Provision of DC Pension Master Trust 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 procurement seeks a provider for Defined Contribution (DC) Pension Plan services, to be delivered via a Master Trust arrangement. The existing scheme, established in 2005, currently serves approximately 110 employees with combined annual contributions of €2.5 million. The primary objectives for transitioning to a Master Trust are to achieve cost efficiency, improve member engagement, and enhance investment solutions.

The scope of services required from the successful tenderer includes:

• Investment Offering:

• A diverse range of investment options tailored to members' risk profiles and retirement goals.

• Inclusion of lifecycle or target-date funds.

• Access to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and responsible investment options.

• Regular review and enhancement of investment choices.

• Communication & Digital Support:

• Development and implementation of member engagement strategies and tools.

• Provision of digital platforms for account access, transactions, and information dissemination.

• Delivery of educational resources and retirement planning tools.

• Multichannel communication capabilities, including email, app notifications, and webinars.

• Administration & Operations:

• Onboarding of new members and ongoing member administration.

• Processing of contributions collection.

• Comprehensive record keeping and data management.

• Handling compliance reporting and regulatory filings.

• Responding to member queries and providing support services.

• Data analytics and insights generation.

• Fees & Cost Management:

• Ensuring a transparent fee structure.

• Implementing cost optimisation strategies.

• Providing regular reporting on fees and charges.

Risk rebroking services are explicitly excluded from the scope of this contract.

3. Background & buyer context

Dublin Port Company (DPC) is the contracting entity for this procurement. DPC is a state-owned, self-financing Designated Activity Company responsible for the management, control, operation, and development of Dublin Port. Established in 1997, DPC provides facilities, services, accommodation, and lands for ships, goods, and passengers. In 2025, the port handled approximately 36 million gross tonnes and saw 6,649 ship arrivals, with 1.7 million passengers.

DPC operates under a Masterplan guiding its development up to 2040, focusing on capacity building and Port City Integration. Key strategic objectives include integrating new developments with the surrounding landscape, enhancing natural and built environments, promoting sustainable design, and applying Universal Design principles for accessibility.

The current procurement aims to transition DPC's existing Defined Contribution (DC) pension scheme, established in 2005, to a Master Trust arrangement. This move is driven by the strategic objectives of achieving cost efficiency, improving member engagement, and enhancing investment solutions for its employees.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must satisfy the following minimum requirements to be considered for the next stage of the competition. These criteria are detailed in the Qualification Questionnaire (Part B).

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance: Not specified for this tender.
• Certifications: Data centres used for hosting must be ISO27001 accredited (or equivalent certification) with robust security measures.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Bidders are reminded that they may rely on the resources of other entities to meet suitability requirements, provided they can prove these resources will be at their disposal. If relying on other entities, specific information must be provided for each relevant entity.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The Qualification Phase will evaluate applications strictly on their merits according to published selection criteria, minimum requirements, and weightings as specified in the Qualification Questionnaire. The five highest-scoring candidates, provided sufficient qualifying submissions are received, will be invited to the tender stage. The specific award criteria and their weightings for the qualification stage are not detailed in the provided extract but will be specified in the Qualification Questionnaire (Part B). The evaluation will determine suitability for the next stage, not the final contract award.

6. Submission requirements

Candidates must complete and submit the Qualification Questionnaire (Part B), provided as a separate editable document.

• Method statement / response document: The provided Questionnaire Response Document (Part B) must be used. Personalisation, including branding or colours, is not permitted.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: Not applicable at this qualification stage.
• Case studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Declarations: Candidates must associate their company with the competition on eTenders.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Electronic submission via the eTenders platform (www.etenders.gov.ie) is mandatory. Responses must be uploaded as a ZIP file.

Candidates must ensure they regularly monitor eTenders for any clarification documents. Web links within responses will not be viewed. Additional material must be specifically highlighted with relevance explained.

7. Key dates & process

The procurement will follow a Negotiated Procedure, starting with this Qualification Phase. Up to five candidates will be invited to the Tender Stage, followed by potential negotiation and a final Best and Final Offer (BAFO) submission.

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract will have an initial term of five years, with two optional extensions of five years each, allowing for a maximum duration of 15 years. This extension is subject to strategic alignment, satisfactory performance, business needs, and budget constraints. The estimated total value of purchases over the contract's lifetime is between €500,000 and €1,000,000, though this is indicative and no guaranteed expenditure is stated.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The procurement uses a Negotiated Procedure, allowing for stages of qualification, tendering, and negotiation, including the possibility of a Best and Final Offer (BAFO). The Contracting Entity reserves the right to award directly after the tender stage without negotiation. The estimated contract value (€500,000 - €1,000,000) is relatively low for a 15-year potential term, suggesting a focus on cost efficiency and member engagement as key drivers rather than significant capital expenditure. The requirement for data centres to be ISO27001 accredited is a standard but critical technical requirement. The absence of specific turnover or insurance requirements at this qualification stage suggests the focus is on technical and operational capability, with financial standing likely assessed in the subsequent tender stage.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a qualification phase to shortlist candidates for a subsequent tender stage. The focus on Master Trust services suggests a need for specialised financial services expertise.

• Who can credibly bid: Firms with established experience in providing Defined Contribution pension Master Trust services, including investment management, member administration, digital platforms, and compliance reporting. This typically includes larger financial institutions or specialised pension administrators.
• Consortium/sub-contracting: Candidates are encouraged to explore forming relationships with SMEs or larger enterprises. A grouping may be required to establish legal personality if successful. Prime Candidates can rely on the resources of other entities to meet requirements.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Significant effort is required for the Qualification Questionnaire, involving detailed responses on capabilities and experience. Estimating bid-prep effort is difficult without seeing Part B, but it would likely be several days for a specialist firm.
• Pwin signal: The Negotiated Procedure and the qualification stage suggest a competitive process. The absence of specific financial thresholds in the qualification documents may indicate a broad initial pool, but the subsequent tender stage will likely involve more stringent evaluation. The incumbent's structure (standalone Trust, outsourced administration) is being replaced, suggesting no direct incumbent advantage in the Master Trust model itself.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: PQQ - Provision of DC Pension Master Trust Services.18.06.2026.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: 8419755
• Contact email or clarification portal: Messaging facility on eTenders only.
• Most important attachments:
• Part A – Competition Overview
• Part B – Qualification Response Document (separate document)