Consultant Services for Individual Property Protection (IPP) Surveys, Assessments and Options Appraisal in Blackrock and Carlingford

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 consultant services for Individual Property Protection (IPP) surveys, assessments, and options appraisals. The services are to be delivered within Blackrock and Carlingford. The contract will involve evaluating properties for flood risk and recommending appropriate protection measures.

The scope of work includes:

• Property Surveys and Assessments: Conducting detailed surveys of individual properties to assess their vulnerability to flooding. This will involve site visits and the application of technical expertise to evaluate existing conditions and potential risks.
• Options Appraisal: Developing and evaluating a range of potential protection and resilience measures for each surveyed property. This appraisal will consider technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and suitability for the specific property and its flood risk context.
• Reporting: Producing comprehensive reports detailing the findings of the surveys, the assessment of flood risk, and the recommended options for property protection. These reports will form the basis for decision-making regarding the implementation of flood protection measures.
• Consultant Services: Providing expert advice and consultancy throughout the process, ensuring that the recommendations align with best practices in flood risk management and property flood resilience. This may involve engagement with property owners and other stakeholders.
• Compliance: Ensuring all activities and recommendations comply with relevant legislation, regulations, and guidance pertaining to flood risk management and public procurement in Ireland.

The service provider will be expected to operate under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and associated regulations, potentially fulfilling roles such as PSDP (Project Supervisor Design Process) or Designer, as indicated by the safety questionnaire.

3. Background & buyer context

Louth County Council is procuring these consultant services as part of its ongoing efforts in flood risk management. The procurement aligns with national policy objectives for climate adaptation and the protection of communities from flood events. The specific focus on Blackrock and Carlingford suggests a targeted approach to areas identified as having significant flood risk. The council's commitment to value for money and compliance with EU and Irish procurement legislation, as outlined in its Procurement Policies and Procedures Manual 2022-2024, underpins this tender. The services are essential for informing decisions on capital investment in flood protection infrastructure and individual property resilience measures.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum €6,500,000 per accident. Maximum excess of €10,000 for property only.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum €13,000,000 per accident.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance:
• Principal Service Provider: Minimum €1,000,000 on each and every claim basis, and €1,250,000 on an annual aggregate basis.
• Specialist Skill Providers: Minimum €1,000,000 on each and every claim basis, and €1,000,000 on an annual aggregate basis.
• Certifications:
• A certified Safety Management System such as Safe-T-cert or ISO 45001 is required. Evidence of certification must be provided.
• Membership to relevant trade associations or professional bodies (e.g., RIAI, EI, CIF, CIOB, NISO) is required.
• Past experience:
• Provide details of similar projects previously completed, including 2 references.
• Provide details of previous PSDP and/or PSCS appointments for projects comparable in size, nature, and complexity, including 2 references.
• The "CERTIFICATE OF SATISFACTORY DELIVERY OF SERVICES" document (Appendix B3) and "APPENDIX B1: LIST OF PREVIOUS PROJECTS/CERTIFICATE OF SATISFACTORY EXECUTION" require detailed project information. Up to 21 instances of previous projects can be listed in Appendix B1.
• Personnel:
• Key personnel proposed for the project must demonstrate competence, relevant qualifications, and/or relevant safety training.
• A Chartered Engineer, Chartered Building Surveyor, or equivalent professional with a minimum of 5 years' relevant experience in flood risk management, property flood resilience, or flood protection projects is required.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are not explicitly detailed with scoring percentages in the provided documents. However, the tender process will likely follow a "Most Economically Advantageous Tender" (MEAT) approach, balancing quality and price. The selection criteria, particularly regarding experience, competence, and safety management, indicate that quality will be a significant factor. Bidders must demonstrate technical capability, relevant experience in flood risk assessment and property protection, and a robust approach to health and safety management. The pricing schedule will be evaluated alongside these qualitative aspects to determine the most economically advantageous bid.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit the following:

