RFT for the Provision of a Single Academic Partner for Officer Education Pathways Courses

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1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

The Irish Defence Forces require a single academic partner from the Higher Education sector to provide academic services for officer education pathways. This partnership will support Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) for the Joint Command and Staff Course (JCSC), Land Command and Staff Course (LCSC), and Joint Cadet Courses.

The core services include:

• Provision of Master's and Diploma Programmes:
• Level 9 Masters in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies.
• Level 9 Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies.
• Level 7 Diploma in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies.
• On-site Academic Staff Presence: The academic partner must provide a minimum of one and a maximum of two dedicated academic staff members at the Military College, Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC), Curragh Camp. These staff will support the delivery and administration of all programmes.
• Instructional Support and Professional Development: This involves providing comprehensive teaching and learning assistance. It includes the professional development and upskilling of military instructors, with formal training in research supervision and the integration of best practices in digital pedagogy for blended learning environments.

The academic year commences annually in September. Courses typically consist of 24 students, requiring six academic supervisors. Each intake accommodates approximately 60 to 80 students. Module 1 runs from September to December, and Module 2 runs from January to April. The contract duration is five years, with an option for extensions up to twelve months.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is initiated by the Irish Defence Forces to secure a single academic partner for their officer education pathways. The services are essential for delivering Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) through established courses like the Joint Command and Staff Course (JCSC) and Land Command and Staff Course (LCSC). The initiative aligns with the Defence Forces' ongoing commitment to professional development and education for its officers. The estimated value of €3,556,920 (excl. VAT) over the contract term indicates a significant investment in enhancing the educational capabilities of military personnel. The procurement is conducted under an open procedure, signalling a desire for a competitive process to identify the most suitable academic institution.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement:
• Average annual turnover of €1 Million for the last three (3) years.
• An Auditor's Statement confirming firm's turnover for the last three financial years and financial standing.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 Million
• Public Liability: €6.5 Million
• Product Liability: Not Required
• Professional Indemnity: €1 Million
• Cyber Insurance: €1 Million
• Certifications:
• Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience:
• Two (2) comparable references from clients for similar services provided within the past five (5) years.
• References must be relevant to the Irish Defence Forces and clearly aligned with the requirements in Appendix 1.
• Personnel:
• Assignment of dedicated contractor academic staff (minimum of one, maximum of two) employed at the C&S School in the DFTC.
• Assignment of dedicated contractor academic staff (minimum of one, maximum of two) employed at the OTW in the DFTC.
• Geographic / facility constraints:
• Services are to be delivered at the Military College, Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC), Curragh Camp.
• Insurance policies must include Ireland within their territorial limits and jurisdiction.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The evaluation process will assess compliant tenders based on the following criteria:

Criterion Weight (%) Sub-criteria