Clare County Council

INVITATION TO TENDER TO DESIGN AND DEVELOP AN APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND TOURISM IN THE BURREN REGION OF COUNTY CLARE, WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FREE VIA THE BURREN CONNECT WEBSITE AND THE CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL WEBSITE Tenders are invited from suitably qualified and experienced parties to design and develop an application that will provide information on public transport options and on services and attractions in the Burren region of County Clare to a wide audience seeking to visit the Burren, specifically through the creation of user-friendly, accessible iPhone and android applications, available to download through the existing Clare County Council website www.clarecoco.ie and the Burren Connect website www.burren.ie. This project is part funded under the Interreg IVB Northern Periphery Programme Transtourism Project (www.transtourism.eu) with co funding by Clare County Council, Shannon Development and Failte Ireland. 1. BACKGROUND Transtourism is a trans-national co-operation project between Sweden, Iceland, Scotland and Northern Ireland and Ireland and is part of the Northern Periphery Programme 2007-2013. The overall aim of Transtourism is to facilitate the development of tourism in the project areas whilst reducing carbon emissions and local congestion from private cars. (For more information please visit www.burren.ie ) Through Clare County Council, the Burren Connect Project is co-operating with other organisations in these countries to develop trans-national innovative, long term and sustainable solutions for public transport services adapted to rural tourism areas in the partner countries. Burren Connect is focusing on developing a user friendly web and mobile phone based transport information system that will link private and public transport services in North Clare to provide a sustainable public transport option for visitors to the Burren. The transport information will be linked to information on attractions, events and sustainable tourism services available along the routes. The application will also highlight tourism businesses that reward customers who use public transport services. The targeted end result of the project is to provide a comprehensive and efficient IT service for visitors and locals who want to identify public transport routes, timetables, taxi services, bicycle hire, attractions, activities, events, to facilitate journey planning and to highlight local businesses who subscribe to incentivising public transport. The service will raise awareness of the availability of public transport options and the rich and varied sustainable tourism products in the Burren region, and will reach out to a wider audience, boosting tourist numbers and providing the basis for future roll-out of similar ICT projects.

2. THE STUDY BRIEF The successful applicant will be required to provide a product in compliance with all of the following: A) Goals and Objectives: The goals for the iPhone and android applications are as follows: Easy to use Informative Interactive Visually attractive and consistent with the Burren Connect and Transtourism brands Cost neutral to Clare County Council B) Features Required: Both iPhone and android applications will have similar features. However, it is required that the applications are optimised and designed for each device. Both applications should also respect the highest standards of design, usability and accessibility and should meet the current WCAG 2.0 Guidelines (level AA), where applicable. C) The applications should include the following specifications: GPS and Mapping Technology Navigation Public transport routes, timetables, private taxi/bus hire services, car pooling information and links to booking systems The application will feature approximately 50 attractions and 50 supporting businesses offering incentives/awards. Each attraction/business will feature the following content: Photo(s) Description Contact details Access and parking information Opening hours Rates Special Offers/Awards The application should also highlight current events and activity programmes and should be able to use live data, if possible. We wish the tenderer to supply recommendations on the most effective content management system that would facilitate regular updates of information.

The information presented should be optimised for the iPhone and android screens, presented in an easy to read format. The application will allow users to explore and receive information on nearby points of interest. By using the GPS of the users phone, this feature will allow users to find out which attraction/business is the closest to where they are situated at a given time. And any other functionality that the tenderer suggests. D) Application to Apples iPhone Store (or similar): The successful bidder will undertake all necessary actions so that the application is approved by Apples App store (or similar). If Apples App Store (or similar) requires further modifications to the application in order to comply with their internal rules, the successful bidder commits to realise such modifications at no further costs until the application is approved. E) Further Requirements: The design process shall deliver an experience consistent with the Burren Connect and Transtourism look and image. Based on the Specification Document, the successful bidder will deliver mock up designs of typical screens from the iPhone / android application. Through a process of review, the sample layouts will be selected and this layout will be further developed to reflect the finished look. Note that the successful tenderer will be provided with necessary content. It will be a requirement of the award of this contract that Clare County Council have full ownership of the iPhone and android applications, their content and their source code. The applications shall be designed such that the level of usage can be tracked. Once the project is completed, the following will be required from the successful bidder: Screenshots and description of the application for promotion on relevant websites. Video screen-cast of the application for promotion on relevant websites. F) Budget Outline: The budget allocated for this project is a maximum of 15,000 ex-vat. It is expected that the successful bidder will fulfil the specification as outlined above.

The successful bidder is required to provide individual quotes for the iPhone and android development and also a scale of charges in the event that further / ongoing development of the app is required. Clare County Council is open to additional suggestions in respect of the functionality of the product, which would enhance the applications, provided such modifications can be shown to be cost effective. 3. TIMESCALE The deadline for receipt of tender submissions will be 12 noon, Friday 15st June 2012. The successful applicant must be available to commence work immediately upon appointment. The project must be fully completed and live by the 30th November 2012. Bidders under the tender process will be required to outline detailed timelines proposed to ensure achievement of this target date. 4. PROJECT MANAGEMENT A Working Group will guide the development of the project. The working group will meet as appropriate to agree the work programme and review the progress of the project. The successful applicant will be required to meet with the working group as required. The Burren Connect Project and the IT section of Clare County Council will be the point of contact for operational matters. 5. RESPONSE TO THE BRIEF The tender bid must include the information requested below: Demonstrated experience of the company in satisfactorily completing a minimum of two projects of similar scale and requirements to that outlined in section 2 above. Demonstrated skills, expertise and experience of the proposed project team to enable the successful carrying out of the required project.

