An Post Retail Investment Proposition Partner

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

Buyer Title CPV / category Estimated value Per-year Procedure type Lots Location Contract length Submission deadline Go-live / start | :------------ | :---------------------------------------------- | :------------- | :-------------- | :------- | :------------- | :--- | :------------- | :-------------- | :------------------ | :-------------- | An Post Retail Investment Proposition Partner not stated not disclosed not stated not stated 1 Republic of Ireland 7 years + 2 years 2026-08-17 11:00 not stated

2. Scope of Work

This procurement seeks a partner to design, manufacture, platform, and service a digital-led retail investment proposition for An Post Money in the Republic of Ireland. An Post will retain ownership of the customer relationship, brand, and distribution channels. The proposition will be An Post-led in distribution and customer relationship, with the partner providing product manufacture, platform, custody, execution, and operational servicing.

The partner may fulfil one or more of the following roles:

• Product manufacturer / fund provider: Provision and management of underlying investment products and funds.
• Platform, custody and execution provider: Provision of the investment platform, custody, dealing, and execution services.
• White-label / co-branded digital journey provider: Delivery of a digital, An Post Money-branded customer onboarding and servicing journey.
• Servicing and operational support provider: Provision of ongoing customer servicing, administration, and operational support.
• Integrated / combined partner: Provision of a combination of the above roles under a single integrated proposition.

The proposition will be delivered primarily through digital channels, integrated with the existing An Post Money digital ecosystem. Requirements encompass proposition and customer experience, branding and distribution, operating model and servicing, regulatory compliance and risk, technology and data, data protection and residency, digital product and user experience, and accessibility. The contract is intended to take the form of a Framework Agreement.

3. Background & buyer context

An Post is Ireland's national postal and financial services provider, operating a network of 879 post offices and 102 Delivery Service Units. The Group generated revenues of €1.050 billion in 2025, handling 2.5 million delivery points daily and €2.7 billion in cash transactions. Following a strategic review, An Post is launching a phased retail investment proposition, with Phase 1 focusing on a digital-led offering for the Republic of Ireland. This initiative aligns with high household cash holdings in Ireland, low retail investment participation, and the European Savings and Investments Union agenda, including anticipated Personal Investment Accounts. This procurement is outside the scope of EU utilities procurement regulations.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum qualification criteria to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: A minimum average annual turnover of €2,000,000 (exclusive of VAT) for any two of the last three financial year ends. Evidence required via audited accounts or an auditor's statement.
• Regulatory Authorisation: The applicant (or relevant party) must hold all necessary authorisations, registrations, licences, and permissions to provide regulated investment services under EU/EEA and Irish law, and be in good standing with the Central Bank of Ireland or relevant competent authority.
• Insurance: The applicant must confirm they hold, or will hold from the commencement date, the following insurances:
• Employer’s Liability: €13,000,000
• Public and Products Liability: €6,500,000
• Professional Indemnity: €5,000,000 any one claim
• Cyber Risk / Cyber Liability: €5,000,000 in the aggregate
• Tax Clearance: The applicant must provide a Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Applicant Declaration of Eligibility: A completed declaration is required.
• Declaration of Going Concern: A statement from a Director certifying the entity is a going concern, its average turnover remains valid, and it has the financial and operational capacity to trade successfully for the next 12 months and deliver contract requirements.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The selection process involves two stages: pre-qualification (PASS/FAIL criteria) and tender stage evaluation. Shortlisting for the tender stage will be based on meeting minimum requirements and achieving the highest scores for pre-qualification using the Selection Criteria. The specific award criteria and scoring methodology for the tender stage will be provided to shortlisted applicants at the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage. However, the PQQ outlines weighted criteria for technical and professional ability, including:

The price/quality split for the award will be detailed at the ITT stage.

6. Submission requirements

PQQ submissions must be made electronically via the eTenders platform. Applicants must complete all Parts of the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (Appendix 1). Key submission components include:

• Applicant Details: Information on the applicant, including consortium or sub-contractor details.
• Minimum Qualification Criteria Declaration: Declarations regarding Turnover, Regulatory Authorisation, Insurance, Tax Clearance, Eligibility, and Going Concern.
• Technical Capability: Responses covering Relevant Experience, Company/Technical Resources, Data Protection & Data Residency, Quality Management Systems, Information Security, Sustainability, Business Continuity, and Business Conduct.
• Appendices: Specific appendices for Consortium Submission Requirements, Sub-Contractor Requirements, Applicant’s Statement of Confirmation, and Declaration of Going Concern must be completed as applicable.
• Supporting Documentation: Evidence of turnover (audited accounts or auditor's statement), regulatory authorisations, and declarations.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract is intended to be a Single Party Framework Agreement with an initial term of seven (7) years. An Post has the option to extend for one or more further periods totalling up to two (2) years, for a maximum potential term of nine (9) years. The proposition is considered a critical or important business service, implying stringent operational resilience requirements, including alignment with the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and Central Bank of Ireland expectations. Robust information security is a core requirement. Sub-contracting is permitted at An Post's sole discretion, and the entire obligations of the Contractor cannot be sub-contracted. The prime contractor is fully responsible for the acts and omissions of its sub-contractors.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The procurement is outside the scope of EU utilities procurement regulations, indicating An Post has elected a specific competitive tender process. The shortlisting process limits the number of applicants to a maximum of five, with potential for extension based on marginal score differences. A key risk for bidders is the requirement for specific regulatory authorisations (e.g., MiFID II, UCITS, AIFM) which may limit the pool of eligible firms. The emphasis on critical business service status suggests a high level of scrutiny on operational resilience, information security (ISO 27001 or equivalent), and business continuity (ISO 22301 or equivalent). The contract duration of up to nine years requires long-term financial stability and commitment.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured for established financial services providers with proven experience in retail investment propositions, platform provision, and regulatory compliance. A viable bidder would likely be a medium to large enterprise with a demonstrated track record in product manufacturing, platform technology, and customer servicing within the financial sector. Consortium or teaming arrangements are expressly permitted, allowing smaller specialist firms to participate by partnering with larger entities or by acting as sub-contractors. The minimum annual turnover requirement of €2,000,000 suggests that very small businesses may struggle to meet this financial threshold independently. Bid preparation effort is likely to be substantial, requiring detailed responses across technical, operational, and compliance areas. The PQQ stage focuses on pre-qualification, with detailed evaluation occurring at the ITT stage.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source Document: 0044 - Retail Investment Proposition Partner - PQQ.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided text.
• Contact/Clarification: Via the eTenders platform.
• Key Attachments:
• Appendix 1: Pre-Qualification Questionnaire
• Appendix 2: Consortium Submission Requirements
• Appendix 4: Applicant’s Statement of Confirmation
• Appendix 5: Declaration of Going Concern