Rapid Evidence Assessment: Reading for Pleasure

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 Department of Education and Youth requires a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) focused on reading for pleasure among children and young people in Ireland, with a specific emphasis on boys and young men. The REA will inform policy and practice. The services are to be delivered over a 6-month term, with a potential for up to two 3-month extensions. The estimated expenditure for the services, including any extensions, is €80,000 excluding VAT.

The core activities for the successful tenderer will involve:

• Conducting a rapid evidence assessment: This entails a systematic review of existing research and literature.
• Focus on reading for pleasure: The assessment must specifically address the concept and impact of reading for pleasure.
• Target demographic: The research must concentrate on children and young people in Ireland.
• Specific sub-group analysis: A particular focus is required on boys and young men, examining their engagement with reading for pleasure.
• Methodology: Tenderers must propose a methodology that demonstrates an understanding of the research requirements and outlines how the services will be carried out. This will likely involve:
• Defining search parameters and databases.
• Establishing inclusion/exclusion criteria for studies.
• Synthesizing findings from relevant literature.
• Identifying key trends, barriers, and facilitators.
• Providing an overview of the current evidence base.
• Reporting: The output will be a comprehensive report detailing the findings of the REA.
• Project Management: The tenderer will be responsible for the overall management of the project, including timelines, resources, and communication with the Department.
• Sustainability and Social Considerations: Tenderers are required to outline their approach to incorporating environmentally sustainable and/or social considerations into their proposed methodology and project execution.

The tender documents do not specify exact volumes of literature to be reviewed or specific data sources to be consulted, but the nature of an REA implies a focused and efficient approach to evidence synthesis within the defined timeframe.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is initiated by the Department of Education and Youth to address a specific policy objective related to literacy and engagement with reading among young people in Ireland. The focus on "reading for pleasure" suggests a strategic interest in fostering lifelong reading habits, moving beyond purely academic requirements. The particular emphasis on boys and young men indicates a recognition of potential disparities or specific challenges within this demographic regarding reading engagement.

The initiative aligns with broader governmental and educational goals aimed at improving educational outcomes and promoting well-being through literacy. While not explicitly stated, this REA likely serves as a foundational step for future policy development, program design, or intervention strategies. The Department is seeking to build an evidence base to inform these future actions. No incumbent provider is mentioned in the provided documentation.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following criteria to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €12.7 million (not required for self-employed contractors).
• Public Liability: €6.5 million.
• Product Liability: €6.5 million.
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience:
• Examples of two similar completed projects are required.
• One referee must be provided.
• Personnel:
• Profiles of the proposed team members are required.
• CVs for each team member, limited to 2 pages per CV, must be submitted.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers must also submit an electronic European Single Procurement Document (eESPD) and confirm they satisfy the selection criteria. They must declare that no mandatory grounds for exclusion apply or provide evidence of sufficient reliability if they do. If relying on the capacity of other entities (subcontractors), these entities must also complete a separate eESPD.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are based on a total of 1000 marks. The scoring mechanism requires a minimum of 50% in each criterion. The tender documents do not explicitly state the price/quality split but imply a weighted scoring approach where quality aspects are evaluated first, followed by price.

Criterion Weight (%) Sub-criteria