Bogganfin/Tuam Road Link Road, Monksland Strategic Road Project - Engineering Consultancy Service

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 engineering consultancy services for the Bogganfin/Tuam Road Link Road, part of the Monksland Strategic Road Project. The estimated value of the consultancy services is €300,000. The contract duration is not specified.

The scope of work encompasses the role of Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP) and Designer. The specific activities and deliverables are not detailed in the provided metadata, but the tender documents indicate that the consultancy will be responsible for:

• Design Services: Providing design for the Bogganfin/Tuam Road Link Road. This includes detailed design work for road projects.
• PSDP Role: Acting as the Project Supervisor Design Process, ensuring compliance with safety, health, and welfare regulations during the design phase.
• Project Management: Overseeing the design process and ensuring it aligns with project objectives.
• Documentation: Preparing and submitting necessary documentation as per the Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and other tender requirements.
• Compliance: Ensuring all design and supervisory activities comply with relevant Irish regulations, including the Construction Regulations and BC(A)R.

The tender documents mention specific types of projects that applicants must demonstrate experience in, including:

• Road projects where the safety of road users was improved.
• Design works for roads projects, with a requirement for 2 on the National Road Network and 2 on the Regional Road Network.
• Projects where the consultant acted on behalf of a Local Authority and secured planning.
• Projects involving the review of existing vehicular movements, manoeuvres, and safety of all road users on a site.

The contract is structured into four phases, each of four months duration:

• Phase 1: Start: Beginning of Month 0, Completion: End of Month 4.
• Phase 2: Start: Beginning of Month 4, Completion: End of Month 8.
• Phase 3: Start: Beginning of Month 8, Completion: End of Month 12.
• Phase 4: Start: Beginning of Month 12, Completion: End of Month 16.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is for engineering consultancy services related to the Bogganfin/Tuam Road Link Road, a component of the Monksland Strategic Road Project. Roscommon County Council is the contracting authority. The tender is being conducted under an Open Procedure, indicating a competitive process to select a service provider. The project aligns with broader infrastructure development initiatives, though specific policy or programme links are not detailed in the provided metadata. The estimated value of €300,000 suggests a project of moderate scale for consultancy services. No incumbent provider is mentioned.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability: €6.5 million per claim.
• Employer's Liability: €13 million per claim.
• Professional Indemnity: €6.5 million on an "each and every claim" basis and €1.5 million on an "annual aggregate" basis.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience:
• A minimum of 36 months relevant post-graduate experience of working as part of a Multidisciplinary Design Team on road projects.
• A minimum of one example of a project where the safety of road users was improved.
• A minimum of four examples of design works for roads projects, with 2 on the National Road Network and 2 on the Regional Road Network.
• A minimum of one example of a project where the Consultant acted on behalf of a Local Authority and secured planning.
• A minimum of one example of a project where the Consultant reviewed existing vehicular movements, manoeuvres, and safety of road users.
• At least one project with a construction value in excess of €5,000,000 (exclusive of VAT).
• At least one project where the applicant held the position of Road Design Engineer with a construction value of at least €5 million (ex VAT).
• Personnel: Minimum requirements for nominated personnel are detailed in Role Specific Information Sheets, and failure to meet these will result in exclusion. Specific roles and minimum years of experience are not detailed in the provided metadata.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are not detailed in the provided metadata. However, as this is an Open Procedure, it is standard practice for tenders to be evaluated based on a combination of price and quality, often referred to as Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). The specific weighting between price and quality, and any sub-criteria or scoring thresholds, would be detailed in the full tender documents.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following:

• Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): Part 2 of the SAQ document, completed by the applicant.
• eESPD or Appendix A: If required for competitions above EU thresholds.
• Evidence/Supporting Documentation: As required by the SAQ, including:
• Certificates of Satisfactory Delivery of Services: A maximum of 6 certificates (Appendix B3) detailing similar projects. Appendix B1 provides a template for listing previous projects.
• Letter from Entity being Relied Upon (Appendix D): If relying on other entities for financial or technical capacity.
• Letter of Undertaking re Insurance (Appendix C): From an insurance provider confirming facilities to provide required cover.
• Pricing Schedule: Format and template not specified in metadata.
• CVs: Not explicitly mentioned as a submission requirement in the metadata, but implied for project team roles.
• Declarations: Applicant Declaration in Section 3 of SAQ Part 2, including confirmation of consent for data processing, meeting minimum standards, providing evidence upon request, and disclosing registrable interests or conflicts of interest.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: eTenders.gov.ie. Specific format rules for electronic submission are not detailed in the metadata.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Length: Not specified in the metadata.
• Extension Structure: Not specified.
• Payment Terms: Payments are to be made within 30 days after the Consultant supplies a valid invoice, subject to any due deduction of withholding tax.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not detailed in the metadata.
• Liquidated Damages/Penalties: Not detailed in the metadata.
• Termination Clauses: Termination can occur with at least 14 and at most 28 days' notice.
• IP Ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting Rules: Not specified.
• Parent Company Guarantee/Bond: Not specified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Turnover Requirement Absence: The absence of a specific minimum annual turnover requirement for the consultancy services, while other financial and experience criteria are present, could indicate a focus on demonstrated capability and past performance rather than sheer company size.
• Detailed Experience Requirements: The specific and detailed requirements for past project experience (e.g., road safety improvement, national/regional road network experience, local authority engagement) suggest a need for highly specialised and proven expertise in road design and project supervision.
• Phased Contract Structure: The contract is divided into four distinct 4-month phases, which could imply a phased approach to the consultancy work or a mechanism for review and potential extension/termination at phase boundaries.
• Reliance on Other Entities: The SAQ explicitly allows for reliance on the capacity of other entities, requiring specific documentation (Appendix D). This suggests that consortia or joint ventures are anticipated, or that smaller firms may partner with others to meet criteria.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely open to small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that possess specialised expertise in road design and Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP) roles. A viable bidder would need to demonstrate a strong track record in road infrastructure projects, particularly those involving safety improvements and engagement with local authorities. The requirement for specific project types and the minimum 36 months of relevant post-graduate experience suggest that firms with a dedicated team of experienced engineers will be best positioned.

Consortium or sub-contracting is permitted, as indicated by the SAQ's provisions for "Reliance on the Capacity of Other Entities" and the structure for Joint Ventures, Consortia, or Partnerships. This allows smaller firms to combine their strengths or bring in specialist skills to meet the qualification criteria.

The bid preparation effort is likely to be moderate to high, given the detailed experience requirements and the need to complete the SAQ thoroughly, including providing certificates of satisfactory delivery of services.

A "Pwin" (Probability of Winning) signal is not clearly discernible from the metadata alone. The absence of an incumbent mention and the open procedure suggest a competitive field. However, the detailed experience requirements could favour firms that have recently completed similar projects for Irish local authorities.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s): SAQ-QC2-Part-1.docx, SAQ-QC2-Part-2.docx, Appendix B1 - List of Previous Works.docx, Appendix C - Letter of Undertaking re Insurance.docx, Appendix D - Letter from Entity being Relied Upon.docx, Appendix B3 - Satisfactory Delivery of Service.doc
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in metadata.
• Contact Email / Clarification Portal: Not specified in metadata.
• Most Important Attachments:
• SAQ-QC2-Part-1.docx (Project Particulars and Qualification Criteria)
• SAQ-QC2-Part-2.docx (Applicant Details and Declaration)
• Appendix B1 - List of Previous Works.docx (Template for demonstrating experience)