Provision, Supply and Delivery of 1 Agricultural Vehicle (Tractor)

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 the provision, supply, and delivery of one agricultural vehicle (tractor) to Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB). The contract includes commissioning and training for LWETB personnel. The estimated total value of the contract is €200,000 over its life.

The scope of work encompasses the following key activities:

• Supply of Agricultural Vehicle: The core deliverable is a single agricultural tractor that meets the minimum specifications detailed in the Tender Response Document (TRD). The make and model must be specified by the bidder.
• Commissioning: The supplied tractor must be commissioned on-site at the LWETB Athlone Training Centre. This involves ensuring the vehicle is fully operational and ready for use.
• Training: Comprehensive training must be provided to LWETB personnel on the operation, maintenance, and safety aspects of the tractor.
• Delivery: The tractor must be delivered to the LWETB Athlone Training Centre.
• After Sales Support: Tenderers must outline their approach to after-sales support, including contract management, customer liaison, and complaint handling.
• Warranty: The tender includes options for upgrading the on-site warranty to 1, 3, or 5 years.
• Service and Maintenance: Service and maintenance availability is required within 45 minutes of the LWETB Athlone Training Centre.

The contract is structured as a single-party framework agreement. The successful tenderer will be required to sign a services contract within 7 calendar days of award.

3. Background & buyer context

Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB) is procuring this agricultural vehicle to support its training and operational needs. The procurement aligns with the board's commitment to providing practical, industry-relevant training. The specific context for this procurement is not explicitly detailed beyond the need for a tractor for use at the LWETB Athlone Training Centre. There is no mention of an incumbent supplier for this specific item. The strategic driver appears to be the acquisition of essential equipment to facilitate educational and vocational programmes.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for this tender:

• Turnover requirement:
• Average annual turnover of €75,000 over a three-year period, or pro-rata for recently established firms.
• Insurance:
• Employers Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Product Liability: €6.5 million
• Bidders must confirm they have these insurances in place or can obtain them if successful. A specific indemnity to LWETB must be included.
• Certifications:
• Not specified for this tender, beyond general compliance with quality, health and safety, and environmental systems.
• Past experience:
• Demonstration of successful delivery of at least two comparable projects within the last three years. These projects must be of a similar nature, size, and range to the services required. Referees may be contacted.
• Personnel:
• Not specified for this tender, beyond the general requirement for sufficiently trained staff with necessary training and qualifications.
• Geographic / facility constraints:
• Service and maintenance must be available within 45 minutes of LWETB Athlone Training Centre.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principle, with the following weighting:

Criterion B (Quality) requires a minimum score of 175 out of 350. Criteria C, D, and E each have a minimum score requirement of 50% of their respective maximum marks.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit their response as a single uploaded file, clearly labelled, page numbered, and indexed. The Tender Response Document (TRD) is the only document that will be evaluated.

• Method statement / response document: The Tender Response Document (TRD) must be completed in full, with responses provided only in designated sections. No additional attachments are permitted unless explicitly requested.
• CVs: Not explicitly requested in the TRD, but an organisational chart is required.
• Pricing schedule: Costs must be detailed within Section 4, Criterion A of the TRD.
• Case studies: Details of at least two previous comparable contracts must be provided in Section 2, Technical and Professional Capacity.
• Declarations:
• Declaration of Bona Fides & Statutory Obligations (Article 57)
• Declaration re Statutory Obligations (Employment Equality, Equal Status, Minimum Wage, Working Time, Safety, Health & Welfare, Disability, GDPR)
• Tax Clearance confirmation
• Confirmation of insurances
• ESPD Form (for subcontractors, if applicable)
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted electronically via the eTenders postbox facility on www.etenders.gov.ie.

7. Key dates & process

The tender validity period is 12 months from the submission deadline.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: The contract is for an initial period of 12 months, with the possibility of extension.
• Payment terms: Payment will be made within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Service and maintenance availability within 45 minutes of LWETB Athlone Training Centre is a key requirement.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Termination clauses: Not specified in the provided extract.
• IP ownership: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Sub-contracting rules: Subcontracting is permitted. An eESPD or Declaration of Personal Circumstances is required for all subcontractors.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified in the provided extract.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Tight Delivery Deadline: The tender requires delivery and invoice prior to December 23rd, 2026. Given the tender deadline of September 22nd, 2026, this leaves a very short window for procurement, manufacturing, and delivery, potentially favouring suppliers with readily available stock.
• Limited Value, High Insurance: The estimated contract value of €200,000 is relatively modest, yet the insurance requirements (Employers Liability €13m, Public Liability €6.5m, Product Liability €6.5m) are substantial. This may present a barrier for smaller, specialist suppliers who may not hold such high levels of cover for a contract of this value.
• Specific Geographic Constraint: The requirement for service and maintenance within 45 minutes of Athlone Training Centre narrows the potential pool of bidders, particularly for after-sales support.
• Detailed Quality/Technical Specification: While the specific tractor model is not prescribed, the emphasis on quality, fitness for purpose, build quality, durability, and lifespan, coupled with detailed award criteria for these aspects, suggests a need for a robust technical response.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is potentially open to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that specialise in agricultural machinery supply.

• Credible bidders: A viable bidder would be a company with a proven track record in supplying agricultural tractors, capable of meeting the specified insurance levels and providing timely service and maintenance within a 45-minute radius of Athlone. They must also demonstrate compliance with quality, health and safety, and environmental standards.
• Consortium/sub-contracting: Subcontracting is permitted. This allows SMEs to potentially partner with other firms to meet specific requirements, such as insurance or geographic service coverage.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Preparing a compliant bid would likely require 5-10 days of effort, focusing on detailing technical specifications, past experience, pricing, and after-sales support plans.
• Pwin signal: The presence of significant insurance requirements and a tight delivery window before December 2026 might suggest a preference for established suppliers with existing stock and robust operational capacity. The relatively low contract value compared to insurance levels could also be a deterrent for some larger firms.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: Agricultural Vehicle Tractor TRD.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: 9007466
• Contact email: [email protected] (general contact), [email protected] (eTenders helpdesk)
• Most important attachments:
• Agricultural Vehicle Tractor TRD.docx
• LWETB Guidance notes on submitting tender documents.pdf