Contracted Training Services Kerry College Killorglin Campus

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 seeks contracted training services for Kerry Education and Training Board (ETB) at its Killorglin Campus and other specified locations within Co. Kerry. The services are ETB-funded education and training delivered by external partners, designed for agility to meet evolving Further Education and Training Service Plan goals through outsourced provision. The procurement is divided into four lots, each resulting in a separate contract. Courses will be commissioned as required, subject to learner numbers and budget availability. Suppliers can apply for one or all lots.

The four lots are:

• Lot 1: Youth Work
• Lot 2: Pilates Teaching
• Lot 3: SCUBA Diving Instructor
• Lot 4: Yoga Teacher & Outdoor Wellbeing

Full details for each lot are outlined in Appendix 2 (Requirements and Specification) and associated Course Specification Documents. Delivery is required to locations identified in Appendix 2 and the Course Specification Documents. The contract duration will be for the time required to deliver the contracted training provision. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to extend the Term.

Key activities and requirements include:

• Course Development and Delivery: Providing high-quality outsourced training provision aligned with ETB goals.
• On-the-Job Learning: Traineeship programmes must include a minimum of 30% learning on-the-job.
• Learner Outcomes: Aimed at enabling learners to pursue roles within specific sectors (e.g., Health, Family, and Social Care for Youth Work lot).
• Account Management: Nominate a dedicated Account Manager responsible for the working relationship, performance review, dispute resolution, feedback, and efficiency improvements. Account management activities are non-billable.
• Reporting and Invoicing: Submit invoices monthly for costs incurred in the preceding month, quoting a Contracting Authority purchase order number.
• Quality Assurance: Implement and demonstrate a commitment to quality assurance policies and systems, potentially externally certified.
• Health & Safety: Operate Health & Safety systems and procedures in line with relevant legislation.
• Sustainability: Develop and implement an Environmental Management Plan detailing measures to reduce carbon emissions, minimise waste, and communicate sustainability principles.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Describe a CSR strategy that supports social inclusion, promotes equality of opportunity, and delivers tangible benefits to the local community.

3. Background & buyer context

Kerry Education and Training Board (ETB) is one of 16 ETBs established under the Education and Training Boards Act 2013. Its remit is to provide a comprehensive range of quality education and training programmes to meet community needs, including further education and training. Kerry ETB was formed on July 1st, 2013, integrating the training function formerly provided by FÁS on January 1st, 2014. Its mission is to promote lifelong learning in Kerry. The ETB operates across approximately 38 locations in Co. Kerry, serving around 2,900 primary/post-primary students and 14,000 further education and training beneficiaries annually, with a staff of circa 442 part-time and 619 full-time employees. This procurement aligns with the ETB's strategy to deliver outsourced provision to meet evolving Further Education and Training Service Plan goals.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €12.7 million for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence. (Not required if the third party is self-employed).
• Public Liability: €6.5 million for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence. (May be provided as part of a combined public liability/product liability policy).
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence. Tenderers must confirm these insurances will be in place from the Contract Effective Date, cover Ireland, and have no exclusions impacting coverage. Formal confirmation from an insurer/broker will be requested prior to award.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender, but Tenderers must demonstrate a Quality Assurance Management System and compliance with Safety, Health & Welfare at Work legislation.
• Past experience:
• Demonstrate successful delivery of three (3) previous comparable training projects relevant to each Lot.
• Provide a list of existing clients where services of the same type have been provided within the last 12 months, with contact details for two references.
• Demonstrate previous experience of one course development and provide examples of past courses.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender, but a dedicated Account Manager must be nominated.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Delivery is required to locations identified in Appendix 2 and Course Specification Documents. Kerry ETB operates at approximately 38 locations in Co. Kerry.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded on the basis of the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). Tenderers must achieve a minimum score of 50% for each qualitative criterion (B, C, D) to avoid elimination. The lowest cost tender meeting qualitative minimums receives maximum cost score.

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document: Complete the Tender Response Document (TRD) and associated appendices, following the format and order of the CFT.
• CVs: Provide a single CV for each proposed Tutor as part of Criterion B.
• Pricing schedule: Complete the separate Pricing Schedule document for the relevant Lot(s). Prices must be all-inclusive, in Euro, and exclusive of VAT.
• Case studies: Not explicitly required, but evidence of relevant delivery experience is needed for Criterion C.
• Declarations:
• Declaration of Bona Fides (as per Art. 57 of Directive 2014/24/EU).
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number.
• Confirmation of insurances.
• Evidence of financial capacity (turnover details).
• Evidence of technical capacity (previous experience, H&S, QA systems).
• 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. Submit as a single ZIP file if possible, clearly labelled, page numbered, and indexed.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: As required to deliver the contracted training provision. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to extend the Term.
• Payment terms: Invoices submitted monthly for costs due in the preceding month.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Set out in Course outline & specifications, Operational Guidelines Document, and Service Contract. Precise KPIs will be agreed with contract members.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified for this tender.
• Termination clauses: Tenderers must fulfil obligations notwithstanding changes in EU/national circulars, laws, regulations, taxation, duties, or other factors.
• IP ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting rules: Tenderers may rely on the resources of other entities, but must prove these resources will be at their disposal. If a consortium/JV, information must be provided for each party.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified for this tender.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Lot Structure: The division into four distinct lots means suppliers may need to specialise or form consortia to bid across multiple areas.
• Budget Uncertainty: The indicative budget of €525,000 is for all four lots combined and is subject to approval and budget availability, implying courses may be commissioned on an as-needed basis rather than a guaranteed volume.
• Qualitative Minimums: Strict minimum scores (50%) are required for qualitative criteria (B, C, D), meaning a strong technical proposal is essential, not just competitive pricing.
• Tutor CVs: Specific requirement for "Named Tutor & Qualifications" as a significant award criterion (20%), necessitating early identification and documentation of key personnel.
• Environmental & CSR Focus: A dedicated 5% weighting for Environmental and CSR strategy indicates a strategic priority for the buyer.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured into four lots, offering opportunities for SMEs to bid on specific areas of expertise. SMEs can also form consortia or joint ventures to meet capacity requirements, as encouraged by the Contracting Authority. The requirement for three previous comparable training projects and specific insurance levels (€12.7m EL, €6.5m PL, €1m PI) may present a barrier for very small or newly established businesses without prior public sector or large-scale contract experience. Bid preparation effort is moderate, requiring detailed responses to technical and qualitative criteria, including specific plans for environmental and CSR aspects. The "Most Economically Advantageous Tender" (MEAT) approach, with a 60% weighting on cost, suggests that price competitiveness is a significant factor, but not the sole determinant. The requirement for named tutors and relevant delivery experience also points towards established providers with demonstrable track records.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: CFT Contracted Training Services Killorglin Final.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided text.
• Contact email or clarification portal: All queries must be submitted through the messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie.
• Most important attachments:
• Appendix 2 (Requirements and Specification)
• Course Specification Documents (referenced for details)
• Pricing Schedule (separate document)
• Tender Response Document (TRD)