Delivery of a Grassland Management Programme

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 contractor will design, coordinate, and deliver a practical Grassland Management Programme for young farmers, farm successors, and new entrants in Ireland. The programme aims to enhance participants' professional development by improving their knowledge and skills in grassland management, grazing systems, farm profitability, and environmental sustainability.

The contractor's responsibilities include:

• Programme Design: Developing comprehensive programme content and learning materials that align with current industry best practices and address the specific needs of the target audience. This includes defining learning outcomes and ensuring technical accuracy.
• Programme Delivery: Conducting all programme sessions, which will consist of a four-day course delivered annually. Each day is scheduled to run from approximately 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, with sessions planned for September, October, January, and April. Delivery methods will include classroom instruction, practical demonstrations, and field-based learning.
• Coordination and Administration: Liaising regularly with Macra Agricultural Skillnet, managing participant attendance records, collecting participant feedback, and providing attendance and end-of-programme reports.
• Participant Engagement: Facilitating active participation and peer learning among attendees.
• Resource Provision: Supplying appropriate learning resources and ensuring participants are advised on necessary equipment (quadrat, grass shears, weighing scales).
• Quality Assurance: Implementing quality assurance procedures, ensuring programme materials are up-to-date, responding to feedback, and working collaboratively with Macra Agricultural Skillnet for continuous improvement.
• Reporting: Submitting an end-of-programme report detailing participation, outcomes, and recommendations.

The programme objectives focus on enabling participants to improve practical grassland management skills, develop confidence in grazing management, enhance grass utilisation and farm profitability, accurately measure grass growth, develop budgeting and feed planning skills, understand soil fertility's impact on grass production, implement sustainable practices, and improve overall farm performance.

3. Background & buyer context

Macra Agricultural Skillnet is the national training network focused on the continuous professional development of individuals in Irish agriculture and the agri-food sector. The organisation collaborates with educational providers, industry experts, and partners to deliver programmes meeting evolving agricultural needs. This procurement is driven by Macra Agricultural Skillnet's objective to provide a practical Grassland Management Programme specifically tailored for young farmers, farm successors, and new entrants. The programme is designed to equip these individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills for managing productive grazing systems, improving grass utilisation, enhancing farm profitability, and supporting environmentally sustainable farming practices. The successful tenderer will work collaboratively with Macra Agricultural Skillnet to ensure the programme reflects current industry best practices and delivers measurable value.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance: The successful tenderer must maintain the following minimum levels of insurance for the contract duration:
• Employers Liability: €13,000,000
• Public Liability: €6,500,000
• Professional Indemnity: €1,500,000 Evidence of insurance is required upon request prior to contract award.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Tenderers must demonstrate:
• Experience delivering agricultural education and training.
• Experience in grassland management and grazing systems.
• Successful delivery of two comparable programmes within the previous three years, including client references.
• Personnel: Tenderers must provide a summary of personnel who will deliver the programme and their relevant expertise.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). The evaluation methodology assigns weights to specific criteria:

The "Proposed Programme Content and Delivery Methodology" criterion assesses understanding of objectives, practical delivery methods, innovative learning, content relevance, participant engagement, and support for young farmers. "Relevant Experience and Programme Delivery Capability" evaluates agricultural education/training experience, grassland management expertise, delivery capacity, personnel expertise, and successful delivery of comparable programmes. "Price and Value for Money" requires transparent, competitive pricing. "Sustainability and Green Procurement Measures" assesses the incorporation of sustainability principles into programme delivery.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers are required to submit the following electronically via the eTenders platform:

• Organisation profile: A summary of the tendering organisation.
• Details of relevant experience: Specifically in delivering agricultural education and training programmes, and previous grassland management, grazing, livestock, or farm management programmes.
• Proposed methodology: An outline of the approach to programme delivery.
• Proposed programme content and learning outcomes: Details of the curriculum and expected results.
• Personnel summary: Information on the individuals who will deliver the programme and their expertise.
• Comparable programmes: Details of two programmes delivered within the last three years, including client references.
• Pricing Schedule: Completed in accordance with Appendix 2.
• Tenderer's Statement: Signed declaration confirming accuracy, capacity, agreement to insurance requirements, compliance with legislation, and acceptance of contract terms.

Late tenders will not be accepted. Submissions must be in English. Clarifications must be submitted via the eTenders messaging facility.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The initial contract term is one (1) year. Macra Agricultural Skillnet reserves the right to extend the contract for two (2) additional one-year periods, subject to continued demand, funding availability, satisfactory performance, and ongoing requirements. The maximum potential contract duration is three (3) years. Pricing must remain valid for twelve (12) months following the tender closing date. The successful tenderer must maintain specific insurance levels (€13m Employers Liability, €6.5m Public Liability, €1.5m Professional Indemnity) for the contract duration. Compliance with GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 is mandatory. Tenderers must disclose any conflicts of interest. Upon award, the successful tenderer will enter into Macra Agricultural Skillnet's standard Services Agreement, which may be amended to reflect specific procurement requirements.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The estimated budget of €40,000 per annum, with a maximum potential contract value of €120,000 over three years, is relatively modest for a programme requiring significant design, coordination, and delivery expertise. This suggests a need for efficient delivery and cost-effective solutions. The contract is subject to continued demand and Skillnet Ireland funding availability for extensions, introducing an element of funding dependency for longer-term engagement. The award criteria place a significant emphasis (40%) on "Proposed Programme Content and Delivery Methodology," requiring tenderers to articulate a strong pedagogical approach and practical application. The inclusion of "Sustainability and Green Procurement Measures" as a distinct award criterion (10%) indicates a strategic focus on environmental responsibility within the programme's delivery.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is open to organisations with demonstrated expertise in agricultural education and training, particularly in grassland management and grazing systems. This could include agricultural education providers, consultants, higher education institutions, industry organisations, or specialist training providers. Collaborative partnerships are also permitted. Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a strong track record in practical farmer training and a clear understanding of young farmer development needs could be well-suited. Consortium bids are explicitly allowed, enabling SMEs to partner with others to meet requirements. The bid preparation effort is likely moderate, focusing on demonstrating programme design, delivery capability, and relevant experience. The tender does not explicitly favour incumbents or large organisations, suggesting a competitive field where a well-articulated, value-for-money proposal is key.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: REQUEST FOR TENDERS - Grassland Management 2026.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email or clarification portal: eTenders messaging facility
• Most important attachments:
• Appendix 1 – Programme Requirements and Specification
• Appendix 2 – Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 3 – Tenderer's Statement