The verdict in three sentences
A public website tender in Dublin is won or lost on the quality of the technical response, not on price. A 70 % quality and 30 % price weighting protects the agency against abnormally low bids that deliver an inaccessible site or one left unsupported after 6 months. The realistic budget is 40,000 to 120,000 EUR for the build, with hosting and 24-month maintenance priced as a separate lot or line.
Structuring the tender documents
The procurement officer must let bidders price an identical scope. Under Office of Government Procurement (OGP) guidance, service contracts of 25,000 EUR or more are advertised on eTenders, and higher values trigger EU procedures. The items below form the core of the technical specification.
| Tender item | Minimum content | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Agency context and remit | Founding legislation, audiences, online services | Prevents generic bids |
| Functional scope | 30 to 60 pages, news, publications, procurement notices | Basis for pricing |
| Bilingual requirement | English and Irish (Official Languages Act), translation supplied or not | 15 to 25 % price swing |
| Accessibility | WCAG 2.1 AA, conformance audit at acceptance | Verifiable and enforceable |
| Hosting | Data location in the EU, 99.5 % minimum uptime | Sovereignty and continuity |
| 24-month maintenance | Corrective, evolutive, security, response times | Priced separately to compare |
| Knowledge transfer | Training 3 to 5 staff on content management | Autonomy after launch |
| Deliverables | Source code, admin access, documentation | Portability |
The 70/30 scoring grid
The grid must be published in the tender. It makes scoring traceable, which reduces the risk of challenges.
| Criterion | Points | What is checked |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding and methodology | 20 | Restated needs, detailed plan, risk management |
| Proposed team quality | 15 | Project lead, designer, developers, CVs |
| Similar references | 15 | 2 to 3 public or bilingual sites delivered |
| Accessibility and security | 10 | WCAG 2.1 AA commitment, security plan |
| Maintenance and knowledge transfer | 10 | Response times, training |
| Quality subtotal | 70 | Suggested minimum threshold: 50 of 70 |
| Price | 30 | Score = 30 x (lowest price / bid price) |
A minimum quality threshold (for example 50 of 70) is the most effective tool against low bids. A 25,000 EUR bid scoring 42 quality points never reaches the price evaluation.
2026 budget: ranges by component
The amounts below are 2026 market estimates for suppliers working with Irish public bodies. They are not an official rate card.
| Component | Estimated range | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery and design | 8,000 - 20,000 EUR | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Development and CMS integration | 18,000 - 55,000 EUR | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Content and Irish translation | 5,000 - 18,000 EUR | 4 to 8 weeks |
| WCAG 2.1 AA audit | 4,000 - 12,000 EUR | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Training and documentation | 2,000 - 6,000 EUR | 1 week |
| Hosting for 24 months | 3,000 - 9,000 EUR | ongoing |
| Maintenance for 24 months | 9,000 - 24,000 EUR | ongoing |
The build alone therefore totals 37,000 to 111,000 EUR, and the full 24-month cost 49,000 to 144,000 EUR. The overall 4 to 6 month timeline includes internal sign-off, procurement and acceptance testing.
Mini case study
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Siobhán, procurement officer at a public agency in Dublin, receives three bids. Bid A: 32,000 EUR, 46 quality points, eliminated under the 50-point threshold. Bid B: 60,000 EUR, 61 quality points. Bid C: 82,000 EUR, 66 quality points. Price score for B: 30 x (60 / 60) = 30, total 91. Price score for C: 30 x (60 / 82) = 22, total 88. Bid B wins. Without a threshold, A would have scored 30 price points and 76 overall, ranking third, but a challenge would have been harder to rebut without a published grid.
FAQ
Why price maintenance separately?
Because it represents 25 to 35 % of the total 24-month cost and bidders present it in very different ways. A separate line lets you compare like with like.
Is WCAG 2.1 AA mandatory for Irish public bodies?
Yes, the EU Web Accessibility Directive, transposed in Ireland, requires it for public sector websites. Budget 4,000 to 12,000 EUR for an independent audit at acceptance.
What timeline should I plan from publication to launch?
Allow 4 to 6 months: 1 to 2 months for procurement and award, then 3 to 4 months for build and acceptance. Internal content approval is the main source of delay.
Should the tender name a specific CMS?
Describe needs (multilingual management, approval workflow, document library) rather than naming a product. Naming a brand reduces competition and can weaken the procedure.
How do I avoid an abandoned site after warranty?
Require source code handover, accounts in your name and training for 3 to 5 staff. Add a portability clause to the 24-month maintenance contract.
Let's scope your project. For institutional websites we work on a custom quote: share your tender documents or terms of reference and we will reply with a methodology, a team and a schedule. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
