CALL FOR QUOTATIONS (CFQ) FOR THE DELIVERY OF ROBOTICS SESSIONS DURING SKOLASAJF 2024

• February 20, 2024
• Andrew

1. Background Information

1.1 Beneficiary Country

The beneficiary country will be Malta within the context of the European Union.

1.2 Contracting Authority: The eSkills Malta Foundation

The eSkills Malta Foundation is a National Coalition made up of various representatives from Government, industry and education, who can contribute to the increase in digital skills and the development of the IT profession and help us with the following mandates:

• Advice government and relevant stakeholders on matters related to eSkills policies;
• Contribute to the expansion of ICT educational programmes and related formative initiatives;
• Lead an ICT professionalism development programme;
• Instigate further reform in the ICT educational offerings and contribute to capacity-building of the ICT education community;
• To champion campaigns and promote the Maltese eSkills potential locally and internationally.

The Maltese Government established the eSkills Malta Foundation to reflect this inclusive synergy paradigm. The members of the Foundation are the Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects,   the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, the Malta Communications Authority, the Malta Enterprise, the Malta Gaming Authority and the Malta Chamber of Commerce Enterprise and Industry.

1.3 The Foundation for Educational Services

The Foundation for Education Services (FES) is an entity within the Ministry for Education that provides a range of innovative educational services and initiatives, including childcare, after-school care, parental empowerment services and youth initiatives.

SkolaSajf

SkolaSajf is a six (6) week-long programme for children between three (3) and eleven (11) years of age, offered during summer holidays in state schools in Malta and Gozo.

2. Scope
The eSkills Malta Foundation has the overall objective to increase digital skills in students by delivering Robotics Sessions. Children gain many advantages from learning robotics. Children can learn about programming and STEM ideas through the fun and interactive topic of robotics in the Robotics classes. Students learn problem-solving skills using robotics. Robotics encourages imagination and curiosity. Robotics prepares children for a world where technology rules. Robotics is a discipline that successfully integrates engineering, programming, creativity, and problem-solving to provide an interactive toy for kids to use. Due to the advanced development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the sessions must include awareness of the connection between robotics and AI.

In this respect, the Foundation looks forward for proposals for the delivery of engaging and fun Robotics sessions during SkolaSajf which will run between 15th July till 9th August and 19th August till 30th August 2024.

3. Selection and Award criteria:
Selection Criteria

The selection criteria for the delivery of the Robotics sessions shall be dependent on:

a. Completeness of the robotics sessions in line with the Foundation’s vision and scope described in the Clause 2 above.

b. Applicants are required to fill in the sessions TEMPLATE completely in detail. Robotics are to be available for the children to use during the session.

c. Proficiency of the Trainers. The persons delivering the training courses/events should have an MQF Level 5 qualification in the subject matter be over 18 years of age and must preferably have teaching experience. Applicants are required to fill in the attached EXPERT FORM Template completely in detail.

d. As part of the selection process, Training Providers will be asked to give;

• An outline plan of the 1 hour robotic session

• a Sample demo to eSkills Malta Foundation either at the Training Providers premises or at the eSkils Malta Foundation offices

Award Criteria

Once the Robotics sessions are shortlisted, the award will be based on the following:

i) The completeness with the Scope describe in Clause 2 above

ii) Demonstrated engaging demo and relative informative session content

iii) Cost of the Robotics Sessions. Cost including Taxes/Charges, other Duties and Discounts but EXCLUSIVE of VAT. This Call for Quotations criteria will be based on the cheapest compliance.

4. Instructions to Economic Operators

Responses are to be straightforward, clear, concise and specific to the information requested. For submissions to be considered complete, Training Providers must provide all the requested information mentioned in this document.
All submissions will be dealt with in strictest confidence.
Participation is free. Quotations cannot be modified once submitted and can only be subject to clarifications issued by the Foundation.
This Call for Quotation is being issued under the provisions of Regulation 103 of the Public Procurement Regulations (S.L. 601.03).
The response must include the following information by using the attached template marked Annex A:

• Training Provider Name
• Reference (to be desginated by training provider)
• Session Name
• Duration of Robotics sessions
• Main contents of the Robotics sessions
• Expert/Trainer Qualifications (Please fill in EXPERT/TRAINER Template)

5. Cost
The Estimated Procurement Value for this Call for quotes has been based on comprehensive research, including appropriate financial analysis. In the context of this procurement, the maximum Estimated Procurement Value, based on market research, is that of € 4,000 excluding VAT plus a performance bonus of a maximum of €1,000 excluding VAT. The performance bonus is completely at the discretion of the eSkills Malta Foundation. The Foundation will monitor the robotic sessions being delivered.

