Plumbing Services for Children's Health Ireland (CHI)

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

This tender seeks proposals for the provision, supply, support, and delivery of plumbing maintenance and minor plumbing works services to Children's Health Ireland (CHI) sites. The objective is to establish a multi-supplier framework agreement, expected to comprise up to three members. The services will cover CHI at Crumlin and CHI at Temple Street, with a potential to extend to CHI at Connolly and CHI at Tallaght.

The framework is non-committal regarding business volume. All works valued at €5,000 ex VAT or less will be awarded to the first-ranked company. Works exceeding €5,000 ex VAT will be subject to competitive pricing within the panel. Pricing will be consistently verified by CHI to ensure value for money against open market rates. CHI does not anticipate a requirement for a static plumber or apprentice deployed on a full or part-time basis under this contract. The tenderer ranked number one will receive first preference for such services if the need arises. Successful bidders will sign a Services Contract applicable to services drawn down during the framework's lifetime.

Key activities and requirements include:

• Plumbing Maintenance: Routine and preventative maintenance of plumbing systems across CHI facilities.
• Minor Plumbing Works: Execution of minor repair and installation works.
• Service Delivery: Ensuring timely and effective provision of plumbing services.
• Support and Delivery: Providing necessary support and delivering services as required by CHI.
• Compliance: Adherence to all applicable EU and domestic tax laws, environmental, social, and labour laws.
• Reporting: Providing KPI and management reporting as specified.
• Quality Assurance: Implementing quality assurance and control measures.
• Sustainability: Incorporating environmental and sustainability considerations, including the use of environmentally friendly products and adherence to an environmental policy.
• Social Value: Demonstrating engagement with communities, equality, diversity, and corporate social responsibility.

The contract is for a term of 24 months, with the option to extend for up to two periods of 12 months each.

3. Background & buyer context

Children's Health Ireland (CHI) is procuring these plumbing services to ensure the effective maintenance and operation of its facilities. The tender is conducted under an open procedure, aiming to establish a multi-supplier framework agreement. This approach allows CHI to source plumbing services efficiently and competitively. The estimated expenditure for these services over the contract term, including potential extensions, is €1.1 million (excluding VAT). CHI aims to encourage participation from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and encourages larger enterprises to include SMEs in their proposals. The framework is intended to consist of up to three members, with a preference for the highest-ranked bidder for specific needs. CHI reserves the right to remove framework members for non-conformance or poor performance.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

To be considered for this tender, bidders must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Turnover requirement:
• Evidence of a minimum average annual turnover of €400,000 for the past three years (2022-2024 or 2023-2025).
• This must be demonstrated by an Auditor and Accountant’s letter, along with a statement from the Tenderer’s bank confirming the account is in good standing.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €12.7m indemnity limit.
• Public Liability: €6.5m indemnity limit.
• Product Liability: €6.5m indemnity limit.
• Motor Insurance: Third Party Property Damage - €2.6m.
• Tenderers must confirm they will hold these insurances for the term of the Services Contract and that their policies include Ireland within their territorial limits.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not explicitly quantified in terms of a minimum number of projects, but the selection criteria require demonstration of technical and professional ability.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Services are for CHI sites in Ireland. Tenderers must ensure their insurance policies cover Ireland.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), determined by the following criteria:

A failure to meet the 60% threshold in any of the quality criteria (Service Delivery Plan, Quality Assurance, Technical/Sustainability/Social Value) will result in an automatic FAIL.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit the following documentation:

• Electronic Single Procurement Document (eESPD): Completed electronically via the eTenders platform.
• Tenderer’s Statement: A scanned, signed copy on the Tenderer’s letterhead, confirming acceptance of the Services Contract terms.
• Pricing Schedule: Completed in MS Excel format as provided in Appendix 2.
• Supporting Documentation for Selection Criteria:
• For Economic and Financial Standing: Auditor and Accountant’s letter and bank statement confirming good standing for the past three years.
• For Technical and Professional Ability: Supporting documentation to be provided upon request.
• Declarations:
• Declaration as to Personal Circumstances of Tenderer (Appendix 4).
• Confirmation of compliance with relevant regulations (e.g., EU Regulation 2022/1031, EU Regulation 2022/2560).
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Disclosure of any Registrable Interest or conflict of interest.
• Other Requirements:
• Tenders must be submitted in English.
• All documents must be readable PDFs, except the Pricing Schedule.
• Tenders must be submitted via the eTenders electronic tenderbox by the deadline.
• A maximum of one tender per bidder in their own capacity and one as part of a consortium.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: 24 months, with an option to extend for up to two further periods of 12 months each.
• Payment terms: Within 30 days after the HSE received the invoice, subject to the Services Contract.
• Price adjustments: Prices may be increased only on the second anniversary of the Effective Date and subsequent anniversaries, by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
• Termination: CHI may terminate the contract at any time without cause on giving 28 days' notice.
• Sub-contracting: Successful bidders must designate a single Prime Contractor responsible for the Services Contract, irrespective of subcontracting.
• Insurance: Mandatory insurance cover as detailed in Section 4.
• Tax Compliance: Compliance with all applicable EU and domestic tax laws is a condition of the contract.
• Performance Management: CHI has the right to remove framework members for non-conformance or poor performance.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Multi-supplier framework with preference: The framework will have up to three members, but the first-ranked company receives first preference for works under €5,000 ex VAT and for any static plumber requirements. This creates a tiered preference system that may impact consistent work allocation for lower-ranked members.
• Estimated value vs. contract type: The estimated value of €1.1m is for the entire framework over its potential term. However, the contract is non-committal in terms of business volume, meaning actual spend could be significantly lower.
• Competitive pricing for larger works: Works exceeding €5,000 ex VAT will be subject to competitive pricing within the panel, requiring ongoing price verification by CHI to ensure value for money. This suggests a dynamic pricing environment for larger jobs.
• No static plumber requirement: The explicit statement that CHI does not anticipate a requirement for a static plumber or apprentice suggests the services will be demand-led, focusing on reactive maintenance and minor works rather than a dedicated on-site presence.
• Potential for framework member removal: CHI reserves the right to remove framework members due to non-conformance or poor performance, with the possibility of inviting lower-ranked bidders to fill vacancies. This indicates a performance-driven framework.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a multi-supplier framework, aiming to include up to three members. The requirement for a minimum annual turnover of €400,000 for the past three years, supported by auditor/accountant letters and bank statements, suggests that very small or newly established businesses may find it challenging to meet the financial standing criteria. However, the tender explicitly encourages SMEs to explore forming relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises to participate.

Consortium bidding is permitted, and larger enterprises are encouraged to include SMEs in their proposals, indicating a pathway for SMEs to participate either as lead bidders (if they meet the turnover threshold) or as subcontractors. The bid preparation effort is likely to be moderate, involving the completion of the eESPD, a detailed pricing schedule, and a service delivery plan, quality assurance, and technical/sustainability/social value responses. The "Pwin" signal is neutral; there is no clear indication of an incumbent, and the multi-supplier nature suggests a competitive field. The preference for the first-ranked bidder for smaller works and potential static plumber needs is a factor to consider.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: RFT_Services Contract for Plumbing Services.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Key Attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 5: Services Contract