Request For Tender
Contract title:
An audit of manufacturing facilities and their production
capabilities on the island of Ireland
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 2,850 registered clients. For
further information, please visit www.dccoi.ie
Context: In line with DCCoI’s Strategic Plan 2013-2015, and following research by
Indecon International Economic Consultants in 2010 and 2013, DCCoI has identified a
number of areas where targeted initiatives can support growth in design and craft
enterprise. The industry in Ireland has an estimated output of €498m1. DCCoI’s mission
is to promote and stimulate the creative and commercial viability of the Irish design and
craft sector.
1
Economic Significance and Potential of the Crafts Industry in Ireland, Indecon International Economic Consultants,
2010
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In keeping with the ethos of DCCoI’s Imagined, Designed, Made in Ireland2, it is of
critical importance that design and craft enterprises can extend their ability to fulfil
orders and achieve economies of scale in the most cost efficient way. In order to achieve
this, DCCoI recognises the need to bring visibility and broker links between
manufacturing facilities utilising industrial, textile and rapid manufacturing production
processes on the island of Ireland. Internationally, recognition of the importance of
revitalising production to support the development of local economies is having a
significant impact. Most notably in the UK3 and USA4, campaigns and initiatives driven
by the demand for locally sourced and produced goods are leading the way for the
redevelopment of the manufacturing industry and infrastructure enabling connectivity
between designers, producers, suppliers and retailers.
According to data from the most recent Indecon Report ‘Creative Clusters – Economic
Analysis of the Current Status and Future Clustering Potential for the Crafts Industry in
Ireland’5, 20% of makers outsource elements of production. The most common type of
outsourcing is part of the manufacturing process (84%) and 62% of total expenditure on
outsourcing was with Irish business/services. This highlights the knock-on employment
impacts of design and craft enterprises and the potential for development in economic
terms.
The design and craft sector is diverse and encompasses a wide variety of disciplines. For
the purposes of this audit, tenderers are invited to focus on manufacturing facilities,
equipment, expertise and processes that will assist primarily in the development of
ceramics, textiles, furniture and woodworking, jewellery and glass production for the
homewares, gift, fashion and jewellery industries.
2
www.dccoi.ie/retailers/retailers/imagined-designed-made-in-ireland/
www.makeitbritish.co.uk
4 www.madeintheusa.com
5 Economic Analysis of the Current Status and Future Clustering Potential for the Crafts Industry in Ireland, Indecon
International Economic Consultants, p. 20
3
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It must be noted that this audit is undertaken to identify a range of processes that can
be used by the design and craft sector to enhance and augment existing production
processes and is not intended to fully or wholly replace the intrinsic craftsmanship
required in the making of a product.
The aim of the manufacturing audit is to:

Provide a comprehensive overview of operational manufacturing and production
facilities in Ireland.

Create a database of accessible manufacturing and production facilities
interested in extending their customer base and enabling craft and design SMEs
to utilise elements of technology to increase capacity and augment their design
and production processes.

Recommend a mechanism to enable access to the database nationally.

Make recommendations, based on models of best practice, for the development
of professional systems and infrastructure that will mitigate any barriers to
access.

Identify any areas where there may be a justified need, based on economic
potential, market opportunity and job creation, to make capital investment in
infrastructural development.
Scope of contract:
The Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) invites tenders and proposals facilitated by
individuals or a team of experts with knowledge of design and craft sector production
processes, industrial production processes, textile manufacturing and new technology
based processes to deliver an audit of manufacturing in Ireland based upon the
specification below.
Tenderers will be asked to compile an overview of current manufacturing and production
facilities in Ireland to include manufacturing facilities utilising but not limited to the
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following production processes: casting, moulding, forming, machining, milling, die cutting,
tooling, textile CMT (cut, make & trim), digital print for textiles; and rapid manufacturing
processes including 3D printing, laser and water jet in the areas of:

Textiles / Fashion

Ceramics

Woodworking & Furniture

Glass

Metal Working and Jewellery
Specification/General Requirements for the Manufacturing Audit:
DCCoI wishes to gather information about the following:
-
Analysis of the production needs and opportunities for design and craft enterprises
-
Nature and scale of manufacturing companies in Ireland, details of the range of
production processes and potential for usage and access by design and craft SMEs
-
Identification of existing design and craft enterprises of scale and potential for
smaller producers to utilise facilities during down time
-
Identification of any skills gaps that are required to support the growth and
development of specific sectors
-
Identification of any barriers to access and solutions for same to include
comparisons with existing international models that enable access of SMEs to larger
production facilities
-
Analysis and recommendations regarding the need for a brokering mechanism to
assist in the development of professional relationships between the design, craft
and manufacturing sectors
-
Highlight manufacturing and production gaps in Ireland, in particular where there is
market demand and potential for development through future investment
-
Analysis of the future economic benefit including spill-over effects in enabling
localised manufacturing and production for the provider and user
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-
Case studies of a minimum of five facilities that would have interest and capacity to
develop production based relationships with design and craft SMEs to include a cost
benefit analysis, potential impact on scalability, requirements in respect of
contracts, pre-production, lead times, opportunities and/or barriers to growth. Case
studies should reflect each of the five core disciplines – textiles/fashion; ceramics;
woodworking & furniture; glass; metal working and jewellery - and pair them with
appropriate production facilities.
Key Deliverables:

Comprehensive report detailing the nature, scale and accessibility of
manufacturing facilities in Ireland. This report should include case studies (one
case study per craft discipline) and highlight potential opportunities for leverage,
linkage and development leading to increased production, spill over effects to
other industries and job creation in Ireland. 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 should be included. The work must show a clear
understanding of the supply chains nationally and regionally.

A database of accessible manufacturing and production facilities interested in
extending their customer base to include contact information, location, website,
contact person, overview of facilities and processes, information on accessibility,
minimum orders for production runs, indicative costing, lead times, peak
production times etc.

A fully developed plan outlining a strategy and or suggested model(s) for the
development of professional systems and infrastructure that will mitigate any
barriers to access and broker professional relationships between industry and
design and craft SMEs.
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
Identify any areas where there may be a justified need, based on economic
potential, market opportunity and job creation, to make capital investment in
infrastructural development and provide information on appropriate EU
capitalisation funds.
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:
Programme to be delivered from July – September 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.
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 €30,000
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,
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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:
Criteria
Weighting
1.
Understanding and interpretation of the brief
15
2.
Relevant prior experience detailing key delivery
35
personnel; knowledge & understanding of the dynamics
of the Irish manufacturing, design and craft sectors;
techniques for quantitative and qualitative data analysis
3.
Price
30
4.
Methodology and innovation
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 7th July, 2014 at 12pm.
Cut-off for receipt of queries is 23rd June, 2014 at 12pm.
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 via the Postbox function on
eTenders website. www.etenders.gov.ie.
Contract terms:
Up to five stage payments of equal value to the value of the contract can
be facilitated.
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