Preliminary Business Case (including CBA) for a Strategy for Harbour Region Economies

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 contract involves the development of a Preliminary Business Case (PBC) that includes a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) for a potential strategy aimed at enhancing the economies of the Harbour Region. The successful contractor will be responsible for conducting comprehensive research, stakeholder engagement, and analysis to inform the business case.

Key activities include:

• Research and Analysis: Conducting market analysis and economic assessments relevant to the Harbour Region.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging with local businesses, government entities, and community organizations to gather insights and data.
• Cost Benefit Analysis: Developing a detailed CBA that evaluates the potential economic impacts of the proposed strategy.
• Drafting the Business Case: Compiling findings and recommendations into a coherent PBC document.
• Presentation of Findings: Presenting the final PBC to the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for review and approval.

The contractor must ensure that the PBC aligns with regional economic development goals and complies with relevant regulations and standards.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is initiated as part of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment's strategy to bolster economic development in the Harbour Region. The need for a structured approach to economic strategy has been identified as critical for enhancing local economies and ensuring sustainable growth. The initiative aligns with broader government policies aimed at regional development and economic resilience. There is no mention of an incumbent contractor for this project.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum turnover of €150,000 in each of the last three financial years.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €12.7 million limit for any one claim.
• Public Liability: €6.5 million limit for any one claim.
• Professional Indemnity: €500,000 limit in aggregate.
• Product Liability: Not applicable.
• Cyber Liability: Not applicable.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: At least two comparable projects completed in the last three years.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Bids will be evaluated based on the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) principle. The scoring criteria are as follows:

No minimum scoring threshold per criterion or overall is mentioned.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documentation:

• Method statement / response document: Follow the provided template with no specified page limit.
• CVs: For key personnel, no specific page count mentioned.
• Pricing schedule: Must use the specified template.
• Case studies: At least two examples of relevant projects, detailing contract value and duration.
• Declarations: Including ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest.
• Mandatory site visit: Not applicable.
• Submission portal: All submissions must be made via the eTenders platform, adhering to specified format rules.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract will have a term of two months, with the possibility of extending for up to one month, twice. Payment terms will be outlined in the Services Contract, with all prices quoted being inclusive of all costs and exclusive of VAT. Key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) are not specified. The contractor must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including tax obligations.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Potential risks include:

• The turnover requirement of €150,000 may limit participation from smaller firms, potentially skewing competition towards larger entities.
• The absence of specified certifications may create ambiguity regarding the qualifications required for bidders.
• The lack of a clear geographic constraint may lead to a wider pool of bidders, but it may also complicate local stakeholder engagement.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with experience in economic analysis and strategic planning. Viable bidders should have:

• A proven track record in developing business cases or economic strategies.
• The capacity to engage with local stakeholders effectively.
• The ability to meet the insurance and turnover requirements.

Consortium or subcontracting arrangements are permitted, allowing SMEs to collaborate with larger firms or other SMEs. Bid preparation is expected to require several days, depending on the complexity of the proposal. The incumbent strength is not specified, but the absence of a named incumbent may indicate an opportunity for new entrants.

11. Where to dig deeper

• RFT filename: 20260525 Services Request for Tender - Harbour Region Economies.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email: Not specified
• Important attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 3: Tenderer’s Statement