Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Early Years - The Organisation For Young Children
6 Wildflower Way, Boucher Road
Belfast
BT12 6TA
UK
Contact person: Kevin Quinn
Telephone: +44 02890662825
E-mail: aspire.preschool@early-years.org
NUTS: UKN06
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://early-years.org
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA30738
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
Access to the procurement documents is restricted. Further information can be obtained at:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other: Registered Charity
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Review & Redevelopment of Media Initiative for Children - The Respecting Difference Programme.
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80110000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
As part of the ASPIRE Shared Learning Project, the Media Initiative's materials will be refreshed, updated, and redesigned to ensure their continued relevance and effectiveness for a new generation of children and educators in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The ASPIRE Project is a shared education initiative, funded through PEACEPLUS, and aimed at providing direct and sustained contact between children from all backgrounds.
The tender specifically requires a comprehensive review and redesign of the existing programme material currently used for early years children. This process will involve evaluating the current content, identifying areas for improvement and updating material to ensure it aligns with recent thinking in relation to educational and child developmental needs.
Given the cross-border nature of the ASPIRE project, it is also crucial that the refreshed MIFC programme also aligns with relevant curricula in the Republic of Ireland.
The overall objective of this tender is to create a modern, versatile programme that is engaging and will support early learning outcomes for the settings. The redesigned material should incorporate interactive, as well as physical, elements. This should foster creativity and interaction from the children. The final product should be supportive and easy for the stakeholders to implement and support consistency in program delivery across different children's abilities.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
180 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
39162000
48190000
80000000
80100000
80340000
37532000
32354500
92111000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKN06
Main site or place of performance:
N.Ireland
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The overall aim of this tender is to comprehensively review the Media Initiative for Children (MIFC) Respecting Difference Programme and to develop enhancements that ensure its continued effectiveness and relevance for educators in current educational settings across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and beyond.
The selected supplier(s) will be responsible for:
- Resource Toolkit Development and Sourcing: Identifying, designing, and sourcing all associated resources required to produce 200 physical toolkits (demand dependant).
- Ensuring an Evidence-Based Approach: Undertaking a rigorous approach to the programmatic review of MIFC, drawing upon research, stakeholder consultation, and best practice.
- Review and Design of a Revised Service Design Manual: Reviewing and designing a revised Service Design Manual that reflects the updated MIFC programme, incorporating findings from the project review and refreshed design concepts.
- Review and Design of Enhanced Resources: Reviewing and designing enhanced resources for the Respecting Difference Programme, ensuring they are practical, engaging, and effectively support programme delivery. Resources should be provided in English but with provision for translation where required.
- Explore Opportunities for Digital Innovation: This includes exploring potential for digital content within an evolving media landscape.
- Production of a Service Design Manual: Producing a finalised Service Design Manual that is clear, comprehensive, and provides a practical guide for programme implementation.
- Uphold UNCRC Principles: Embed the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) throughout the design process, ensuring children's rights and voices are central.
- Programme Fidelity: ensuring that the revised programme maintains a level of fidelity and connection with the existing MIFC, particularly where resources and characters are shown to be effective.
Ultimately, this tender seeks to deliver an enhanced and practical training programme that effectively builds respect for difference in young children and robustly supports the implementation of high-quality outcomes through shared education initiatives across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. We encourage potential suppliers to consider a partnership/sub-contracting model where necessary.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Approach To Delivery
/ Weighting: 30
Quality criterion: Previous Experience
/ Weighting: 20
Quality criterion: Timeline and Milestone
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Social Value
/ Weighting: 10
Price
/ Weighting:
30
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
180 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 8
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
Yes
II.2.14) Additional information
The ASPIRE Shared Learning Project, the Media Initiative's materials will be refreshed, updated, and redesigned to ensure their continued relevance and effectiveness for a new generation of children and educators in NI and ROI.
The ASPIRE Project is a shared education initiative, funded through PEACEPLUS, and aimed at providing direct and sustained contact between all backgrounds of children.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
The tenderer must demonstrate, by way of example, that they have the relevant experience gained in the delivery of comparable projects within the education field for the following points including:
- Subject Specialists (e.g. in Education, Early Years, Community Development).
- Research experience, specifically in undertaking large scale research projects with a breadth of methodologies.
- Design team – to undertake the initial design framework.
- Experience and strategy for effectively managing sub-contractors/partners.
Early Years can provide access to key stakeholders that are to be engaged.
The experience should specifically include examples of previous projects and CVs of the staff involved in delivery.
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
16/06/2025
Local time: 15:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 8 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
16/06/2025
Local time: 16:30
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=798376.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
(SC Ref:798376)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=798376
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Early Years
6 Wildflower Way
Belfast
BT12 6TA
UK
Telephone: +44 7907708973
E-mail: kevinq@early-years.org
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
12/05/2025