreneurship or business skills for young people. Experience with secondary school engagement and event management is essential. The required insurance levels are significant for very small entities.
• Consortium or sub-contracting: Consortiums are permitted, and if successful, will be required to establish legal personality. Bidders can rely on the resources of other entities to meet capacity requirements.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Given the need to demonstrate past experience, detail methodology, and provide pricing for specific activities, bid preparation could require 5-10 days of effort for a focused team. This includes gathering evidence, writing the response, and ensuring compliance with all submission requirements.
• Pwin signal: The single-operator nature of the framework and the specific focus on County Carlow suggest that an incumbent or a provider with strong existing relationships within the local education or enterprise sector might have an advantage. The low budget and specific scope might also deter larger, more diversified organisations.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: [DRAFT 3A Tender Single-Operator Framework Open Procedure (RFT) Student Enterprise Programme 2026-27.docx]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
• Contact for Queries: [email protected] or via the Questions and Answers facility on www.etenders.gov.ie.
• Most Important Attachments:
• Framework Terms and Conditions (Appendix 1)
• Tender Response Document (TRD) structure (implied by section requirements)
• Detailed Specification of Requirements (Section 2.3)