Reprint of Foclóir Póca - A Bilingual Pocket Dictionary

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 proposals for the reprinting of Foclóir Póca, a bilingual pocket dictionary. The contractor will be responsible for the printing process, from receiving the digital and hard copy of the dictionary to delivering the finished product to specified locations.

The core activities include:

• Printing:
• Printing in two colours (black and Pantone 300 CV).
• Printing the cover on one side in four-colour process.
• Laminating the outside of the cover.
• Finishing:
• Folding, gathering, collating, and thread-sewing the internal pages.
• Scoring the cover.
• Materials:
• Using 70 gsm White Offset paper for the internal pages.
• Using 300 gsm Linen Finish Board for the cover.
• All paper must be from FSC sources and be fully traceable, with printers required to supply traceability certificates and documentation upon request. The relevant FSC Logo must be inserted on the imprint page and the back cover.
• Proofing:
• Providing hard copy page colour proofs.
• Supplying 2 unbound copies of the dictionary for approval before binding.
• Delivery:
• The contractor must adhere to a specific delivery schedule and locations.
• Deliveries are to be made to three distinct points:
• Five copies to An Gúm, Foras na Gaeilge, 63-66 Sráid Amiens, D01H275.
• 15 pallets to Áisíneacht Dáileacháin Leabhar (ÁIS), Aonad 3 Dunshaughlin Business Park, Dún Seachlainn, Co. na Mí, A85 V624.
• The balance of copies to Spectrum, Unit 4044, Kingswood Avenue, Citywest Business Campus, Naas Road, Dublin 24, D24 T6YE.
• Pallet sizes must conform to EUR (EUR 1) 800 x 1200 x 144 mm or EUR (EUR 3) 1000 x 1200 x 144 mm.
• Pallets should be stacked no more than 1000mm high from the ground.
• Each pack/parcel must be labelled with the description "Foclóir Póca ISBN 978-85791-924-0" and the number of copies contained.
• A copy of the delivery docket must be sent to [email protected].
• Quantity: Tenderers must provide separate quotes for print-runs of 20,000 copies and 30,000 copies.
• Format: The dictionary size is 157 mm x 110 mm, with 680 pages plus cover.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is initiated by Foras na Gaeilge, an organisation responsible for promoting the Irish language. The tender is for the reprinting of Foclóir Póca, a bilingual pocket dictionary. This initiative aligns with Foras na Gaeilge's mandate to support and disseminate Irish language resources. The project is a direct response to a need for updated physical copies of this established resource. The tender documents indicate a clear timetable for the procurement process, aiming for contract signing by late August 2026 and completion of the reprinting by October 2026.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Professional Indemnity: not less than €0.5 million.
• Employer's Liability: required for companies/employers before contract agreement.
• Public Liability: required for companies/employers before contract agreement.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Evidence of having previously supplied printing services for publications similar in size and specification to Foclóir Póca.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers must self-declare that they meet these minimum requirements at the time of submission. Evidence will be required within 5 working days of being successful, or the contract may be awarded to the next highest scoring tenderer. Tenderers must also confirm they have fulfilled all obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions and taxes in Ireland and their country of establishment. They must also declare they are not subject to bankruptcy, winding-up, or similar proceedings, have not been convicted of offences relating to professional conduct, and have not been found guilty of professional misconduct.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The tender evaluation will be conducted in two stages: compliance check and then assessment against award criteria. The award criteria are weighted as follows:

The tender achieving the highest mark across these criteria will be deemed the most economically advantageous tender. Tenderers may be required to provide customer references for criterion 1. For criterion 2, deviations from the RFT will be assessed for eligibility. Criterion 3 requires a production schedule outlining key dates. Criterion 4 requires a detailed cost proposal in EURO, excluding VAT, with VAT specified separately.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via email to [email protected] by the deadline. The submission must include:

• General Information: Name, address, telephone number, and email address of the tenderer and any involved persons or third parties. A brief corporate biography.
• Personal Standing: A statement confirming that none of the circumstances listed in Article 57 of EU Directive 2014/24/EC apply to the Tenderer, using the format provided in Appendix 2. This includes declarations regarding bankruptcy, criminal convictions, professional misconduct, tax and social security obligations, and misrepresentation.
• Compliance: Tenders must include all documentation specified, follow the RFT format, and respond to each element in order.
• Declarations:
• Appendix 2: Declaration as per Article 57 of Directive 2014/24/EC and Regulation 57 of SI284/2016.
• Appendix 3: Self-declaration Certificate confirming the ability to meet minimum requirements in Section 5.1.1.
• Appendix 4: Declaration of Bona Fides.
• Pricing Schedule: Costs must be quoted in EURO, excluding VAT, using the template provided in Section 6.1.4, detailing printing costs and any other costs.
• Production Schedule: A schedule outlining key dates, including receipt of proofs and final delivery, must be provided.
• Experience Evidence: Tenderers may be required to provide customer references to demonstrate previous experience with similar print jobs.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Validity: Tenders must remain valid for six months from the submission deadline.
• Payment: Foras na Gaeilge reserves the right to withhold payment if contractual obligations regarding service quality are not met. The contract is subject to the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997.
• Costs: No additional fees beyond those quoted will be paid; any extra costs must be borne by the tenderer. All costs must be specified excluding VAT, with VAT shown separately.
• Confidentiality: Information supplied by Foras na Gaeilge is confidential and subject to relevant legislation, including GDPR and FOI Acts. Tenderers must clearly identify any commercially sensitive information they wish to remain undisclosed.
• Governing Law: The contract will be governed by the laws of the Republic of Ireland.
• Sub-contracting: Not specified for this tender.
• Guarantees/Bonds: None required.
• Termination: Foras na Gaeilge reserves the right to terminate the process or change its basis without notice.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The tender has a tight timeline, with a short window between the submission deadline (August 12th) and the expected notification of the successful bidder (August 13th), followed by contract signing on August 27th. The printing completion target is October 2026. This compressed schedule may pose a risk for bidders needing to mobilise quickly. The requirement for FSC-certified paper and traceability documentation could be a challenge for printers not already compliant or familiar with these specific requirements. The specification for two print quantities (20,000 and 30,000 copies) requires bidders to quote for both, adding complexity to the pricing submission. The value of €50,000 is relatively low for a print run of this scale, suggesting a focus on cost efficiency.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with established printing capabilities, particularly those experienced in producing books with specific paper sourcing requirements (FSC certified) and colour printing specifications.

• Credible bidders: Printing companies with a proven track record in producing publications of similar page count, size, and print volume. Experience with FSC certification and traceability documentation is essential.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The RFT mentions that where a tender is submitted by a group or consortium, a lead consultant must be nominated who will be contractually responsible. This indicates that consortium bids are permissible, provided a clear lead is identified.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Estimating bid preparation effort is difficult without knowing the bidder's existing systems and experience. However, gathering pricing for two quantities, preparing a production schedule, compiling evidence of experience, and completing the required declarations could take a small team 3-5 days.
• Pwin signal: The tender is advertised on an open basis, suggesting it is not exclusively for an incumbent. The relatively low value and specific nature of the print job may attract specialist printers. The award criteria heavily favour cost (60%), indicating that price will be a significant differentiator.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: Focloir Poca EN-GA.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email: [email protected]
• Key attachments:
• Appendix 1 – Specification
• Appendix 2 – Declaration as per Article 57 of Directive 2014/24/EC and Regulation 57 of SI284/2016
• Appendix 3 – Self-declaration Certificate
• Appendix 4 – Declaration of Bona Fides