Market Research Services for HBFI

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

The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), acting as agent for Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI), seeks market research services. The objective is to update existing research concerning the residential development sector in Ireland. A specific focus is placed on small and medium-sized developers and builders. The selected Service Provider will deliver these services under a contract for the period required for their completion.

The core activities involve:

• Updating Market Research: Conducting research to refresh and enhance current data and analysis on the Irish residential development sector.
• Focus on SMEs: Specifically targeting and gathering information relevant to small and medium-sized developers and builders within the sector.
• Reporting and Analysis: Providing comprehensive reports and analytical insights derived from the updated research.
• Additional Services: The Authority may request the Service Provider to undertake additional services on a case-by-case basis. The Authority reserves the right to request a fixed fee for any such Additional Services.

The Services are more particularly described in Schedule 4 (The Services), which is not provided in this extract. The NTMA is not obliged to procure services under the contract and may use other procurement methods. The scope may be increased or reduced at the Authority's discretion.

3. Background & buyer context

Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) was established on 4th January 2019 to provide commercial financing for residential development projects in Ireland. HBFI is funded by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, managed by the NTMA. HBFI began accepting Expressions of Interest from potential borrowers in January 2019. This tender is initiated by the NTMA, acting as agent for HBFI, to ensure HBFI has updated market intelligence to inform its lending decisions, particularly concerning small and medium-sized developers. The procurement aligns with HBFI's mandate to support commercially viable residential projects.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet minimum requirements, assessed on a pass/fail basis. Failure to meet any minimum requirement will lead to elimination. Tenderers may rely on the capacity of other entities or name subcontractors.

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: €6,500,000 (six million, five hundred thousand euro) for each and every claim or series of claims arising from a single occurrence.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: €13,000,000 (thirteen million euro) for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: €1,000,000 (one million euro) in the aggregate per insurance year. This insurance must be maintained for the duration of the contract and for six years thereafter.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Tenderers must demonstrate experience to perform such services to three (3) clients within the 36 months prior to the Response Deadline.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded to the Tenderer submitting the most economically advantageous tender. The evaluation methodology and award criteria are detailed in Schedule 2 (Award Criteria), which is not provided in this extract. The tender will be evaluated based on these criteria, with the aim of ensuring value for money.

Note: The specific award criteria and their weighting are not detailed in the provided text and are expected to be found in Schedule 2.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit a complete tender and supporting information in compliance with the RFT requirements.

• Method statement / response document: Not specified, but must be in English. Word count/page number limits may apply to specific sections.
• CVs: Not specified, but personal data submitted will be processed according to data protection laws.
• Pricing schedule: Fees must be denominated in euro (€), exclusive of VAT, and completed to two decimal places. VAT rates must be indicated separately. Fees must include all expenses (materials, travel, accommodation, administration, overheads, printing, postage, etc.) and be free of caveats or conditions.
• Case studies: Not specified.
• Declarations:
• Duly completed tender and supporting information as required by Schedule 1 (Minimum Requirements) and Schedule 3 (Form of Tender).
• Evidence substantiating declarations made with regard to Schedule 1 (Minimum Requirements).
• Confirmation that the Declaration of Eligibility (section 1 of Schedule 1) continues to apply.
• Tax clearance evidence from the Revenue Commissioners of Ireland, including tax reference number and Tax Clearance Access Number.
• Statement confirming no potential or actual conflicts of interest exist, save as disclosed.
• Bona Fides: Not explicitly stated, but implied through tax clearance and declarations.
• Conflict of Interest declaration.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via the electronic post box on www.etenders.gov.ie.

7. Key dates & process

Note: Specific dates for RFT issuance and clarification deadline are not provided in the extract and are expected to be in the front page Key Dates table of the full RFT document.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term + extension: The contract remains in place for the period required for the completion of the Services. No specific extension provisions are detailed.
• Payment terms: Payment is due within 30 days following receipt of a valid invoice.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified in the provided text.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified.
• Termination clauses: The Authority may terminate the contract due to an actual or potential conflict of interest, or if the successful Tenderer fails to provide sufficient evidence for preconditions to award.
• IP ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting rules: Subcontractors may be required to enter into a collateral agreement. The lead contractor remains liable for all Services.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified, but reliance on other entities requires demonstration of commitment, potentially via a letter or contractual commitment, and a guarantee may be required as a condition of award.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Value not disclosed: The absence of an estimated contract value means bidders must assess the potential scale and profitability independently.
• Discretionary scope changes: The Authority reserves the right to increase or reduce the scope of Services and the anticipated duration at its sole discretion, introducing uncertainty for resource planning and pricing.
• No guaranteed procurement: Award of the contract does not guarantee the procurement of services; the Authority may procure services in other ways or not at all.
• Contract terms non-negotiable: Tenderers must submit on the basis of the draft contract terms, with material changes potentially leading to rejection.
• Reliance on other entities: If relying on third-party capacity for minimum requirements, a contractual commitment may be required, adding complexity.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is open to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that can meet the specified minimum requirements.

• Who can credibly bid: A firm with demonstrable experience in market research for the property or development sector, specifically having served at least three clients in the last three years. The firm must also hold the required insurance levels.
• Consortium/sub-contracting: Consortium bidding is permitted, with members jointly and severally liable. Subcontracting is also allowed, with the lead contractor remaining liable for all services.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Bid preparation will likely require significant effort, involving detailed response to minimum requirements, insurance procurement, pricing schedule development, and potentially detailed service descriptions if Schedule 4 is extensive. A minimum of 10-15 days of dedicated effort from a small team is a reasonable estimate.
• Pwin signal: The tender does not explicitly indicate an incumbent. The NTMA's role and HBFI's relatively recent establishment suggest a competitive process. The lack of a disclosed value and the discretionary scope could indicate a need for flexibility, which SMEs can sometimes offer.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: 2026PR067 RFT for the provision of Market Research Services to HBFI.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie.
• Most important attachments:
• Schedule 1 (Minimum Requirements)
• Schedule 3 (Form of Tender)
• Schedule 4 (The Services)
• Schedule 2 (Award Criteria)
• Schedule 5 (Draft Contract)