• Safety and Health Prequalification Questionnaire (SF069): This includes declarations of competence, details of similar projects, training and qualifications of key personnel, safety and technical knowledge, and safety and health management systems.
• Appendix B1: List of Previous Projects/Certificate of Satisfactory Execution: This document requires listing previous projects of a similar nature, with up to 21 projects detailed.
• Appendix B3: Certificate of Satisfactory Delivery of Services: This document is for detailing main services provided, value of commission, dates, and referee details for previous projects.
• Pricing Schedule: Not explicitly detailed in the provided text, but a standard requirement for tenders.
• Declarations:
• ESPD (European Single Procurement Document) is a standard requirement for EU tenders.
• Bona Fides declarations, Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number are required for verification.
• A Guarantee from a parent company may be required at contract award stage if the consultant relies on the guarantor's economic or financial standing.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via eTenders. The specific format and number of electronic copies are not detailed but typically one electronic copy is required.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Length & Extension: Not specified in the provided documents.
• Payment Terms: Not specified, but Louth County Council adheres to prompt payment principles as per government guidelines.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified, but likely to include timely completion of surveys and reports, and adherence to safety standards.
• Liquidated Damages: Not specified.
• Termination Clauses: Standard termination clauses for breach of contract are expected.
• IP Ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting Rules: Not specified, but sub-contracting may be permitted for specialist roles, subject to approval.
• Parent Company Guarantee: A guarantee may be required from a guarantor if the consultant relies on their economic or financial standing. This guarantee is a principal obligation, not merely a surety, and remains in force until all consultant obligations are fulfilled.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Insurance Market Fluctuations: Document MF-2.11-09-02-2022 (1) addresses potential difficulties in obtaining "Each and Every" Professional Indemnity insurance, allowing for "Next Best Available Cover" on an interim basis, subject to monitoring the market and client approval for increased premiums. This indicates a potential market challenge for PI insurance.
• Safety Prequalification: The extensive "External Safety and Health Prequalification Questionnaire (SF069)" suggests a strong emphasis on safety compliance, potentially favouring bidders with established safety management systems and a demonstrable track record in health and safety.
• Detailed Project Evidence: The requirement for detailed "Certificates of Satisfactory Delivery of Services" and a comprehensive list of previous projects (up to 21) indicates a rigorous evaluation of past performance and experience.
• Long Submission Deadline: The submission deadline of September 2026 is unusually far in the future, suggesting this may be a placeholder or part of a longer-term planning cycle.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that specialise in flood risk assessment, property flood resilience, and related consultancy services. Key requirements include:

• Specialist Expertise: Firms with demonstrable expertise in flood risk engineering, building surveying, and environmental consultancy will be well-positioned.
• Safety Management: SMEs must have a certified Safety Management System (e.g., Safe-T-cert, ISO 45001) and a strong safety culture.
• Insurance Capacity: The required insurance levels, particularly Professional Indemnity, may be a challenge for very small firms, though the "Next Best Available Cover" clause offers some flexibility.
• Experience Documentation: SMEs need to be able to clearly document and evidence at least two significant, comparable projects, and potentially up to 21.

Consortium/Sub-contracting: While not explicitly stated, consortium bids or sub-contracting for specialist elements (e.g., specific engineering analysis) may be permissible, allowing SMEs to pool resources or bring in external expertise.

Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing a compliant bid, particularly with the detailed safety and experience documentation required, could take an SME 5-10 days of dedicated effort.

Pwin Signal: The emphasis on specific certifications, detailed past performance, and potentially high insurance requirements suggests that established firms with a proven track record in public sector projects may have an advantage. The long lead time to the deadline could indicate a strategic procurement rather than an immediate need, potentially allowing more time for preparation.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s): Not explicitly stated, but implied by the document titles provided.
• eTenders CFT ID: Not stated.
• Contact Email / Clarification Portal: Not stated.
• Most Important Attachments:
• SF069 External Duty Holder Questionnaire
• Appendix B1: List of Previous Projects/Certificate of Satisfactory Execution
• Appendix B3: Certificate of Satisfactory Delivery of Services
• MF-2.11-09-02-2022 (1) Letter to Consultant re Temporary PI Insurance Arrangements