Single Party Framework Agreement for the Design and Development of a new Website for the Irish Institute of Public Administration

Short description

The IPA has recently completed a restructuring process, including the incorporation of two established training brands from its parent department into its extensive range of services. As part of its current corporate strategy, the IPA plans to significantly expand its services further. The IPA website is thus no longer fit for purpose. The IPA aims to create a reliable and engaging online platform that supports its mission of fostering professional development and collaboration among practitioners worldwide. The IPA are seeking a secure, visually striking, user-centric website that reflects the IPA's position as an authority in higher education and training and will serve as a central hub for members/students. This website will be available 24/7 and be fully responsive and optimised for different search engines and devices. The website will provide, among other things: (i) a superb user experience, (ii) a significant increase in student enrolments and revenue, and (iii) advanced and efficient website management and administration capacities, including in digital marketing. The full list of requirements is contained within the procurement documents. All responses must be submitted in a ZIP FILE format.

Additional information

(1) Interested parties must associate their organisation with this competition on the eTenders web site (www.etenders.gov.ie) in order to be included on the mailing list for clarifications and to upload tender responses. To do this you must do the following: Log-in to the eTenders portal; Locate the competition using the Advanced Search by searching under the Contracting Authority or Resource ID. Click on the hyperlink for the competition which will bring you to the CfT Workspace. In the Show CfT Menu for the competition click on the “Expression of Interest in the drop-down menu. Complete the Association with the CfT tab. This will then provide you with a link to Tender under the Show CfT Menu where you can prepare your submission.
(2) When finalising your submission please upload your final response as a zip file as individual documents will lose their titles if uploaded individually. Also ensure that you receive a message under the status header called Submitted, as the percentage tab does not imply you have successfully submitted your response.
(3) There is a maximum upload limit of 250mb per file / 500mb per submission.
(4) Suppliers should note the following when making their submission suppliers must ensure that they give themselves sufficient time to upload & submit all required documentation before the submission deadline. Suppliers should consider the fact that upload speeds vary and that the new eTenders system operates in a different manner to the previous platform operated by EU-Supply. The submit button will be disable automatically upon the expiration of the response deadline.
(5) If you experience difficulty when uploading documents, please contact the eTenders Support Desk for technical assistance. Email irish-eproc-helpdesk@eurodym.com or Telephone: +353(0)818 001459 (09:00 – 17:00 hours).
(6) Applications submitted by any other means (including but not limited to email or post or hand delivery) will not be accepted.
(7) All information relating to attachments, including clarifications and changes, will be published on the Irish Government Procurement Opportunities Portal (www.etenders.gov.ie) only. Registration is free of charge. The contracting authority will not accept responsibility for information relayed (or not relayed) via third parties.
(8) All queries regarding this process must be submitted through the Irish Government Procurement Opportunities Portal www.etenders.gov.ie as a specific question. Responses will be circulated to those tenderers that have registered an interest in this notice on www.etenders.gov.ie. The details of the person making a query will not be disclosed when circulating the response
(9) The estimated value for the framework published is provided strictly for indicative purposes only as there is no guaranteed expenditure under the framework agreement.
(10) The contracting authority will not be responsible for any costs, charges or expenses incurred by candidates or tenderers. Contract award will be subject to the approval of the competent authorities.
(11) Without prejudice to the principle of equal treatment, the contracting authority is not obliged to engage in a clarification process in respect of the procurement documents with missing or incomplete information. Therefore, respondents are advised to ensure that they return completed documentation in order to avoid the risk of elimination from the competition.
(12) Where applicable, please note in relation to all documents, that where reference is made to a particular standard, make, source, process, trademark, type, or patent, that this is not to be regarded as a de facto requirement. In all such cases it should be understood that such indications are to be treated strictly and solely for reference purposes only, to which the words "or equivalent" will always be appended.
(13) At its absolute discretion, the contracting authority may elect to terminate this procurement process, the framework agreement or any contract awarded under the framework agreement at any time.

Main features of the procedure

The IPA will evaluate those tenders against the award criteria and reserves the right to:
1. Move straight to a contract award decision, without negotiation.
2. To apply the successive reduction rule to reduce the number of firms invited to the negotiation phase; or
3. To invite all firms to negotiation meetings.

In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years

The framework agreement will be established for a period of 10 years as catered for in certain circumstances in accordance with Art. 33.1 of Directive 2014/24/EU. The reason for the extended duration beyond the standard 4 years is to take account of the evolution of the service delivery model required over an extended period and the difficulty to change associated with a shorter framework.