Multi Party Framework Agreements for Specialist Equipment and Supplies for Apprenticeship and Further Education and Training

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 to establish eight multi-party framework agreements for the provision of specialist training equipment and supplies to support apprenticeship and further education and training programmes. The framework agreements will have a maximum duration of four years, subject to annual performance review. Individual contracts awarded under the framework may extend beyond its expiry.

The scope is divided into eight lots, each covering a distinct technological or vocational domain:

• Lot 1: Advanced Manufacturing & Related Technologies: Supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, and training for equipment including CNC machining, additive manufacturing, industrial robotics, mechatronics, automated production systems, precision engineering tools, and CAD/CAM integration.
• Lot 2: Digital and Biotech Labs & Related Technologies: Supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, and training for laboratory equipment, analytical instruments, and digital technology hardware such as bioprocess monitoring units, spectrophotometers, lab automation systems, chromatography units, and data acquisition systems.
• Lot 3: Modern Methods of Construction & Building Technologies: Supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, and training for equipment and systems supporting MMC, including off-site manufacturing systems, timber frame fabrication equipment, modular assembly tooling, digital survey/BIM integration hardware, and sustainable building systems.
• Lot 4: Renewable Energy and Micro Grid Management & Related Technologies: Supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, and training for equipment and hardware supporting renewable energy and electrical installations, including solar PV simulators, wind turbine technology rigs, heat pump test benches, micro-grid management systems, and EV charging infrastructure.
• Lot 5: Digital College & Related Technologies: Supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, and training for hardware, software, and digital infrastructure for digital learning environments, including VR/AR/MR hardware, interactive display technology, digital twin lab setups, networking/server infrastructure, and high-performance computing units.
• Lot 6: Healthcare Simulators & Related Technologies: Supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, and training for medical training equipment, clinical simulation units, and healthcare instruction technology, such as high-fidelity patient mannequins, anatomical models, clinical skills trainers, and diagnostic simulation equipment.
• Lot 7: Driving Simulators & Heavy Equipment Training: Provision of mobile driving simulator units with motion bases, multi-display setups, head tracking, and multi-vehicle software licenses for HGV, ADT, Dozer, 360 Excavator, Forklift, and crane interfaces.
• Lot 8: Dedicated Software, AI Avatars & Digital Twin Platforms: Provision of web-based 3D virtual campus models (approx. 8,000 m²), AI-powered virtual receptionist avatars, multi-discipline VR curriculum simulation software suites, and software-to-hardware sensor integration.

Successful framework members will be responsible for turnkey delivery, including safe delivery, full assembly, site positioning, electrical/mechanical commissioning, and compliance certification. They will also provide operational and safety training for instructional staff, technical documentation, user manuals, and warranty support.

3. Background & buyer context

The Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) is procuring these framework agreements to support its ongoing expansion and modernisation of Further Education Colleges and Centres. The initiative aligns with the broader objective of providing modern, industry-standard specialist training equipment and associated teaching technologies. The procurement is conducted under an open EU-level procedure, reflecting the scale and strategic importance of equipping educational facilities for future skills development. The policy of the Contracting Authority is to promote participation by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following minimum requirements on a pass/fail basis to be considered admissible.

• Turnover requirement: Tenderers must demonstrate that their turnover exceeded the following amounts in one of the last three years, or pro-rata if more recently established (firm must have existed for at least 6 months):
• Lot 1: €450,000
• Lot 2: €120,000
• Lot 3: €750,000
• Lot 4: €600,000
• Lot 5: €750,000
• Lot 6: €175,000
• Lot 7: €150,000
• Lot 8: €450,000
• If successful in more than three lots, the maximum turnover requirement checked prior to framework establishment is €1m.
• Insurance: Confirmation of the following insurances being in place:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Product Liability: €6.5 million
• Professional Indemnity: Not deemed appropriate at this stage, but if required for a specific lot, the level will be €1 million.
• Certifications: Tenderers must provide information demonstrating a commitment to quality assurance. Evidence of compliance with Health & Safety legislation is required as a condition of contract award.
• Past experience: Tenderers must demonstrate successful delivery of three (3) comparable experience/projects relevant to the scope of the lot(s) being tendered.
• Personnel: Tenderers must demonstrate access to the minimum number of skilled personnel:
• Contract Manager: 1
• Installation and Service Technician: 2
• Admin Staff: 1
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award will be based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), determined by a combination of quality and price. The specific weighting for each criterion is detailed in Section 5 of the RFT. Tenderers must score a minimum of 50% in each qualitative award criterion to remain eligible.

Criterion Weight (%) Sub-criteria