Provision of Contracted Training Services

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 procurement establishes a multi-supplier framework agreement for the provision of contracted training services across 11 distinct lots. The framework aims to secure a range of training programmes to meet the educational and employment needs of individuals in Longford and Westmeath. Tenderers can apply for one, some, or all of the specified lots.

The scope of work encompasses the delivery of training services within the following 11 lots:

• Lot 1: Business, Administration Skills; Financial Services Skills; Management Skills
• Lot 2: Information Technology Skills; Engineering (IT) Skills; Core ICT Skills
• Lot 3: Engineering Skills; Electrical Engineering Skills; Mechanical Engineering Skills
• Lot 4: Health, Family other Social Services Skills
• Lot 5: Hairdressing, Beauty and Complementary Therapies Skills
• Lot 6: Transport, Distribution and Logistics Skills; Transport Engineering Skills
• Lot 7: Food and Beverage Skills; Tourism Skills; Sport & Leisure Skills
• Lot 8: Agriculture, Horticulture and Mariculture Skills; Animal Science Skills
• Lot 9: Core Personal Skills; General Learning; Language Skills; Sampling Skills; Arts and Crafts Skills
• Lot 10: Research and Education/Training Skills
• Lot 11: Security, Guarding & Emergency Services Skills

Successful tenderers will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of training programmes within their awarded lot(s). This includes, but is not limited to, curriculum development or adaptation, learner recruitment and assessment, training delivery, provision of necessary resources and materials, and learner support. Tenderers must also demonstrate a methodology for assisting learners in obtaining relevant work/job placements. The framework requires adherence to defined service levels and contract management protocols, including the submission of draft Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Tenderers must also detail their approach to managing service costs, ensuring quality, and facilitating timely invoicing. Specific attention is required for managing changes in staff providing the service and the speed of response to general and urgent queries.

3. Background & buyer context

The Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB) is procuring these contracted training services to establish a multi-supplier framework agreement. This initiative aligns with broader national strategies for skills development and lifelong learning within the Irish education and training sector. The framework is designed to provide flexible and responsive training solutions to meet the evolving needs of the local economy and workforce in Longford and Westmeath. The procurement is conducted under an Open Procedure, indicating a competitive process to select multiple providers across the 11 defined lots. The estimated total value of the framework agreement is €15,000,000, suggesting a significant investment in skills development over the contract's duration.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

To be considered for this tender, bidders must meet the following minimum eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Bidders must confirm they have an annual turnover of €375,000 per annum, or pro-rata if a recently established firm, to be considered for the contract over a three-year period. Evidence of turnover for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025 will be required.
• Insurance: Bidders must confirm they have the following insurances in place:
• Employers Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Professional Indemnity: €2.6 million
• Cyber Insurance: €1 million Bidders must also confirm their ability to obtain required insurance levels if higher than currently held, including a specific indemnity to LWETB.
• Certifications: While not explicitly listed as mandatory certifications for all lots, tenderers must demonstrate operation of an appropriate quality assurance programme (3rd party certified or in-house system) and health & safety systems and procedures in line with the Safety Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005 to 2014. Operation of an environmental management system (3rd party certified or in-house) is also required.
• Past experience: Tenderers must demonstrate successful delivery of at least two (2) previous comparable projects (excluding LWETB) within the last three (3) years. These references must be of a similar nature, scale, and value to the services required. Failure to supply two references will deem the submission invalid.
• Personnel: Tenderers must demonstrate access to a minimum of four (4) skilled personnel with sector knowledge and relevant skills. CVs for at least four staff must be submitted.
• 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) principle, with the following weighting and scoring:

Tenderers must achieve the minimum marks required for Criteria B, C, D, and E to be considered for award.

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 sole document to be evaluated.

Key submission components include:

• Tender Response Document (TRD): This document must be completed in full, with responses provided only in designated sections. No additional attachments beyond those requested will be considered.
• Pricing Schedule: Tenderers must complete the Pricing Template within the TRD for the relevant lots.
• CVs: Brief CVs for at least four (4) assigned staff members must be submitted at Appendix 3 of the TRD.
• Organisational Chart: An organisational chart must be inserted at Appendix 2 of the TRD, clearly identifying all relevant departments, divisions, and third parties.
• Declarations:
• Declaration of Bona Fides & Statutory Obligations (under Public Sector Directive 2014/24/EU - Article 57).
• Declaration re Statutory Obligations (Employment Equality, Equal Status, National Minimum Wage, Organisation of Working Time, Safety Health and Welfare at Work, Disability, GDPR).
• Tax Clearance confirmation.
• Confirmation of insurances in place or ability to obtain required levels.
• Data Protection confirmation.
• Form of Tender, signed.
• Past Contracts: Details of at least two (2) previous comparable contracts must be provided.
• Quality Assurance, Health & Safety, Environmental Systems: Evidence of these systems (3rd party certified or in-house) will be provided on request.
• Subcontracting: Confirmation of intent to subcontract and submission of ESPD forms for subcontractors will be required.

The submission deadline is 3rd September 2026, 13:00.

7. Key dates & process

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

8. Contract terms that matter

The framework agreement will be established for an unspecified duration, with the possibility of contract extensions on the same terms, potentially for 6, 12, or 24-month periods. Payment will be made within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice. Tender prices are fixed for year one; price amendments in subsequent years are at LWETB's discretion and will be calculated in line with the applicable Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) will be detailed within the proposed methodology, requiring tenderers to provide a draft SLA. Liquidated damages or penalty regimes are not explicitly detailed in the provided extract. Termination clauses are not detailed. Intellectual property (IP) ownership is not specified. Sub-contracting is permitted, with specific ESPD requirements for subcontractors. Parent company guarantees or bonds are not mentioned.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The tender specifies a significant estimated value (€15 million) for a framework agreement, which implies substantial potential business for successful bidders. However, the contract length is not stated, creating uncertainty for long-term planning. The requirement for a 12-month tender validity period is also lengthy. The award criteria place a substantial weighting on cost (40%), which may favour highly competitive pricing over other qualitative factors. The minimum turnover requirement of €375,000 per annum, while standard, should be assessed against the potential value of individual lot awards. The absence of a stated go-live date or contract start date creates a degree of ambiguity regarding the immediate commencement of services post-award.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a multi-supplier framework across 11 lots, offering opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that specialise in specific training areas. The requirement for a minimum of two comparable past contracts and a €375,000 annual turnover suggests that very small or newly established businesses may find it challenging to meet the eligibility criteria. However, SMEs with proven track records in one or more of the 11 lots are well-positioned to bid.

Consortium bidding or sub-contracting is permitted, which can enable SMEs to pool resources and expertise to meet the requirements. The bid preparation effort is likely to be moderate to high, given the detailed response required for the TRD, including methodology, team structure, and quality/safety systems. The significant weighting on cost (40%) indicates that price competitiveness will be a key factor, which SMEs can often achieve. The overall structure suggests a competitive market, but the lot-based approach allows for focused bids from specialist providers.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: TRD Final.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: 8782720
• Contact email or clarification portal: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Most important attachments:
• Tender Response Document (TRD)
• Call for Tender (CFT) Document (referenced as taking precedence over TRD)
• Pricing Template (referenced within TRD)