The Establishment of a Single-Operator Framework Agreement for Personal Assistant Support for Students with Disabilities for the Access UCC Disability Support Centre

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 contract involves providing personal assistant care services for students with disabilities at University College Cork (UCC). The framework agreement is designed to support approximately 10 to 15 students at any given time during the academic year, specifically from September to May, with potential needs extending into the summer for events such as examination resits and orientation weeks.

The key activities include:

• Service Provision: Personal assistants (PAs) will assist students with physical/mobility disabilities and blind/vision-impaired students in logistical and personal care tasks.
• Care Plan Development: Each PA must collaborate with students to create individualized care plans, which will be reviewed annually or as needed.
• Timetable Management: PAs will provide services according to a timetable that may change every six weeks, with no penalties for adjustments.
• On-Site and Off-Site Support: Support may be required both on campus and in students' home environments.
• Training Requirements: PAs must complete training, including Disability Equality training and operational training for specific equipment like hoists.
• Monitoring and Reporting: The successful provider must monitor hours worked and submit accurate timesheets with invoices.

The framework agreement will last for an initial period of 12 months, with the possibility of three additional 12-month extensions based on performance and budget considerations.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement aligns with UCC's commitment to providing an equitable and inclusive learning environment for students with disabilities. The Access UCC Disability Support Centre has identified a need for personal assistant services to ensure that students with disabilities can fully participate in their educational programs. The initiative is part of UCC's broader strategy to enhance accessibility and support for all learners, reflecting compliance with legal obligations to accommodate students with disabilities.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum average annual turnover of €480,000 over the last three financial years.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Professional Indemnity: €6.5 million
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Minimum of 3 comparable projects within the last 5 years, demonstrating similar nature, scale, and complexity.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Bids will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The evaluation will follow the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principle, focusing on both price and quality.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documents:

• Method statement / response document: Complete the Tender Response Document (TRD) with a focus on selection and award criteria.
• CVs: Include CVs for key personnel, limited to 2 pages each.
• Pricing schedule: Use the specified template for pricing submissions.
• Case studies: Provide at least 3 case studies of similar contracts, detailing scope and value.
• Declarations: Include ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest declarations.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: All submissions must be made via www.etenders.gov.ie.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

Key contract terms include:

• Duration: Initial term of 12 months with options for three 12-month extensions.
• Payment terms: Payments to be made within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice.
• Performance monitoring: Continuous assessment of service delivery against agreed standards.
• Termination clauses: The contract may be terminated with 14 days' notice.
• Sub-contracting rules: Not specified for this tender.
• IP ownership: Not specified for this tender.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Potential risks and concerns include:

• The turnover requirement of €480,000 may limit participation from smaller firms.
• The framework agreement does not guarantee a minimum volume of work, which could lead to financial uncertainty for the selected provider.
• The requirement for a dedicated contract manager may impose additional operational burdens.
• The lack of specified personnel requirements may lead to variability in service quality.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with experience in providing personal assistant services. A viable bidder should have:

• Relevant experience in similar contracts, particularly in educational or disability support settings.
• The capacity to form partnerships or consortiums to meet financial and technical requirements.
• An estimated bid preparation effort of approximately 10-15 days, including documentation and case studies.
• A moderate Pwin signal, as the incumbent's strength is not explicitly mentioned, but the framework's single-operator structure may favor established providers.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: RFT UCC-2026-05.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: not specified
• Contact email: Queries can be submitted via the Questions and Answers facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Important attachments: Tender Response Document (TRD), Declaration of Bona Fides, Pricing Schedule.