Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers, Licenses and Support

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 National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) requires the provision of Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers, Licenses, and Support services. This procurement seeks to appoint a single economic operator to deliver these services. The contract duration is for seventeen months, with the NTMA reserving the right to terminate earlier. The NTMA does not guarantee any specific volume or value of services to be instructed under the contract. The scope may be increased or reduced at the NTMA's discretion.

The services encompass:

• Provision of Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers: This includes the supply of the physical hardware.
• Provision of Cisco Licenses: This covers the necessary software licenses for the operation of the wireless LAN controllers.
• Provision of Support: This entails ongoing technical support for the supplied hardware and licenses.
• Additional Services: The NTMA may request additional services, for which the Service Provider will be asked to provide a fixed cost.

The NTMA reserves the right to award the contract in whole, in part, or not at all. The successful tenderer will perform services only as instructed by the NTMA.

3. Background & buyer context

The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) is a central agency of the Irish Government. It manages significant state investment funds, including the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), the Future Ireland Fund (FIF), and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF). The NTMA also performs statutory functions for bodies such as the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) and the State Claims Agency (SCA). Additionally, it provides business and support services, including IT systems, to entities like the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI). This procurement is for the NTMA's internal IT infrastructure, specifically its wireless local area network controllers, licenses, and associated support.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Cyber Liability: €5 million
• Product Liability: €2.6 million
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million Tenderers must be able to obtain these insurances for the duration of the contract, with Professional Indemnity insurance required for six years thereafter.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers are entitled to rely on the capacity of other entities to meet minimum requirements.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded to the tenderer submitting the most economically advantageous tender, determined by the award criteria specified in Schedule 2.

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document: A duly completed tender and additional supporting information as set out in Schedule 1 (Minimum Requirements) and Schedule 3 (Form of Tender).
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: Costs to be denominated in euro (€) exclusive of VAT, completed to two decimal places. VAT rate(s) to be indicated separately. Costs are fixed and free from fluctuations.
• Case studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Declarations:
• Evidence of tax clearance from the Revenue Commissioners of Ireland (including tax reference number and Tax Clearance Access Number for electronic verification).
• Statement confirming no potential or actual conflicts of interest, save as disclosed.
• Evidence substantiating declarations made regarding Minimum Requirements.
• Confirmation that the Declaration of Eligibility continues to apply.
• Compliance with any other applicable legal requirement specified by the NTMA as a precondition.
• Any other information requested by the NTMA.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via the electronic post box on www.etenders.gov.ie.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: 17 months, unless terminated earlier at the NTMA's discretion.
• Extension: Not specified.
• Payment terms: Not specified.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified.
• Termination clauses: The NTMA may terminate the contract at its discretion. Termination may also occur due to an actual or potential conflict of interest.
• IP ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting rules: Sub-contractors may be required to enter into a collateral agreement with the NTMA. The lead contractor remains liable for all services.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: A guarantee or other commitment from a relied-upon entity may be required as a condition of contract award.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Contract length: The 17-month contract term is relatively short, potentially impacting long-term investment for a supplier.
• No guaranteed volume: The NTMA makes no guarantee regarding the value or quantity of services to be instructed, introducing demand uncertainty for the supplier.
• Discretionary scope changes: The NTMA reserves the right to increase or reduce the scope and duration of services at its sole discretion, creating flexibility for the buyer but potential unpredictability for the supplier.
• Potential for partial award: The NTMA may award the contract in whole, in part, or not at all, meaning a supplier might not secure the full scope of work.
• Reliance on other entities: Tenderers can rely on other entities for minimum requirements, but this introduces dependency and requires robust contractual arrangements with those entities.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that specialise in Cisco networking hardware, software licensing, and IT support. The key requirements are the ability to supply Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers and associated licenses, along with providing technical support.

• Credible bidders: SMEs with a proven track record in Cisco network infrastructure deployment and support, holding relevant Cisco certifications and demonstrating the required insurance levels, are well-positioned.
• Consortium/sub-contracting: Consortiums are permitted, and tenderers can rely on the capacity of other entities. This allows SMEs to partner with other firms to meet requirements they might not fulfil independently. Sub-contracting is also allowed, enabling SMEs to act as prime contractors or sub-contractors.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Bid preparation will likely require significant effort, particularly in detailing technical solutions, pricing, and demonstrating compliance with minimum requirements. This could range from 10-20 days for a focused SME team.
• Pwin signal: The tender does not explicitly indicate an incumbent. The NTMA's stated discretion in awarding, scope, and volume suggests a competitive process. The requirement for specific Cisco products may favour established Cisco partners.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: 2026PR051 RFT Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email or clarification portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Most important attachments:
• Schedule 1 (Minimum Requirements)
• Schedule 2 (Award Criteria)
• Schedule 3 (Form of Tender)
• Schedule 4 (The Services)
• Schedule 5 (Draft Letter of Acceptance)