Request for Tenders - ''To develop a sectoral project to promote workplace equality ''
Request for Tenders (RFT)
(This document is available to download as a Word file at the bottom of the page)
"To develop a sectoral project to promote workplace equality"
1. Introduction - The Equality Mainstreaming Unit
The Equality Mainstreaming Unit is one of the initiatives set up under the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013. The main objective of the Equality Mainstreaming Unit is to contribute to addressing labour market gaps in Ireland for specific groups that are experiencing barriers in accessing and participating in the labour market, including those created by gender inequality and wider inequalities. The programme consists of a set measures that seek to improve labour market access and participation of groups experiencing inequality across the nine grounds covered by the Equality legislation. The Equality Mainstreaming Unit is based in the Equality Authority.
Equality Mainstreaming Unit
Objectives
The specific objective of this unit is to facilitate and support institutional change within providers of vocational education and training, labour market programmes and within small and medium enterprises by strengthening their capacity to combat discrimination, to promote equality and to accommodate diversity.
This is achieved by providing:
- Support packages for equality mainstreaming approaches to providers of vocational education and training and labour market programmes.
- Consultancy support to support small to medium enterprises in promoting planned and systematic approaches to workplace equality
- Support for the development of sectoral approaches/projects to promote workplace equality
- The development of research and resource materials
The Equality Mainstreaming Unit provides technical assistance to enterprises, trade union networks, employer networks and labour market programme providers to promote and develop planned and systematic approaches to equality.
2. The Project
The Equality Mainstreaming Unit is seeking calls for proposals from national or regional organisations and/or sectoral representatives and associations who are interested in mainstreaming an equality perspective in their work and structures.
The essential requirements for the project will be the:-
- Development and implementation of an equality mainstreaming approach and associated tools e.g. equality guidelines, equality reviews, equality policies and equality and diversity training, equality action plans
- Demonstration of a partnership approach with trade unions or employer representative structures which will underpin the project
- Evidence of a sectoral approach with a national or regional spread.
In determining the amount of grant to be allocated to any particular project the Equality Mainstreaming Unit shall have regard to the following:
- The extent to which the proposed actions relate to an identified need
- The extent to which the proposal provides evidence of a capacity to effect equality change within the organisation and its membership?
- Coverage of the grounds of the equality legislation, with preference for an integrated equality approach covering the nine grounds of the equality legislation
- Value for money i.e. the nature of the intervention vs. cost
3. Work/outputs required (Work to be done)
The work outputs expected include:
- A detailed project report that shows evidence of the outcomes generated
- Where applicable, a developed and implemented workplace tool
It intended that any outputs produced will be for sharing and use of the Equality Mainstreaming Unit. Project representatives will be expected to contribute material either in writing or orally to EMU publications and conferences.
4. Timeframe
The project must be concluded by July 2011
5. Format of Project Proposals
- outline the proposed approach to the work (max 2 pages);
- outline a clear breakdown of costs in euros, exclusive of VAT and expenses as well as the number of days work involved and the daily rate for the individuals involved.
- Set out the experience and expertise of the personnel to be involved in the work
- (max 2 pages).
6. Confidentiality of information
The Equality Authority undertake to use their best endeavours to hold confidential any information provided by tenderers in response to this RFT, subject to the Equality Authority's obligations under law, including the Freedom of Information Acts, 1997 and, 2003. Please note that, in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act, information not identified as sensitive (with supporting reasons) could be released. Therefore, in responding to this RFT, you should identify the specific information which you do not wish to be disclosed, stating the reasons for its sensitivity. The Equality Authority will consult with you about this sensitive information before making a decision on any Freedom of Information request received.
7. Preparation Costs
The Equality Authority will not be liable in respect of any costs incurred by suppliers in the preparation of tenders or any associated work effort.
8. Budget Available
The maximum budget available for each project is €20,000. Up to 4 projects will be funded.
9. ESF requirements
Any organisation approved for funding must comply with all European Social Fund financial and publicity requirements which will be provided at contract stage.
10. Closing date for submission of tenders
Three copies of the tender should be forwarded in an envelope clearly marked "To develop a sectoral project to promote workplace equality tender" to:
Ms Emer O'Neill
Administration Section
The Equality Authority
Birchgrove House
Roscrea
Co. Tipperary
to arrive no later than 5:00 pm on Friday 2nd July 2010
11. Proof of delivery
Tenderers are requested to make their own arrangements to obtain proof of delivery of the tender, by, for example, obtaining a receipt. Tenders which are delivered late will not be considered.
