Tralee Northern Relief Road Section B - Ground Investigation Contract

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 a Works Contractor to undertake ground investigation works for Section B of the Tralee Northern Relief Road. The contract will be awarded under the PW-CF8 Short Investigation Contract form. The scope encompasses all necessary activities to investigate ground conditions along the proposed route.

Key activities and requirements include:

• Ground Investigation: Conducting comprehensive ground investigations. This involves:
• Excavating exploratory holes through soil strata, requiring a minimum diameter of 150mm casing, and a minimum diameter of 200mm after initial excavation.
• Allowing sufficient standing time (a minimum of 1 hour) after pit excavation before further work.
• Performing in-situ testing in accordance with IS EN 1997-2:2007, BS 1377:1990, and IS EN ISO 22476-3:2005+A1:2011, as appropriate.
• Conducting coring with specified location, hole number, and depth.
• Taking a minimum of three photographs at each trial pit and slit trench location using a digital camera.
• Sampling to IS EN 933 standards, to be conducted by a Professional Geologist.
• Presenting investigation findings in accordance with IS EN14688-1, IS EN14689-1, and BS5930.
• Geophysical Survey: Carrying out geophysical surveys on site. Personnel responsible for this must have a minimum of three years' experience.
• Environmental Considerations: Ensuring presence of specific plant species is managed within a 25m radius of any exploratory works or access points.
• Site Access and Notification: Providing a minimum of two days' notice to landowners and occupiers before accessing their property.
• Reporting and Documentation: Submitting findings and data in formats compliant with relevant standards.
• Health and Safety: Adhering to Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013. Tenderers must complete Health and Safety Supplement 3.4.1 (Contractor) and, where applicable, 3.4.2 (PSCS). The role of PSCS (Project Supervisor Construction Stage) is explicitly included.
• Quality Management: Maintaining a safety management system in accordance with ISO 45001:2018 or equivalent, and a quality management system in accordance with IS EN ISO 9001, IS EN ISO 14001, and IS OHSAS 18001.

The contract is for ground investigation works, and the successful tenderer will act as both Works Contractor and PSCS.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement relates to the Tralee Northern Relief Road project, specifically Section B. Kerry County Council is the contracting authority. The ground investigation contract is a necessary precursor to the main construction works for this section of the relief road. The project aligns with broader infrastructure development plans for Tralee. The procurement is conducted under an Open procedure, utilising the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) and the PW-CF8 Short Investigation Contract form.

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 level of €6,500,000 in respect of any one accident. Maximum excess of €10,000 for property only.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum level of €13,000,000 in respect of any one accident.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Minimum annual aggregate cover of €6,500,000. Maximum excess of €70,000 per claim.
• Certifications:
• Safety management system in accordance with ISO 45001:2018 or equivalent.
• Quality management system in accordance with IS EN ISO 9001, IS EN ISO 14001, and IS OHSAS 18001.
• Past experience:
• A minimum of 2 years fulfilling the role of PSCS for Site Investigation Contracts.
• A minimum of 3 infrastructure schemes with a contract value of €50,000 excluding VAT.
• Experience with exploratory holes through soil strata with a minimum diameter of 150mm casing and 200mm after excavation.
• Personnel:
• Employer’s Representative with a minimum of 5 years post-charter experience in similar ground investigations.
• Survey director with a minimum of 5 years' experience.
• Staff responsible for geophysical surveys must have a minimum of three years' experience.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). The specific weighting between price and quality is not detailed in the provided extract, but all qualification criteria are evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis. Tenderers must meet all qualification criteria in full to pass. Failure to meet any criterion results in elimination from the competition.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit a Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) Response, which includes:

• Part 2 (Tenderer Details and Declaration): This must be completed and signed by the Tenderer.
• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD): Required where European Procurement Regulations apply. Tenderers must complete Parts II, III, IVα, and V.
• Evidence: Any evidence required by the questionnaire must be submitted with the SAQ Response. This evidence must prove the Tenderer meets the qualification criteria as of the submission date.
• Appendix B1 - List of Previous Works Projects: A list of completed projects similar in nature and complexity to the works required.
• Appendix B2 - Certificate of Satisfactory Execution: For previous projects listed.
• Health and Safety Supplements: Specifically, Health and Safety Supplement 3.4.1 (Contractor) and, where applicable, 3.4.2 (PSCS).
• Declarations:
• Declaration regarding Regulation 57 (Exclusion Grounds) of SI 284/2016 (via ESPD or Appendix A).
• Declaration regarding Russia sanctions (Article 5k of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014).
• Declaration regarding International Procurement Instrument (IPI) measures.
• Submission Portal: Tenders must be submitted electronically via eTenders. Specific formatting rules for electronic submissions are not detailed here but must be followed.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract will be based on the PW-CF8 Short Investigation Contract form. Key terms include:

• Insurance: Specific minimum levels for Public Liability (€6.5m), Employer's Liability (€13m), and Professional Indemnity (€6.5m aggregate) are mandated.
• Health and Safety: The contractor will act as PSCS and must comply with Construction Regulations 2013.
• Quality Standards: Adherence to ISO 45001:2018 (or equivalent) for safety management and IS EN ISO 9001, IS EN ISO 14001, and IS OHSAS 18001 for quality and environmental management.
• Sub-contracting: While not explicitly detailed, the structure of the SAQ implies reliance on other entities is possible, subject to demonstration of capacity availability.
• Termination: Standard termination clauses as per the Public Works Contract will apply.
• Payment: Not specified in the provided extract.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Insurance Excess: The Professional Indemnity insurance has a maximum excess of €70,000, which is higher than the €5,000 or 2% of turnover mentioned in a general note, indicating a specific, higher threshold for this contract.
• PSCS Role: The requirement for the contractor to also act as PSCS (Project Supervisor Construction Stage) adds a layer of health and safety responsibility beyond typical ground investigation works.
• Detailed Technical Standards: The tender specifies numerous Irish and European standards (IS EN, BS, ISO) for testing, sampling, and reporting, requiring a high degree of technical compliance.
• No Value Disclosed: The absence of an estimated contract value makes it difficult for bidders to gauge the scale of the project and calibrate their bid preparation effort.
• PW-CF8 Contract Form: This is a "Short Investigation Contract," suggesting a potentially streamlined but still rigorous process compared to longer forms.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with specialised expertise in ground investigation and a strong health and safety track record. A viable bidder would likely be a firm that:

• Has a proven history of undertaking site investigation contracts and acting as PSCS.
• Possesses the necessary technical capabilities and personnel experienced in detailed ground investigation techniques and geophysical surveys.
• Holds the required ISO certifications (9001, 14001, 45001 or equivalent).
• Can meet the significant insurance requirements, particularly Public Liability (€6.5m) and Professional Indemnity (€6.5m aggregate).
• Is capable of preparing a comprehensive SAQ response, including detailed project histories and technical documentation.

Consortia or joint ventures are permitted, allowing smaller firms to combine resources and expertise to meet the qualification criteria. The bid preparation effort would be moderate to high, given the detailed SAQ and technical requirements. The Pwin signal is neutral, as no incumbent or previous winner is identified.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: QW2_Part_1_v2.2_25-11-2025 - TNRR (Section B) - GI Contract.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Key Attachments:
• QW2_Part_1_v2.2_25-11-2025 - TNRR (Section B) - GI Contract.pdf (Suitability Assessment Questionnaire)
• Appendix_B1_List_of_Previous_Works_Projects_which_is_CEE.docx
• Appendix_B2_Certificate_of_Satisfactory_Execution