Supply, Delivery, Installation of an Electrochemical Multichannel Workstation

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1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

The contract requires the supply, delivery, and installation of an Electrochemical Multichannel Workstation for Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) at its Tallaght Campus. The goods comprise the workstation itself, along with associated services. The contract term is for one year, with the possibility of up to three one-year extensions, not exceeding four years in aggregate.

The scope of work includes:

• Supply of the Electrochemical Multichannel Workstation: This involves providing the core equipment as detailed in Appendix 1 of the RFT. Specific technical requirements for the system, including its software, are outlined within the specifications.
• Delivery: The workstation must be delivered to TU Dublin's Tallaght Campus. All costs associated with shipping, packaging, and delivery are to be included in the quoted price.
• Installation: The successful tenderer will be responsible for the complete installation of the workstation. This includes commissioning, calibration, and validation to ensure the system operates according to the specified requirements.
• Technical Merit: Tenderers must demonstrate the technical capabilities of the proposed system, including its hardware and software functionalities. This will be assessed against specific technical requirements.
• After Sales and Technical Assistance: The contract includes provisions for customer support, repair, maintenance, and breakdown services. A warranty period and preventative maintenance plan are also required.
• Training: The tenderer must provide a training proposal for a minimum of four persons, covering the operation, maintenance, and use of the workstation. Training costs should be considered within the overall pricing.
• Delivery Date or Date of Completion: Tenderers must provide a lead time and a delivery/completion plan. This includes the installation, commissioning, calibration, and validation phases.
• Sustainability: Aspects of sustainability related to the goods or their provision may be considered.

The contract is for the supply of goods, and the total estimated expenditure over the term is not specified. Tenderers must ensure their pricing is all-inclusive, exclusive of VAT, and remains valid for twelve months from the tender deadline.

3. Background & buyer context

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) is procuring an Electrochemical Multichannel Workstation for its Tallaght Campus. The university educates approximately 28,500 students in a practice-based environment. This procurement aligns with TU Dublin's operational needs for advanced scientific equipment to support its academic and research activities. The tender is conducted under an open procedure, as per EU and Irish procurement regulations. The contract is intended to be awarded to the most economically advantageous tender, balancing technical merit, after-sales support, delivery timelines, and cost. The university encourages participation from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and suggests larger enterprises consider including SMEs in their proposals.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet specific criteria to be considered for evaluation. These are assessed on a pass/fail basis.

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance: The successful tenderer must hold the following insurances for the term of the Goods Contract:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 Million
• Public Liability: €6.5 Million
• Product Liability: €6.5 Million
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Tenderers must supply contact details and information on goods and services provided for two referees who have received similar goods and services.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Additionally, tenderers must:

• Complete and submit an electronic European Single Procurement Document (eESPD).
• Demonstrate compliance with relevant legislation regarding Environmental, Health, and Safety.
• Confirm compliance with Data Protection Acts 1998 and 2003, and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• Provide evidence of tax compliance via their Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), determined by a combination of quality and cost.

Tenderers must achieve a minimum of 60% on all qualitative award criteria (B, C, and D) to avoid elimination. Only tenders meeting this threshold will be evaluated for Ultimate Cost. The scoring methodology for qualitative criteria uses a matrix from 0% to 100% based on the quality of the response. For Ultimate Cost, the lowest tendered price receives the maximum score.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit their responses electronically via the eTenders platform.

• Method statement / response document: Tenderers must use Appendix 1: Tender Response Document to structure their response, addressing each award criterion and sub-criterion.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: All-inclusive prices, exclusive of VAT, must be provided in the format specified in Appendix 2. Prices must remain valid for 12 months from the tender deadline.
• Case studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Declarations:
• European Single Procurement Document (eESPD) must be submitted electronically.
• Tenderer’s Statement (Appendix 3), signed and on letterhead, confirming acceptance of contract terms.
• Declaration as to Personal Circumstances of Tenderer (Appendix 4).
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Declaration of independent tender preparation.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via the electronic postbox on www.etenders.gov.ie. A maximum of 4GB is allowed for combined documents. Tenders must be submitted in English.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term + extension: The contract has an initial term of one year, with the Contracting Authority reserving the right to extend it for up to three additional one-year periods. The total contract duration will not exceed four years.
• Payment terms: Payment will generally be made net 15 days from the agreed date of delivery to TU Dublin.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not explicitly detailed in the provided text, but implied through award criteria related to technical merit, after-sales support, and delivery.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified for this tender.
• Termination clauses: Not specified for this tender.
• IP ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting rules: Tenderers may subcontract, but if relying on a subcontractor's capacity for selection criteria, a separate eESPD is required for that subcontractor. The Prime Contractor is responsible for the entire contract.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified for this tender.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Value Not Disclosed: The estimated value of the contract is not disclosed, making it difficult for bidders to gauge the scale of the opportunity or the expected investment in pricing.
• Minimum Scores: The requirement for a minimum 60% score on all qualitative award criteria (Technical Merit, After Sales, Delivery) before cost evaluation is a significant hurdle. Failure in any of these areas leads to elimination.
• MEAT with High Quality Weighting: While cost is 30%, technical merit (30%) and after-sales (15%) combined represent 45% of the award criteria, indicating a strong emphasis on the quality and long-term support of the workstation.
• SME Encouragement: The tender explicitly encourages SME participation and suggests collaboration, which could lead to consortium bids.
• No Specific Technical Detail: The RFT references Appendix 1 for specifications, but the detailed technical requirements of the workstation are not provided in the excerpt. Bidders must refer to this appendix for critical information.
• Insurance Requirements: The insurance levels (€13m EL, €6.5m PL/Prod) are substantial and may pose a barrier for very small or new entrants.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured to allow participation by a range of suppliers, including SMEs, but with specific requirements.

• Who can credibly bid: A credible bidder would be a specialist supplier of scientific laboratory equipment, specifically electrochemical workstations. They must possess the technical expertise to meet TU Dublin's specifications, have established after-sales support capabilities (including training), and be able to meet the insurance requirements. Smaller firms with a strong technical offering and good supplier relationships might bid, potentially as part of a consortium.
• Consortium or sub-contracting: Consortium or sub-contracting is permitted. SMEs are encouraged to form relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises. If a subcontractor's capacity is relied upon for selection criteria, they must submit a separate eESPD.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Preparing a compliant bid will require significant effort. This includes understanding the technical specifications in Appendix 1, developing a detailed technical response, outlining after-sales support and training plans, preparing a comprehensive pricing schedule, and completing all required declarations and the eESPD. This could range from 10-20 days of effort for a specialist supplier.
• Pwin signal: The tender is an open procedure, suggesting it is not a sole-supplier framework. The emphasis on technical merit and after-sales support, alongside cost, suggests a competitive process. The absence of an incumbent mention does not preclude their participation. The significant insurance requirements might filter out very small or nascent businesses.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: [NCTR2649 - RFT.docx]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Most important attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 3: Tenderer’s Statement