12. Evaluation of tenders
Tenderers to whom any of the circumstances listed in paragraph 1 of Article 20 of EU Council Directive 93/36/EEC (co-ordinating procedures for the award of public supply contracts) apply will be excluded from this competition. The said circumstances are outlined at Appendix 1. The suitability of tenderers not so excluded will then be checked by reference to the supplier's financial and economic standing and technical capacity in accordance with the said Directive.
Tenderers should include in their tender document a statement setting out where they stand in relation to the Directive.
Tenders not so excluded will be initially evaluated by reference to the following qualification criteria:
(a) completeness of tender documentation
(b) stated ability of tenderer to meet the requirements set out in this RFT.
Only those tenders which meet both of the above qualifying criteria will be eligible for inclusion in the award process.
The contract will be awarded on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender applying the following criteria: {eg approach to the work, cost, reference sites and capacity to complete the work within a reasonable timeframe) (this is not an exhaustive list}.
13. Presentations
Tenderers may be required to make a presentation. An invitation to make a presentation is not an indication that a contract has been awarded.
14. The lowest tender or any tender may not be accepted
The issue of this RFT does not imply that the lowest tender or any tender will be accepted.
15. Additional general conditions
Additional general conditions applying to the tendering process are set out in Appendix 2. Tenderers should provide a declaration of non - alignment with entities or interests that could compromise their objectivity in carrying out the work.
Date:
Appendix 1
Extract from Article 20, Paragraph 1 of EU Council Directive 93/36/EEC
of 14th June 1993 co-ordinating procedures for the award of public supply contracts:
Article 20
1. Any supplier may be excluded from participation in the contract who:
(a) is bankrupt or is being wound up, whose affairs are being administered by the court, who has entered into an arrangement with creditors, who has suspended business activities or who is any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure under national laws and regulations;
(b) is the subject of proceedings for a declaration of bankruptcy, for an order for compulsory winding up or administration by the court or for an arrangement with creditors or of any other similar proceedings under national laws and regulations;
(c) has been convicted of an offence concerning his professional conduct by a judgment which has the force of res judicata;
(d) has been guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by any means which the contracting authorities can justify;
(e) has not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which he is established or with those of the country of the contracting authority;
(f) has not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which he is established or those of the country of the contracting authority;
(g) is guilty of serious misrepresentation in supplying the information required under this Chapter.
Appendix 2
General Conditions of Tender
Conflicts of interest
Any conflict of interest involving any successful tenderer must be fully disclosed to the Equality Authority, particularly where there is a conflict of interest in relation to any recommendations or proposals put forward by the tender. Failure to disclose a material conflict of interest may disqualify a bidder or cause the termination of a contract and entitle the Equality Authority to seek remedies, such as costs or compensation for loss.
Registerable interests
Any registerable interest involving the successful tenderer and any member of the staff or Board of the Equality Authority, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, members of the Government, members of the Oireachtas or employees of the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform or their agencies or their relatives must be fully disclosed in response to this RFT, or should be communicated to the Equality Authority immediately upon such information becoming known to the contractor, in the event of such information only coming to their notice after the submission of a bid and prior to the award of the contract. The terms "registerable interest" and "relative" shall be interpreted in accordance with section 2 of the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995.
Tax Clearance Certificates
Before a contract is awarded (in the case of contracts of a value of €6,350 (including VAT) or more within a twelve month period) the successful contractor will be required to promptly produce a Tax Clearance Certificate. Where a Tax Certificate expires within the course of the contract, the Equality Authority reserve the right to seek a renewed certificate. In addition, contractors must retain records of tax reference numbers for any subcontractors where payments exceed €635 (including VAT). A successful non-resident contractor or subcontractor will be required to produce a statement from the Irish Revenue Commissioners. Applications may be made in a standard form which will be provided to the successful tenderer in due course. All payments under the contract will be conditional on the contractor being in possession of a valid certificate at all times.
Payment
Payment for all work covered by this request will be on foot of appropriate invoices. Invoicing arrangements will be agreed with the successful tenderer, subject to the terms of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997 (No. 27 of 1997).
Withholding tax
If the successful tenderer, by undertaking the contract for the work, is deemed to carry out a professional service as defined by the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, Professional Services Withholding Tax (PSWT) will be deducted at the standard rate of income tax. PSWT deducted is available for set off against a specified person's final tax liability of the period which the relevant payment is charged to tax. In order to facilitate the administration of Withholding Tax the successful tenderer will be required at a later stage to supply one of the following:
a Revenue and Social Insurance number (RSI), in the case of an individual,
or
an income tax number,
or
a corporate tax number in the case of a company.
"Funded by the Equality Mainstreaming Unit which is jointly funded by the European Social Fund 2007 - 2013 and by the Equality Authority" | ||
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RFT - To develop a sectoral project to promote workplace equality - 8.6.2010.doc
