Tender for Contract
Developing the Vision for Waterford as an International
Centre for Glass Design and Making
Contract title:
Research and development of an ‘Implementation plan’ that
includes a sound business and economic basis for the
development of a ‘glass centre of excellence’ with international
reach in Waterford based on comparative international models
such as CIAV Meisenthal, France. http://www.ciavmeisenthal.fr/site.html
Organisation details: Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI).
Main contact: Louise Allen, Head of Innovation and Development Programmes.
E: louise@dccoi.ie
DCCoI, headquartered in Kilkenny, is the main champion of the design and craft industry
in Ireland, fostering its growth and commercial strength, communicating its unique
identity and stimulating quality design, innovation and competitiveness. Design and craft
enterprises create local and sustainable employment. The sector is predominantly made
up of micro enterprises with less than 10 employees. With appropriate supports in place,
there is significant room for growth in the sector. DCCoI's activities are funded by the
Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation via Enterprise Ireland. DCCoI currently
has over 70 member organisations and over 2,900 registered clients. For further
information, please visit www.dccoi.ie
Context:
For the past three years DCCoI has participated in an Interreg IVC funded programme
‘Innocrafts’. A key ambition of this initiative is the transfer of good practices in the
development of the arts and contemporary crafts sector based on international models of
excellence. http://www.innocrafts.eu
The Centre International d’Art Verrier (CIAV) is an excellent example of how the demise
of the glass production facility in Meisenthal France, can with appropriate investment and
supports, be turned around. In 1969 after 260 years in operation ‘La Verrerie de
Meisenthal’ closed its glass production facility with devastating effect on the local and
regional economy. In 1992 the facility was re-opened as The Centre International d’Art
Verrier (CIAV) to celebrate the Art of Glassmaking and to promote and share knowledge
and innovation. Today it is a thriving centre for research, exhibition and a tourist
destination. The history of the glass making facility and the impact its demise had on
employment, loss of skills and on the local economy closely mirror the demise of
Waterford Wedgewood’s production facility in Ireland in 2008. In July 2014, Innocrafts
funded a delegation that included senior executives from Waterford Local Authority,
Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford Viking Triangle and DCCoI to travel to
CIAV. As part of the research process a facilitated workshop with the group who visited
CIAV will be a core part of the consultation process.
In this context and funded through Innocrafts programme, DCCoI are now inviting
tenders to develop an implementation plan that examines the need and potential from
business, innovation, skills, cultural, tourism and economic perspectives for the
development of a similar facility in Waterford.
The implementation plan should provide:
1. A detailed rationale for the development of a glass centre of excellence in Waterford
based on the local area and the potential impact the development will have on the
craft, design and complimentary sectors.
2. A comparative analysis with geographic data and analysis, economic assessment
and impacts direct and indirect; job creation potential, skills preservation and impacts
on professional glassmakers, on the development of the glass sector, on research
and skills preservation and future growth.
3. Identify ways to work with multiple partners (Local authority, Waterford Institute of
Technology, Viking Triangle, Local Enterprise Office, Local Development Company)
to harness the required support and develop the necessary infrastructure.
4. Assess inhibitors/enablers to growth including analysis of infrastructure, national and
international markets, networks of support, access to finance and should include
comparisons with challenges and opportunities experienced in the development of
CIAV Miesenthal or similar facilities.
5. Highlight the potential application and impact of access to skills, expertise and
equipment that enables localised manufacturing and production through the
innovative use of new technologies for the glass sector
6. Assess existing and required education, skills and training needs.
7. Identify any potential for growth through complementary/synergistic alliances:
tourism, environment, culture & heritage, sustainability, food, community
development etc.
8. Examine the context and/or infrastructure whereby skills development, research,
collaboration, sharing of cross-sectoral knowledge and expertise is facilitated and the
benefit of this to stakeholders and the wider community
9. Highlight opportunities to promote or work inter-territorially/transnationally with other
EU countries.
10. Provide a clear assessment on how the recommendations and proposed actions
may impact on broader societal objectives in respect of quality of life and community
development.
11. Attention should also be given to recommendations with regard to the generation of
policies and infrastructure that will facilitate the on-going development of the glass
sector generally.
12. The report should compile findings and associated data, inventories, maps,
assumptions and conclusions into an accessible report that can be used to help the
consortium partners to justify investment in the sector and to ensure that investments
are appropriately targeted and complementary to local developmental objectives.
13. Details of the assumptions made for the analysis must be provided and the
derivation of all figures used in the analysis shall be described.
Key Deliverables:
Comprehensive report that provides the following:
1. An accurate assessment of and business case for the feasibility of a glass centre
of excellence based in Waterford.
2. A demonstrable need for such a centre and the likely impacts it would have on
the business, innovation, skills, cultural, tourism and economic development of
Waterford City and County.
3. Assuming there is a justified basis for development: An implementation plan
detailing actions required at National, Regional and Local levels to ensure
progress and development of recommendations.
4. An estimated timeline for development to include indicative infrastructural and
day-to-day running costs.
5. Other economic effects deemed significant e.g. cluster possibilities; links to EU
policy and financing programmes and a clear assessment on how any spill over
effects may impact on the broader craft and design industry.
All data sources and other information must be referenced with footnotes.
***Please note, tenderers are encourage to input their professional expertise in terms of devising
the best possible methodology to meeting the terms of the Scope of the Contract***
Delivery:
Research to be conducted from September– October 2014.
Tenderers are requested to suggest appropriate stages –
programme schedule and a suggested timeframe for delivery.
Tenderers must identify (including relevant experience) the
programme principle/ team lead/ co-ordinator. The team must
include an appropriate expert on glass. DCCoI reserve the right to
make recommendations in this regard.
Tenderers must identify (including relevant experience) personnel
involved in the delivery of the programme or any proposed
arrangements to sub-contract out development and delivery.
Budget:
Programme budget should cover all programme design,
development and delivery costs.
The programme costs are estimated to be in the region of €12,000
all-inclusive.
Selection criteria:
The successful tenderer will be required to provide a current Tax
Clearance Certificate and all appropriate insurances. Tenders
must be able to demonstrate prior relevant experience in the
design, gathering and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data
and a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of the craft
sector.
Award criteria: Tenders will be evaluated on the following criteria:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Criteria
Weighting
Understanding and interpretation of the brief
Relevant prior experience detailing key delivery
personnel; knowledge & understanding of the dynamics
of the Irish glass, design and craft sectors;
Techniques for quantitative and qualitative data analysis
Price
Methodology and innovation
15
35
30
20
100
Tender responses:
Tender responses should address each of the award criteria as
well as the contract specifications comprehensively
Tender schedule:
Closing date for submissions is 29th August, 2014 at 5pm.
Cut-off for receipt of queries is 26th August, 2014 at 5pm.
Queries to be emailed to: louise@dccoi.ie
All queries will be answered in one document thereafter.
Delivery of tenders:
Submit tenders as ONE PDF DOCUMENT to louise@dccoi.ie
Contract terms:
Up to five stage payments of equal value to the value of the contract can
be facilitated.