Site Supervisory Services for Marine Construction Works at Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre, Castletownbere, Co. Cork, Ireland

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 qualified Civil Engineering/Structural Engineering Consultancy firm to provide a Resident Engineer for on-site supervision of marine construction projects at Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre (FHC). The role focuses solely on the site supervisory element of Stage (iv) Construction Services. The Resident Engineer will liaise with designers and Project Supervisors Design Process (PSDP) appointed for these projects.

The scope encompasses supervision of multiple concurrent and sequential construction works at Castletownbere FHC, including:

• Small Craft Harbour (SCH): Construction on Dinish Island, featuring 32 berths, marine piling, civils, utilities, and pontoon/electrical services installation. This project is divided into two works packages: piling and utilities/civil works, and pontoon and electrical works.
• Upgrade of Harbour Lighting: Review of existing lighting across the FHC to inform upgrades for low and high-level lighting, piers, roads, syncrolift, boat yard, and pedestrian areas.
• Syncrolift Pontoon: Installation of a new pontoon and gangway adjacent to the Syncrolift, requiring embankment replacement, new bank-seat construction, fencing, utilities, and pontoon/gangway installation.
• Water and Electrical Metering Works: Replacement and upgrading of consumer water and electrical metering and control equipment across the harbour, including new utilities, concrete enclosures, electrical works, substation upgrades, fibre networks, and new control panels.
• WWTP Improvement Works: Potential upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant and collection network on Dinish Island.
• Traffic Management Works: Revisions to road layout, construction of services, footpaths, roundabouts, fencing, surfacing, and line marking on Dinish Island.

The Resident Engineer's duties include:

• Supervising construction activities to ensure compliance with drawings and specifications.
• Integrating with and cooperating with the Marine Engineering Division (MED) and FHC teams.
• Liaising with Consultant Engineers, PSDPs, and the FHC team.
• Supervising contractor and subcontractor performance.
• Promoting health and safety, monitoring PSCS performance, and engaging with the PSDP.
• Checking site setting out for line and level accuracy.
• Conducting inspections prior to works being covered.
• Monitoring project progress against programmes and milestones.
• Ensuring required tests and inspections are performed.
• Verifying material quality and standards.
• Maintaining meticulous site records, daily sheets, and photos.
• Submitting weekly progress reports detailing site progress, programmes, variations, claims, and anticipated out-turn costs.
• Recording site staff, visitors, and weather conditions.
• Attending site progress and other necessary meetings.
• Assisting with valuations, final accounts, and handover.
• Assisting with Building Control Act Regulations (BCAR) compliance and other statutory requirements.
• Performing any other duties assigned by the Consultant Engineer.

The requirement for the Resident Engineer will be project-dependent and may not be continuous or full-time. There are no guaranteed minimum duration or weekly hours. The Department will determine the need for site supervision periodically.

3. Background & buyer context

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), through its Marine Engineering Division (MED), is responsible for managing and delivering capital works projects at Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre (FHC). Castletownbere FHC is identified as one of Ireland’s major fishing ports. MED, based in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, is undertaking several marine construction projects under the Fishery Harbour Centre Capital Development Programme. This procurement seeks a Resident Engineer to provide on-site supervision for these ongoing and upcoming works, ensuring they align with the programme's objectives and DAFM's capital development strategy. The incumbent for these specific supervisory services is not named.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability: €6,500,000 per claim.
• Employer's Liability: €13,000,000 per claim.
• Certifications:
• Candidates must hold a Level 8 qualification in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or Construction Management, or an equivalent technical professional qualification, with at least three years of post-qualification on-site construction supervision experience.
• Alternatively, Level 7 relevant technical qualifications with significantly more than three years of relevant on-site construction experience will be considered.
• Health & Safety qualifications permitting site access (e.g., SafePass) are required.
• Tenderers must be members of, or eligible to be a member of, a recognised professional body for the required role (e.g., ACEI, EI, RIAI, SCSI, or other).
• Past experience: CVs must provide detailed descriptions of previous construction supervision projects, outlining activities to demonstrate the nature and complexity of the projects.
• Personnel: A candidate must be proposed for the role of Resident Engineer. CVs must meet the minimum qualification and experience requirements.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criterion is the lowest price submitted by a tenderer who has passed the Suitability Assessment Questionnaire.

