Motorcycle Suits, Motorcycle Protective Clothing, Motorcycle Footwear and Helmets

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 suppliers for the provision of motorcycle suits, protective clothing, footwear, and helmets to the Irish Defence Forces. The estimated total value for the contract, including potential extensions, is €1,200,000 (excluding VAT). The contract is structured into four distinct lots, with individual contracts to be awarded for each:

• Lot 1: Motorcycle Suits: Estimated value €550,000 (excl. VAT).
• Lot 2: Motorcycle Protective Clothing: Estimated value €175,000 (excl. VAT).
• Lot 3: Motorcycle Footwear: Estimated value €250,000 (excl. VAT).
• Lot 4: Motorcycle Helmets: Estimated value €225,000 (excl. VAT).

Tenderers can bid for one, some, or all lots. The contract duration is 36 months, with an option for the Contracting Authority to extend the term for up to 12 months in total, through a maximum of three separate extensions.

The core activities for the successful tenderer(s) will involve:

• Supply of Goods: Delivering specified motorcycle suits, protective clothing, footwear, and helmets according to detailed specifications provided in Appendix 1B of the RFT.
• Quality Assurance: Ensuring all supplied goods meet the required standards, including compliance with relevant EN and ISO standards as detailed in the specifications.
• Pricing: Providing all-inclusive pricing, exclusive of VAT, for all items. Prices must remain fixed for the first 12 months of the contract, with subsequent adjustments linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for specific categories or subject to extraordinary cost increases with documented evidence.
• Delivery: Managing shipping, packaging, and delivery of goods to the Irish Defence Forces.
• Demand Management: Proposing methods to manage demand fluctuations, including orders for quantities above 20 units and below 5 units for the same SKU.
• Sample Submission: Providing physical samples of the goods as part of the tender submission for evaluation against specifications.
• Documentation: Supplying all required test reports, data sheets, and documented evidence for tender samples.
• Compliance: Adhering to environmental, social, and labour law obligations, as well as data protection regulations.

The contract requires tenderers to manage potential price increases due to unforeseen extraordinary increases in manufacturing or delivery costs, provided these are market-driven and cumulatively exceed 10% since the last CPI review. Tenderers must provide at least twelve weeks' written notice for any such price increase claims, supported by sufficient evidence.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is being conducted by the Irish Defence Forces to acquire essential personal protective equipment for personnel operating motorcycles. The tender follows an open procedure, indicating a desire to source from the widest possible market. The estimated total value of €1.2 million over a 36-month term, with potential extensions, suggests a consistent need for these items. The inclusion of specific requirements for sample submission and detailed specifications in Appendices 1A and 1B points to a need for goods that meet precise operational standards. The Contracting Authority aims to encourage participation from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and encourages larger enterprises to consider how SMEs can be included in their proposals.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

To be considered for this tender, bidders must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Turnover Requirement:
• Lot 1 (Motorcycle Suits): €550,000 average annual turnover in the area of work.
• Lot 2 (Motorcycle Protective Clothing): €175,000 average annual turnover in the area of work.
• Lot 3 (Motorcycle Footwear): €250,000 average annual turnover in the area of work.
• Lot 4 (Motorcycle Helmets): €225,000 average annual turnover in the area of work.
• For bidders tendering for multiple lots, a minimum aggregate financial turnover is required: 100% of the minimum annual turnover for the first lot bid for, and 40% of the minimum annual turnover for each subsequent lot bid for. For example, bidding for Lots 1 and 3 requires a minimum aggregate turnover of €550,000 (100% of Lot 1) + €100,000 (40% of Lot 3).
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €12.7 million for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence (where required).
• Public Liability: €6.5 million for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Product Liability: €6.5 million for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Professional Indemnity: Not Applicable.
• Certifications:
• A valid ISO 9001 certificate or equivalent Quality Management System (QMS) is required. Failure to provide evidence will result in a fail.
• Compliance with specific standards for materials, such as EN 14362-1 and 3 or equivalent for amine content, EN ISO 14184-1 or equivalent for formaldehyde, ISO 18254 for octylphenol ethoxylates, and EN ISO 14389 or equivalent for oxylates.
• Past Experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / Facility Constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award of the contract will be based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), determined by a combination of price and quality. The specific weighting and scoring methodology are detailed below:

Criterion Weight (%) Sub-criteria