Kinsale Community School - CFT for T4 Engineering Equipment

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 supply, delivery, installation, and maintenance of tools and equipment for T4 Engineering subjects at Kinsale Community School. The estimated value of the contract is €85,000. The procurement is conducted via an open procedure.

The scope of work encompasses the provision of specific engineering equipment. While detailed specifications are referenced in Appendix 1 of the CFT and an accompanying Excel pricing schedule, the tender documents outline key requirements for the proposed items:

• Functionality and Suitability: Items must be fit for use in a post-primary school classroom environment, considering safety, ease of use for learners, quality, robustness, durability, and repairability.
• Certifications and Warranties: Tenderers must be able to provide certificates of compliance and test certificates to appropriate IS/EN standards for each item. CE Product Certification is mandatory. Evidence of 'green' attributes (e.g., Cradle to Cradle Certified, FSC Certified, Energy Star Certified) is required where applicable. A minimum warranty period, as stated in the specifications and pricing schedules, is mandatory; products with warranties below these minimums will not be considered.
• Sustainability: Tenderers must outline their approach to minimising environmental impact, including the use of sustainable/renewable materials, recyclability, waste reduction (especially packaging and single-use plastics), CO2 emission reduction strategies, and buy-back/trade-in options.
• Delivery and Installation: The tender requires details on flexible ordering facilities, delivery procedures, lead times from order placement to delivery, installation, and commissioning of equipment to the point of use. Information on items with different/longer lead times, stock issues, and efforts to ensure continuous supply is also required.
• Training and Support: Tenderers must detail training offered for the use and preventative maintenance of proposed items for staff, ongoing technical support (including contact details and lead times), and the returns policy and escalation procedure for queries.
• Imagery: Clear imagery of proposed items must be included in the tender submission.

The contract is for the supply of goods, with an estimated value of €85,000. The school is located in Cork and has a current enrolment of 1450 students.

3. Background & buyer context

Kinsale Community School is procuring engineering equipment to support its T4 subjects. The tender is being issued to ensure the school has the necessary tools and machinery for its students. The procurement is conducted under an open procedure, indicating a desire to source from the widest possible market. The school is located in Cork and serves a student population of 1450. No specific programme or policy drivers are explicitly mentioned, but the procurement aligns with the general educational objective of providing practical, vocational training in engineering. There is no mention of an incumbent supplier in the provided documentation.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not explicitly stated as a minimum figure. However, the tender notes that "In line with current legislation, where a company has an annual turnover of less than €12 Million then audited accounts are not necessary." This implies a need to demonstrate financial standing, with a statement of accounts from accountants sufficing for smaller companies. Three years of trading information and three audited accounts (or accountant's statement for <€12m turnover) are required.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €12.7 million for any one claim arising out of a single occurrence.
• 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.
• Tenderers can confirm willingness and ability to raise cover to these levels if existing cover is lower, with evidence to be provided upon request if successful.
• Certifications:
• Certificates of compliance/test certificates to appropriate IS/EN standards for each item.
• CE Product Certification is mandatory for all proposed items.
• Evidence of 'green' attributes (e.g., Cradle to Cradle Certified, FSC Certified, Energy Star Certified) is required where applicable.
• Past experience: A minimum of two comparable contracts provided in the past three years, similar in nature, scale, and value to the requirements of this competition. Details required include contract name, description, delivery date, value, range of materials/machinery provided, and origin breakdown.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). 1000 marks are available in total. Qualitative elements account for 75% of the marks, and cost accounts for 25%.

Tenderers must achieve a minimum score of 60% in each qualitative criterion (A, B, C, D) to avoid elimination.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following:

• Tender Response Document: Completed and signed, printed on letterhead.
• Appendix 3 – Tenderer’s Statement: Completed, printed on letterhead, and signed.
• Appendix 4 – Declaration as to Personal Circumstances of Tenderer: Completed, printed on letterhead, and signed.
• Pricing Schedule: Completed Excel file detailing costs, including warranty periods and imagery of proposed items.
• Imagery: Photos/pictures of proposed items must be submitted in the pricing sheet or a specific brochure.
• Declarations: Confirmation of tax compliance and insurance willingness.
• Supporting Documentation: Three years of trading information and accounts (audited or accountant's statement) for economic and financial standing. Details of at least two previous comparable contracts.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Via eTenders.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Duration: Not specified.
• Payment Terms: Not specified, but standard prompt payment legislation will apply.
• SLAs/KPIs: Not explicitly detailed, but implied through award criteria related to delivery, support, and quality.
• Liquidated Damages: Not specified.
• Termination: Not specified beyond general contract law.
• IP Ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting: Not specified.
• Guarantees/Bonds: Not specified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• CE Marking Requirement: The tender explicitly states the need for CE Product Certification. It also includes a footnote warning about potential issues with UK-derived standards post-Brexit, noting that UK Notified Bodies will lose their status and that EU product certification can only be made by an EU Notified Body. This places a significant risk on suppliers relying on UK-based certification.
• Minimum Word Counts: Several award criteria (Functionality, Training/Support, Order/Delivery, Sustainability) have minimum word count requirements (1000 words for Functionality, 500 words for others). Failure to meet these could impact scoring.
• Pass/Fail Technical Criteria: Section 2 (Selection Criteria) is entirely pass/fail, meaning failure to provide adequate information on previous experience, sustainability, or certifications will lead to immediate exclusion.
• Detailed Origin Breakdown: Tenderers must provide a breakdown of product origins by value for previous contracts, which may be sensitive information.
• No Explicit Budget: While an estimated value of €85,000 is provided, there is no explicit budget ceiling or detailed financial breakdown beyond this estimate.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that specialise in the supply of engineering tools and equipment.

• Credible Bidders: Firms with a proven track record in supplying educational institutions or similar environments, capable of meeting the CE marking and warranty requirements, and demonstrating a commitment to sustainability would be well-positioned. The insurance requirements are standard for public sector tenders.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The tender documents do not explicitly prohibit or encourage consortia or sub-contracting. However, the emphasis on providing details of the prime contractor's own experience and financial standing suggests a preference for direct capability.
• Bid-Prep Effort: The effort required will depend on the bidder's existing documentation. Significant effort will be needed to compile detailed responses for the qualitative award criteria, particularly the minimum word count requirements, and to gather evidence for past experience and sustainability initiatives. This could range from 5-15 days of dedicated work.
• Pwin Signal: The tender is open, suggesting no incumbent is guaranteed. The specific nature of engineering equipment for T4 subjects might limit the pool of suppliers to those with relevant product lines. The clear pass/fail technical criteria and detailed award criteria indicate a structured evaluation process.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: TRD T4 Subjects (Engineering) - Kinsale CS 91499E.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Clarifications must be submitted by 15th September 2026, 15:00hrs. Specific contact details are not provided in this extract but would typically be via eTenders.
• Most Important Attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Excel Pricing Schedule (accompanying document)
• Appendix 6: Goods Contract Terms and Conditions
• Appendix 7: Confidentiality Agreement