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document:
• Completed Suitability Assessment Questionnaire with documentary evidence.
• eESPD via the portal.
• Completed Form of Tender and Schedule.
• Comprehensive CV for the proposed Resident Engineer, detailing qualifications and experience.
• CVs: Must meet minimum requirements as specified in Section 4.
• Pricing schedule: Two hourly rates must be submitted in the Form of Tender document:

1. For periods where the Resident Engineer is required for 0-3 days per week.
2. For periods where the Resident Engineer is required for more than 3 days per week. The total sum will be calculated using a formula: Total Sum = (Hourly rate (0-3 days) x 8 hours x 3 days x 32 weeks) + (Hourly rate (>3 days) x 5 days x 20 weeks). All prices must be exclusive of VAT.

• Case studies: Not specified.
• Declarations:
• eESPD.
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number required for online verification.
• Declaration regarding Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and associated regulations.
• Declaration regarding any enforcement actions, legal proceedings, accidents, fatalities, or incidents over the last three years.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified.
• Submission portal: eTenders/TED portal.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term + extension structure: Initial period of 1 year, with two (2) additional 1-year extension periods at DAFM's discretion.
• Payment terms: Monthly valuations submitted by the contractor, valued and certified by the Engineer. Payment within 30 days of a valid invoice, provided a current tax clearance certificate is held. Prompt Payments of Accounts Act 1997 applies.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not explicitly detailed beyond the general requirement for the Resident Engineer to perform services with skill, care, diligence, efficiency, and professional conduct.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified.
• Termination clauses:
• Termination for cause by either party.
• Termination by Client for insolvency.
• Termination by Client at will, requiring at least 14 and at most 28 days' notice.
• IP ownership: General rights, licence, and assignment provisions are outlined in the Standard Conditions of Engagement (COE).
• Sub-contracting rules: Sub-contracting requires Client agreement. The Consultant is responsible for sub-consultant acts and omissions. Collateral warranties may be required from sub-consultants.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Variable workload: The contract explicitly states no guaranteed minimum duration or weekly hours, with DAFM determining the requirement periodically. This creates significant uncertainty for resource planning and financial forecasting for the service provider.
• Lowest price award: The award criterion is solely the lowest price after passing the suitability assessment. This may lead to a focus on cost reduction over quality or experience, potentially impacting the effectiveness of site supervision.
• No AI use without approval: The use of Artificial Intelligence is prohibited without prior DAFM approval, which may restrict modern working practices for some firms.
• Limited detail on specific project values/timelines: While multiple projects are listed, their individual values, timelines, and the precise sequencing of the Resident Engineer's involvement are not detailed, making it difficult to assess the true scale and duration of the requirement.
• Hourly rate structure: The pricing model is based on two distinct hourly rates depending on the weekly days of attendance, requiring careful estimation of likely usage patterns.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured to attract Civil Engineering/Structural Engineering Consultancy firms. A viable bidder would typically be a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) with a dedicated team or an individual consultant possessing the required qualifications and specific on-site construction supervision experience.

• Who can credibly bid: Firms or individuals with a Level 8 (or higher) qualification in Civil/Structural Engineering or Construction Management, and a minimum of three years of post-qualification on-site construction supervision experience. Experience in marine construction or harbour works would be advantageous but is not explicitly mandated. The ability to provide a qualified candidate who meets the minimum requirements is paramount.
• Consortium/sub-contracting: The Standard Conditions of Engagement (COE) permit sub-contracting with the Client's agreement. While not explicitly stated, a consortium approach could be viable if it collectively meets the qualification requirements for the Resident Engineer role. However, the primary focus is on the individual candidate's CV.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Bid preparation effort is likely moderate. Key tasks include:
• Identifying and vetting a suitable Resident Engineer candidate.
• Gathering CV and qualification evidence.
• Completing the Suitability Assessment Questionnaire and eESPD.
• Preparing the Form of Tender and pricing schedule, including estimating likely weekly attendance patterns for the two hourly rate bands.
• Compiling supporting documentation. This could range from 10-20 person-days for a well-prepared firm.
• Pwin signal: The award being based solely on the lowest price after qualification suggests a competitive market. The lack of specific incumbent information or named past winners makes it difficult to assess incumbent strength. The variable workload and lack of guaranteed hours could deter larger firms, potentially favouring SMEs or sole practitioners who can adapt their resource allocation more flexibly.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename(s): Tender Documents.zip
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Not specified.
• Most important attachments:
• Scope of Service_Resident Engineering Services Castletownbere FHC Final.docx
• MF_2.4_v1.1-25-11-2025.docx (Form of Tender and Schedule)
• COE1_v2.j_Consultancy_Technical_30-09-2024.docx (Standard Conditions of Engagement)