Performance is gauged on:

1. Student Engagement and participation
2. Punctuality in terms of the commencement and ending of the session
3. Abiding with the Terms and Conditions as stipulated in the CFQ
6. Therefore, the published Estimated Procurement Value is not restrictive and final on the Contracting Authority. Economic Operators are free to submit financial offers below the maximum Estimated Procurement Value. However, the Contracting Authority reserves the right to accept or reject Financial Offers exceeding the Estimated Procurement Value.

7. Terms and Conditions
The Training Courses, sessions and events must follow the Terms and Conditions listed below:

a. The Robotics Sessions shall be organised and delivered for the duration of 6 weeks between
15th July till 9th August and 19th August till 30th September

b. The Robotic sessions shall take place in all the SkolaSajf Centres in Malta (approximately 30 Centres in total).

c. Two (2) daily Robotics sessions per centre

d. Each session will be of a duraton of one ( 1 ) hour

e. Trainer Provider is to arrive at the SkolaSajf Centre at least 30 minutes before the session inorder to set up and prepare the venue

f. It will be necessary for the selected training provider to present a demonstration to eSkills Malta Foundation of the proposed SkolaSajf Robotics session. This demonstration can be held either at the Foundation’s Offices or the Training Provider’s location

g. Sessions are to target children from the ages of 6 to 11 years

h. The Training Provider must take care of logistics and equipment related to the event. FES will provide the venue for the sessions

i. The Training Provider will make use of their own equipment and must follow all procedures as stipulated in the related local legislation

j. The eSkills Malta Foundation has the right to accept, limit or refuse any session proposal submitted. In particular, the Foundation has allocated a specific budget for the project, and due to this, the Foundation will select the most advantageous sessions that address the criteria

k. Any change in the trainer during the course of the 30 sessions, requires the prior approval in writing of eSkills Malta Foundation

l. Training Providers who opt to engage third parties for assisting in the delivery of the session must ensure compliance with local employment laws and regulations. Any contracts the trainer enters into with employees who are outsourced must comply with the applicable local registration. This includes payment compliance with Chapter 452 of the local employment laws

m. The robotics session must be specifically delivered for the eSkills Malta Foundation and SkolaSajf

n. Training Providers are obligated to uphold the esteemed reputation of the eSkills Malta Foundation. They must refrain from engaging in any activities that could tarnish its reputation

o. The Foundation will be funding this initiative in its totality

Your response to this Call for Quote (CFQ) should be made valid up to a minimum of 200 days, and should be sent through electronic mail at info.eskills@eskills.org.mt by the end of business on 12th March 2024. Late applications will not be considered. Any clarifications may be requested on the same email address by not later than 5th March 2024 end of business day. The relative responses shall be made public on the same website of this CFQ.

Download Call for Quotations (CFQ) for the Delivery of Robotics Sessions During Skolasajf 2024

Clarification:

Clarification No. 1

Clause no. 7 Terms and Conditions

k. Any change in the trainer during the course of the sessions requires prior approval in writing of eSkills Malta Foundation

Clarification No. 2

shall we give a quote for a set of trainings to be implemented:

1. in 30 Skolasajf places around Malta (practically the whole island excluding Gozo)
2. 2 times 1 hour long trainings, which can not be elongated even if we are able and willing to do so
3. the cost is EUR 4000 plus a possible EUR 1000 and this is the maximum?

Reply

The Robotics Sessions will take place in 30 SkolaSajf centres around Malta
The sessions are 2 sessions of 1 hour per session. There is a possibility of organising only 1 session of 2 hours. But the number of attendees will be that of 2 classes maximum 40 (instead of 20 per session). Should you wish to elongate the session you may do so. We will inform the school in question. The payment will remain as is.
Yes the cost is EUR 4000 plus a possible EUR 1000 is the maximum.

Clarification No.3