Single Supplier Framework Agreement for the Supply of Electricity

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1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

This tender seeks to establish a single-supplier framework agreement for the supply of electricity and associated account management, billing, data, and reporting services to Digital Manufacturing Ireland (DMI). The framework will have a term of four years from execution, with no extension. Supply points are activated by Order Form, and there are no mini-competitions.

The scope encompasses:

• Electricity Supply: Provision of electricity to DMI premises, including the Initial Site and any other premises, buildings, connections, meters, or MPRNs owned, occupied, or controlled by DMI during the term. This includes premises acquired, leased, constructed, or brought into operation after commencement, temporary and builder's supplies, and all standard retail tariff categories (LV, LV MD, MV, QH/NQH, and unmetered connections). Tenderers must be capable of supplying all these categories.
• Account Management: Ongoing management of DMI's electricity accounts, including dedicated account management structure, senior oversight, cover arrangements, support channels, and operating hours.
• Billing and Reporting:
• Invoicing and consolidated statements for DMI as a multi-site business account, with clear itemisation of Tendered Charges, Pass-Through Charges, and applicable Taxes.
• Controls to ensure billing accuracy, management of actual and estimated meter reads, identification and correction of billing errors, and credit-note turnaround times.
• Provision of monthly and annual data packs in specified formats, including fields, delivery timescales, and access arrangements.
• Provision of interval consumption data where supported by metering arrangements.
• Data and Consumption Information: Delivery of monthly and annual data packs as required by Schedule 7 of the Framework Agreement.
• Site Addition/MPRN Management: Processes and timescales for adding Supply Points (including existing MPRNs and new connections), managing removals, tenancy changes, vacancies, de-energisation/re-energisation, and Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN) or metering changes, following receipt of an Order Form.
• Pricing and Re-Fix Mechanism: Methodology for constructing rates for new tariff categories and operating the annual open-book Re-Fix Mechanism. This includes identifying forward products, quotation sources, profile methodology, supporting evidence packs, and delivering compliant proposals at least 40 Working Days before each Supply Period.
• Mobilisation and Switching: A plan and timeline from contract award to the first Supply Start Date for the Initial Site, including registration activities, dependencies on DMI and the outgoing supplier, and measures to ensure continuity of supply and billing. This includes the approach and timescales for resolving objections, erroneous transfers, and meter-read disputes.
• Exit and Transition: Approach to data handover, cooperation with DMI and any incoming supplier, non-obstruction of transfer, final billing, and measures to minimise transition risk at contract expiry or termination.
• Query, Complaint, and Dispute Management: Processes and target timescales for receiving, tracking, escalating, and resolving billing queries, service requests, and complaints. Management of disputed amounts in accordance with clause 12.3 of the Framework Agreement.
• Performance Management: Controls and governance arrangements to monitor and achieve service levels and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) specified in Schedule 5.

The Initial Site is a Low Voltage Maximum Demand connection (MPRN 10308307970) with indicative annualised consumption of approximately 253,500 kWh (day) and 137,100 kWh (night). DMI does not guarantee any minimum volume, consumption, expenditure, or number of sites/MPRNs.

3. Background & buyer context

Digital Manufacturing Ireland (DMI) is procuring electricity supply services through an open procedure. This procurement is for the establishment of a single-supplier framework agreement to cover DMI's electricity needs. DMI currently operates the Advanced Manufacturing Centre at the National Technology Park in Limerick. The framework is designed to accommodate DMI's expected growth in operations, facilities, and electricity requirements during the contract term, allowing for the administrative addition of further premises, connections, meters, and MPRNs without further procurement. The procurement documents comprise the Request for Tenders (RFT), the Framework Agreement, and the Pricing Schedule and Evaluation Model workbook.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following criteria to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum general annual turnover of €940,000 in each of the last two financial years. Additionally, bidders must demonstrate either a positive net asset position in their most recent audited accounts or provide other evidence (e.g., parent guarantee, credit rating) of financial capacity for a four-year supply arrangement. Reliance on group support is permitted, subject to Regulation 63.
• Insurance: Confirmation that the tenderer holds or will hold, from commencement, the following insurances:
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Not less than €13,000,000 per occurrence.
• Public Liability Insurance: Not less than €6,500,000 per occurrence.
• Professional Indemnity or equivalent errors-and-omissions cover: Not less than €2,000,000 per claim.
• Certifications:
• Must hold a licence to supply electricity granted by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) under section 14(1)(h) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, or demonstrate equivalent entitlement to supply in the Irish retail electricity market.
• Must be a registered market participant able to register MPRNs of all categories within scope.
• Past experience: Provide two reference accounts from the previous three years for the supply of electricity to business customers of broadly comparable or greater scale (multi-tariff or LV MD supply). This should include customer name (or anonymised category), duration, tariff categories, and services provided. Prior public-sector experience is not required.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender, beyond the requirement to supply within the Republic of Ireland.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The Framework Agreement will be awarded based on the most economically advantageous tender, determined by a best price-quality ratio.

Criterion