Request for Tender for Website Optimisation, Hosting, Maintenance, Support and Development Services

The contract timeline is as follows:

The contract is set to commence on January 1, 2027. The initial duration of the contract is for two years. Skillnet Ireland has the option to extend the contract for one or two additional periods, each lasting up to 12 months, under the same terms and conditions. The estimated total duration, including potential extensions, is 4 years.

Key dates related to the tender process include:

• Deadline for requesting additional information: October 30, 2026, at 13:00 +01:00.
• Deadline for receipt of tenders: November 6, 2026, at 13:00 +01:00.
• Opening date for tenders: November 6, 2026, at 13:30 +01:00.
• Tenders must remain valid for 180 days.

The core scope of work for this tender, titled "Request for Tender for Website Optimisation, Hosting, Maintenance, Support and Development Services," involves Skillnet Ireland seeking a digital partner. This partner will be responsible for the ongoing hosting, maintenance, optimisation, and enhancement of Skillnet Ireland's website ecosystem, along with any additional development requirements that may arise during the contract period. The objective is to ensure the website effectively communicates Skillnet Ireland's purpose, impact, and value proposition, supporting engagement with various stakeholders including businesses, policymakers, learners, and the public. The successful tenderer will ensure `www.skillnetireland.ie` remains an effective corporate communications platform, a stakeholder engagement tool, and a gateway to Skillnet Ireland's supports and services.

The key service areas and deliverables include:

• Website Hosting, Maintenance and Support: This covers secure hosting and platform management, continuous maintenance and technical support, monitoring and compliance for accessibility, security monitoring and updates, backup and disaster recovery management, service desk and issue management, and the support, maintenance, and enhancement of the existing Expression Engine CMS environment.
• Search Optimisation and Discoverability: Services here involve technical SEO implementation and monitoring, providing recommendations for content discoverability, managing structured data and schema, and optimising search across current and emerging search environments.
• Website Review and Optimisation: This includes periodic reviews and optimisation of the current website platform and its ecosystem, recommendations for user experience and information architecture, reviews of accessibility, performance, and content effectiveness, strategic recommendations for continuous improvement, and enhancing the discoverability of research, policy, and thought leadership content.
• Additional Development Services: This category encompasses website enhancements and new functionalities, creation of campaign landing pages and microsites, integration of new tools and technologies, and undertaking development projects as required by Skillnet Ireland throughout the contract duration.