Website and App Accessibility Audit Solution

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 | :------------------------------------------ | :-------------------------------------- | :------------- | :-------------- | :------- | :--------------- | :-------- | :------- | :-------------- | :------------------ | :-------------- | Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage Website and App Accessibility Audit Solution Not stated €350,000 Not stated Open procedure Not stated Ireland 3 years 2026-09-18 12:00 Not stated

2. Scope of Work

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLG&H) requires a hosted accessibility audit platform. This platform will enable the Contracting Authority to conduct regular accessibility checks across its portfolio of websites efficiently and effectively. The service includes the provision of an independent portal to facilitate auditable accessibility audits by Departmental staff, following training provided by the contractor.

The core components of the required services are:

• Hosted Accessibility Audit Platform: A web-based platform accessible to DHLG&H staff for conducting accessibility audits.
• Independent Portal: A dedicated interface within the platform designed to ensure audits are conducted in an efficient and auditable manner.
• Training: The contractor must provide training to Departmental staff on the use of the platform and the execution of accessibility audits.
• Compliance Standards: The platform and its outputs must conform to EN 301 549 v3, W3C standards, and meet WCAG 2.2 AA at a minimum.
• Audit Functionality: The platform must support the identification and reporting of accessibility issues.
• Fix Management: The system must allow for the acceptance and remembering of fixes to false positives, with manual adjustment capabilities.
• Reporting: The platform should generate reports detailing audit findings and compliance status.

The estimated expenditure for these services over the initial three-year term, including potential extensions, is €350,000 (excluding VAT). The contract is for a term of three years, with the option for two further extensions of up to 12 months each.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is initiated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLG&H) to enhance the digital accessibility of its online presence. The requirement for a dedicated platform stems from the need for efficient and consistent accessibility checks across the Department's websites. The initiative aligns with broader government objectives for digital inclusion and compliance with accessibility standards. The procurement is conducted under an open procedure, as per EU and Irish regulations. The estimated contract value of €350,000 over three years indicates a focus on a scalable solution suitable for ongoing departmental use.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

To be considered for this tender, bidders must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Turnover requirement: Tenderers must declare a minimum average annual turnover of €400,000 for each of the last three immediately preceding financial years for which audited accounts are available. Audited financial statements with an unqualified audit report will be required upon request.
• Insurance: The successful Tenderer must hold the following insurances for the term of the Services Contract:
• Employer’s Liability: €12.7 million for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Public Liability: €6.5 million limit for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Product Liability: Not specified for this tender.
• Professional Indemnity: €1.0 million limit in the aggregate per insurance year.
• Cyber Insurance: €1.0 million limit in the aggregate per insurance year.
• 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.

Tenderers must also submit a completed European Single Procurement Document (eESPD) and confirm acceptance of the Services Contract terms.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award of the contract will be based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principle. While specific scoring weights are not detailed in the provided extract, the evaluation will consider both qualitative and price elements. Tenderers must meet all mandatory selection criteria to be considered for evaluation. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to reject any tender that does not fully comply with the RFT requirements. The final decision will not necessarily be based on the lowest price.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit their tenders electronically via the ‘electronic tenderbox’ on www.etenders.gov.ie. Key submission requirements include:

• eESPD: Completion and submission of the electronic European Single Procurement Document.
• Documentation: Submission of all documentation required by the RFT.
• Format: Adherence to the RFT format and response order.
• Tenderer’s Statement: A scanned, signed copy of the Tenderer’s Statement (Appendix 3) on letterhead.
• Pricing Schedule: Completion of the Pricing Schedule (Appendix 2), with all prices in Euro, exclusive of VAT, and valid for 120 days from the Tender Deadline.
• Declarations: Submission of declarations as required, including Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number.
• File Limits: Maximum file size of 250MB per file, with a total limit of 2GB for all documentation. Documents must be text-searchable PDFs or Word documents, not image scans.
• Language: Tenders must be submitted in English.
• Consortia: If submitting as a group, a single nominated entity must represent all members.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The Services Contract will have an initial term of three (3) years. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to extend the term for up to two (2) additional periods of twelve (12) months each. Prices quoted must remain valid for 120 days from the Tender Deadline. Any currency variations over the contract term will be borne by the Tenderer. Payment terms will be in accordance with the Services Contract (Appendix 5). The successful Tenderer must comply with all applicable EU and domestic tax laws and provide tax clearance verification. Subcontractors must also comply with relevant regulations, and if their capacity is relied upon for selection criteria, they must submit a separate eESPD. The contract includes clauses on environmental, social, and labour law compliance, and protection of employees on transfer of undertakings.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Turnover Requirement: The €400,000 annual turnover requirement, while standard, is relatively close to the total estimated contract value of €350,000 over three years. This might suggest a preference for established, but not necessarily large, service providers.
• No Specific Lots: The tender is not divided into lots, meaning a single provider will be expected to deliver the entire scope of services.
• Mandatory eESPD: The requirement for a fully completed eESPD is a standard but critical administrative step.
• No Site Visit Specified: The RFT does not mandate a site visit to the Contracting Authority's premises, nor does it specify a visit to the Tenderer's premises. This suggests the service can be delivered remotely.
• WCAG 2.2 AA Minimum: The specific requirement for WCAG 2.2 AA compliance sets a clear technical benchmark for the audit solution.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured to be accessible to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in digital accessibility auditing. The €400,000 annual turnover requirement is achievable for many established SMEs. The scope of providing a hosted platform and training is manageable, especially if the SME has a well-developed software solution.

• Credible Bidders: SMEs with a proven track record in web accessibility auditing, familiar with WCAG 2.2 AA and EN 301 549 standards, and possessing a suitable platform (either developed in-house or licensed) are well-positioned.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The RFT explicitly encourages SMEs to explore forming relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises. Sub-contracting is permitted, allowing SMEs to focus on their core strengths while potentially outsourcing other aspects.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing a compliant bid, including the eESPD, pricing schedule, and any required statements, could take an SME team approximately 5-10 working days.
• Pwin Signal: There is no explicit indication of an incumbent provider or a pre-existing framework. The open procedure and encouragement of SME participation suggest a competitive field. The primary success factor will be the quality and compliance of the proposed platform and the bidder's demonstrated capability.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: Website and App Accessibility RFT Final.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 5: Services Contract