Product Safety Training and Consultancy

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 Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) seeks a service provider to deliver product safety training and consultancy. The estimated expenditure for these services over the contract term, including potential extensions, is €140,000 (excluding VAT). The services are intended to assist ComReg in matters related to product safety training and consultancy.

The specific activities and requirements for the service provider are detailed in Appendix 1 of the Request for Tenders (RFT). While the RFT does not itemise daily tasks, the scope encompasses:

• Product Safety Training: This will involve developing and delivering training programmes to ComReg personnel. The content and format of this training are to be defined within the specification.
• Product Safety Consultancy: This will involve providing expert advice and guidance to ComReg on product safety matters. The nature of this consultancy is not further detailed but implies supporting ComReg's regulatory functions.
• Compliance Support: The services will likely support ComReg's adherence to relevant product safety regulations, including but not limited to:
• S.I. No. 14/2026 - European Union (Radio Equipment) Regulations 2026
• S.I. No. 69/2017 - European Communities (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Regulations 2017
• Documentation and Reporting: The service provider will be expected to produce any necessary documentation, reports, or training materials as required by ComReg.
• Adherence to Contractual Terms: The service provider must operate within the framework of the Services Contract, including payment terms, confidentiality, and data protection requirements.

The RFT specifies that the contract will have an initial term of 2 years, with an option for ComReg to extend the contract by one year on three separate occasions, leading to a potential total contract duration of 5 years.

3. Background & buyer context

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is procuring product safety training and consultancy services. This procurement is being conducted via an open procedure and is advertised on www.etenders.gov.ie and in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). The estimated value of the expenditure on these services is below the threshold for the application of the EU Public Procurement Directive, as transposed into Irish law. ComReg's policy aims to encourage participation by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in this competition, encouraging larger enterprises to consider how SMEs can be included in their proposals.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: €1,000,000 for any one claim or series of claims.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: €13,000,000 for any one claim or series of claims.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: €1,000,000 for each and every claim. Bidders must hold these insurances for the Term of any Services Contract awarded.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are not explicitly detailed with percentage weightings in the provided extract. However, the RFT indicates that bids will be evaluated based on both selection and award criteria. The selection criteria are detailed in Part 3, Section 3.2 of the RFT, and the award criteria are detailed in Part 3, Section 3.3. ComReg does not commit to accepting the lowest priced or any tender.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the eTenders.gov.ie portal. The submission must be a single complete document (or zip file) structured into four sections:

• Section 1: Compliance
• Tenderer’s Statement (Appendix 3)
• e-ESPD (European Single Procurement Document)
• Details of Registrable Interest (if applicable)
• Details of any Conflicts of Interest (if applicable)
• Section 2: Selection Criteria
• Bankers Letter (Part 3, 3.2.A)
• Details of Previous Experience (Part 3, 3.2.B)
• Organisational Structure (Part 3, 3.2.B)
• Section 3: Award Criteria
• Responses to each Award Criterion (Part 3, 3.3)
• Completed Pricing Schedule (Appendix 2)

Key requirements for submission include:

• Submission via the eTenders.gov.ie electronic postbox only.
• Tenders must be in English.
• Documents must be text-searchable (not scanned images).
• File size limit of 250MB per file, with a maximum total of 500MB.
• Tenderer’s Statement must be printed on letterhead, completed, and executed by an authorised representative.
• All Consortium Members and Subcontractors must execute relevant documents.
• Prices quoted must be all-inclusive, in Euro, and exclusive of VAT.
• Prices must remain valid for six months from the Tender Deadline.

A mandatory site visit is not specified.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The Services Contract will have an initial term of 2 years, with an option for ComReg to extend it by one year for up to three possible extensions, resulting in a maximum total term of 5 years. Payments will be made within 15 days of receipt of a valid invoice. Daily rates proposed in the Pricing Schedule will remain fixed for the duration of the contract, subject to specific provisions within the Services Contract. Any currency variations over the contract term will be borne by the Tenderer. Subcontractors are permitted, but ComReg may require them to sign confidentiality agreements. Joint and several liability will apply to Consortium members prior to contract award.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The estimated contract value of €140,000 (excl. VAT) over a potential 5-year term is relatively low, averaging €28,000 per year. This suggests a potential focus on specialist, high-value consultancy rather than high-volume service delivery. The RFT explicitly states that the estimated expenditure is an estimate only and ComReg does not commit to accepting the lowest priced or any tender. The procurement is not subject to the EU Public Procurement Directive, indicating a potentially simpler administrative process but also meaning fewer statutory protections for bidders compared to higher-value tenders. ComReg reserves broad discretion to amend the RFT, extend deadlines, or cancel the competition.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured to encourage participation from SMEs, either directly or through consortia with larger enterprises. A viable bidder would likely be a consultancy firm or training provider with demonstrable expertise in product safety regulations and training delivery. The insurance requirements, particularly Employer's Liability at €13 million, are substantial and may necessitate a strong financial standing or the use of a consortium to meet these. Bid preparation effort is likely moderate, focusing on demonstrating expertise and providing a clear pricing structure. Given the open procedure and the explicit encouragement of SME participation, the tender appears genuinely open, though the insurance requirements are a significant hurdle for very small, newly established firms. The Pwin signal is neutral; there is no indication of an incumbent or a specific framework.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: T21905 Request For Tender - Consultancy Service (Non-Framework).pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Key Attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 3: Tenderer’s Statement
• Appendix 4: European Single Procurement Document (eESPD)
• Appendix 6: Services Contract