Strategic and Technical Professional Services Framework

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 procurement seeks to establish a single-party framework agreement for strategic and technical advisory services to support the Irish Prison Service's (IPS) infrastructure investment and maintenance programmes. The primary role of the selected Economic Operator will be to assist and advise the IPS in strategic estate planning, feasibility assessment, project review, and ensuring compliance with the Infrastructure Guidelines (IGs) and Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF). These guidelines govern public capital investment and public construction projects, respectively, ensuring value for money, efficiency, and high standards.

The services are required across a range of IPS projects and investment initiatives, not limited to specific projects. They will complement, not replace or duplicate, detailed integrated design team services for specific projects. The services will be utilised by the IPS in selective contexts and for construction and maintenance projects at various stages of planning, development, implementation, or prior to formal planning.

The framework requires multi-disciplinary expertise. The successful tenderer must provide personnel with experience in:

• Financial and economic advisory, strategic infrastructure planning, and project appraisal and review services at all project lifecycle stages.
• Architectural advisory and consultant services for building works across full project lifecycle stages.
• Mechanical and electrical engineering advisory and consultant services for building works across full project lifecycle stages.
• Quantity surveying, cost and cost/value management advisory and consultant services for building works across full project lifecycle stages.

Specific services may include:

• Financial and economic appraisal of capital investment projects per the Infrastructure Guidelines.
• Preparation of Strategic Assessment Reports.
• Preparation of Business Cases.
• Feasibility Assessments.
• Outline Design Support.
• Programme Design and Planning.
• Site Masterplanning.
• Project Definition and Output Specification.
• Condition Assessments.
• Service Assessments.
• Risk Assessment and Advice.
• Cost Advisory Services.
• Procurement Advice and Support.
• Project and Programme Management.
• Guidance, direction, and management of projects through lifecycle phases.
• Supporting the enhancement of internal structures and processes for capital planning, management, and delivery.
• Review of projects, processes, and programmes.
• Estate planning and investment prioritisation.
• Evaluation, review, and advisory services concerning capital building projects and programmes.
• Ad-hoc assessments, evaluations, or reviews of related investments, activities, operations, or services.
• Preparation of other reports and assessments as required under the IGs, CWMF, or other protocols.

Services may be provided to the Irish Prison Service, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, An Garda Síochána, The Courts Service, The Probation Service, The Irish Youth Justice Service, Forensic Science Ireland, The Criminal Assets Bureau, and the International Protection Accommodation Service.

3. Background & buyer context

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) is an executive office of the Department of Justice responsible for operating the prison system and the safe custody of adult offenders. Its remit includes managing the prison estate, comprising twelve operational prisons, the IPS College, and administrative accommodation. The estate houses approximately 5,700 prisoners, with some on temporary release. Prison infrastructure serves specialist custodial functions, including accommodation, education, work training, recreation, and catering, alongside staff and administrative facilities. These must meet stringent standards for design, safety, security, human rights, functionality, and operational efficiency.

The IPS Strategy Statement mandates ongoing development and modernisation of its estate through new construction and upgrades. This procurement aligns with this strategy by seeking external expertise to support infrastructure investment and maintenance programmes. The need for strategic and technical advisory services is driven by the requirement to ensure these programmes comply with the Infrastructure Guidelines (IGs) and the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF), ensuring responsible public fund management and efficient project delivery. The framework is intended to provide a single point of contact for these critical advisory services.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following minimum requirements on a pass/fail basis to be considered for evaluation.

• Turnover requirement: Confirmation that the tendering party's average annual turnover exceeded €350,000 in each of the last three financial years. Firms must have been in existence for at least 6 months.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Professional Indemnity: €1.5 million
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience:
• Demonstrate successful delivery of a minimum of three (3) previous projects within the last three (3) years.
• These projects must relate to the financial, economic, and technical appraisal and assessment of projects comparable to those promoted by the IPS.
• Assignments must be multidisciplinary and align with the requirements set out in Section 2.
• At least two (2) of these projects must demonstrate similar experience in a custodial setting, relating to custodial buildings and infrastructure.
• Details required: description of contracts, value, precise services supplied, and contract management.
• Personnel: Tenderers must demonstrate adequate organisational resources, including current manpower levels and skills base, with a breakdown of key positions/skills. Specific roles to be detailed include:
• Financial and economic advisory, strategic infrastructure planning, and project appraisal and review services.
• Architectural advisory and consultant services.
• Mechanical and electrical engineering advisory and consultant services.
• Quantity surveying, cost and cost/value management advisory and consultant services.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers may rely on the resources of other entities to meet these requirements, provided they can prove these resources will be at their disposal when necessary.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The framework will be awarded on the basis of the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), considering both qualitative and cost factors. A minimum score of 50% is required for each of the qualitative criteria (A, B, C) to remain eligible.

Criterion Weighting (%) Sub-criteria