Demonstrated ability to complete successfully the works within the

timeframe required, i.e. by the 30th November 2012. Detailed project schedule.

 A breakdown of the price. The price quoted should be exclusive of

VAT. The amount of VAT should be stated and the total cost set out. The price must include all overhead costs, materials and expenses associated with the contract.

Copy / proof of Health and Safety Statement Completed Letter of Tender (see Appendix 1). Name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and fax number of the tenderer. 6. TENDER SUBMISSION

Applicant parties are required to submit their tender in triplicate (hard copy) only and should be posted to Burren Connect, Clare County Council, Ennistymon Area Offices, Ennistymon, Co. Clare, Ireland. Tenders should be clearly marked Transtourism AP and must arrive at the Burren Connect Offices, Clare County Council, Ennistymon Area Offices, Ennistymon, Co. Clare, Ireland, not later than 12 noon on Friday 15st June 2012. Late applications will not be considered. Queries should be submitted by email only and sent to info@burrenconnect.ie and marked for the attention of Carol Gleeson before Wednesday 6th of June 2012. Queries sent after this date will not be responded to.

7. AWARD CRITERIA Tenderers will be assessed on their written submission, their proposed approach and on the basis of the most economically advantageous valid tender received in accordance with the following award criteria: 1 2 Qualifications and experience of similar projects Resources to undertake the required works as set out in the study brief, and complete within the stated timeframe Ultimate cost (including overheads) 40% 30%

30%

Applicants must achieve at least 60% in categories 1 and 2 set out above. Following receipt of tenders, the working group will meet with the prospective successful applicant, to finalise / clarify any outstanding issues or details prior to awarding of the tender. 8. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Full payment will be made on satisfactory completion of the required works within the time limits stipulated in the contract. In advance or staged payments will not be considered. The Council shall not extend the time limit on the contract under any circumstances. 9. GENERAL ISSUES Tax Clearance Certificate It is a condition for the award of this contract that the contractor selected must be able to produce a valid Tax Clearance Certificate or C2 certificate. The contractor shall continue to hold a current Tax Clearance Certificate for the duration of the contract. Tenderers must have regard to statutory terms relating to minimum pay and to legally binding industrial or sectoral agreements in preparing tenders. Professional Indemnity The successful applicant will be required to hold professional indemnity insurance to the value of 1million with a reputable insurance company. Confidentiality and Freedom of Information Clare County Council operates under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and all information had by Council (including proposals submitted in response to this brief) may be subject to requests under the Act. The contracting Authority undertakes to use its best endeavours to hold confidential any information provided in the proposals submitted, subject to the Contracting Authorities obligations under law, including the Freedom of Information Act, 1997. If a candidate considers that any of the information submitted in the proposal should not be disclosed because of its sensitivity, this should be stated with reasons for considering same. The contracting Authority will then consult with the candidate in considering any request received under the Freedom of Information Act 1997, before replying to such a request. General Issues Clare County Council is not obliged to accept any or the lowest tender. Substitution of team members after the contract has been awarded, without the prior agreement of Clare Co Council will not be acceptable. 10. CLOSING DATES

Applicant parties are required to submit their tender in triplicate (hard copy) only. Tenders should be clearly marked Transtourism AP and must arrive at the Burren Connect Offices, Clare County Council, Ennistymon Area Offices, Ennistymon, Co. Clare, Ireland, not later than 12 noon on Friday 15th June 2012. Queries should be submitted by email only and sent to info@burrenconnect.ie before Friday 6th of June 2012. Queries sent after this date will not be responded to.

Appendix I LETTER OF TENDER Clare County Council

TO CONVERT AN EXISTING HERITAGE INFORMATION BOOKLET FOR COUNTY CLARE INTO AN I-PHONE AND I-PAD APPLICATION, WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FREE VIA THE COUNTY CLARE TOURISM WEBSITE AND THE CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL WEBSITE

To: Clare County Council To whom it may concern, Having examined the Instructions for Tendering for the above-mentioned services, we offer to provide the services as described therein in accordance with the tender documents enclosed herewith, for the sum of Plus VAT @ _____________

Total Tender Price_______________ If our tender is accepted we undertake to enter into the Contract with you under seal. We acknowledge that you are not bound to accept the lowest or any tender you receive, and that under no circumstances shall you have any responsibility for our costs of tendering. We are, ladies and gentlemen, Yours faithfully, NAME OF TENDERER: _____________________________________________________________________ SIGNED ON BEHALF OF TENDERER: _____________________________________________________________________ DATE: _____________________________________________________________________ POSITION IN TENDERING ORGANISATION: _____________________________________________________________________