Summer Works 2026 - Proposed Science Labs-Fingal CC

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 contractor to undertake construction works at Fingal Community College, located at Seatown Road, Swords, Co. Dublin. The project, titled "Summer Works 2026 - Proposed Science Labs," involves the development of new science laboratory facilities. The contract will be governed by the Short Public Works Contract PW-CF6 v1.15.

The contractor's responsibilities encompass the full construction and completion of the specified works. This includes:

• Site Management:
• Securing the site and preventing unauthorised access.
• Maintaining the site in good order and free from obstructions.
• Ensuring the safety of persons on site and protecting nearby areas from hazards.
• Minimising nuisance or inconvenience to the public and occupiers of adjacent land.
• Providing and maintaining access routes to and through the site.
• Construction Activities:
• Constructing the works in accordance with good practice, using high-quality materials.
• Setting out the works accurately by reference to contract specifications and instructions.
• Verifying the accuracy of setting-out points, lines, and levels.
• Providing access for inspection, testing, and observation of works, goods, and materials.
• Notifying the Employer's Representative and Assigned Certifier before covering or making inspection difficult for any part of the works.
• Uncovering, dismantling, re-covering, or re-erecting work as instructed.
• Testing, inspecting, or providing facilities for testing and inspection as instructed.
• Removing and replacing non-compliant works, goods, or materials as instructed.
• Suspending or resuming works as instructed by the Employer's Representative.
• Materials and Goods:
• Ensuring all goods and materials are suitable for their intended purpose.
• Providing necessary certification to comply with Building Control Regulations.
• Not removing works, goods, materials, or plant from the site without consent until substantial completion.
• Discovery of Items:
• Preserving any fossils, coins, antiquities, monuments, items of value, archaeological or geological interest, or human remains discovered on site.
• Promptly notifying the Employer's Representative and complying with their instructions regarding such discoveries.
• Completion and Handover:
• Substantially completing the works within the agreed Time for Completion.
• Completing any outstanding work promptly after notification of substantial completion.
• Issuing a Defects Certificate upon satisfactory completion.

The contract is based on the Short Public Works Contract PW-CF6 v1.15, which outlines detailed conditions for the execution of the works, payment, insurance, and dispute resolution.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is for "Summer Works 2026," indicating a planned schedule for essential maintenance and upgrade projects within educational facilities. The Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) is responsible for the provision and management of a range of educational services, including post-primary schools. The specific project at Fingal Community College addresses the need for updated science laboratory facilities, aligning with broader educational infrastructure development goals. The procurement is conducted under the standard public works contracting framework, utilising the Short Public Works Contract. No specific programme or policy beyond the "Summer Works" initiative is explicitly stated as a driver.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for this tender:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum cover of €6,500,000 for any one event.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum cover of €13,000,000 for any one event.
• Bidders must confirm they have, or will obtain, these insurances prior to appointment.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Bidders are required to provide tax clearance information for online verification.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria and scoring mechanism are not detailed in the provided documentation. Typically, public sector tenders in Ireland are awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), which balances price and quality. The specific weighting between price and quality, along with any minimum scoring thresholds for individual criteria or overall, would be detailed in the full tender documents.

6. Submission requirements

The specific submission requirements are not fully detailed in the provided extract. However, based on standard public works contracting procedures, bidders are expected to submit:

• A completed tender response, likely following a specified format or template.
• Pricing schedule, detailing costs for the works.
• Declarations, including:
• Economic and Financial Standing Information (potentially via ESPD).
• Bona Fides declarations.
• Tax clearance confirmation.
• Conflict of Interest declarations.
• Details regarding insurance coverage, confirming compliance with the stated minimums.
• Information on personnel and experience, if requested in the full tender documents.

The submission method is expected to be via the eTenders platform. Specific instructions regarding the number and format of electronic copies may be provided.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract is based on the Short Public Works Contract PW-CF6 v1.15. Key terms include:

• Contract Length: The "Time for Completion" is a critical period, with liquidated damages applying for delays. Extension of time provisions exist for specific, non-contractor-fault events.
• Payment Terms: Payments are made in instalments, including interim payments and final payments after certification of substantial completion and issuance of the Defects Certificate. Payment claim notices require a response within 14 days, and invoices are to be paid within the period stated in the Schedule. Late payments incur interest as per the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012.
• Liquidated Damages: A daily rate of €300 applies for delays beyond the Time for Completion.
• Termination: The contract outlines grounds for termination by the Employer, with provisions for completing the works by others and recovering costs.
• Sub-contracting: The contractor cannot subcontract the whole of the works. Subcontracting parts of the works requires the Employer's Representative's consent, unless already provided for in the contract.
• Performance Bond: If required by the Schedule, a performance bond must be provided within 7 days of tender acceptance.
• Price Variation: The Price will adjust only as expressly provided in the contract, with provisions for Compensation Events and changes in law affecting duties or PRSI.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The primary unusual aspect is the submission deadline of September 8, 2026, for a project designated "Summer Works 2026." This suggests the tender process is being initiated significantly in advance of the works period, allowing for a lengthy mobilisation and planning phase. The absence of a specified estimated value is common for public works contracts where the scope may be subject to detailed finalisation. The reliance on the Short Public Works Contract PW-CF6 v1.15 indicates a standard, albeit potentially less complex, construction project compared to longer forms of contract. The specific details of the "Proposed Science Labs" are not elaborated upon in the provided text, meaning the full scope and technical requirements would be detailed in other tender attachments.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with experience in general construction and refurbishment projects, particularly those familiar with the Short Public Works Contract. The absence of specific turnover or experience requirements in the provided extract suggests a broader eligibility pool. However, the mandatory insurance levels (€6.5m Public Liability, €13m Employer's Liability) are substantial and may be a barrier for very small or newly established firms. Consortium bidding or subcontracting is not explicitly prohibited but would require the Employer's Representative's consent for subcontracting parts of the works. The bid preparation effort would depend on the complexity of the science lab fit-out, but for a standard Short Public Works Contract, it could range from 5 to 15 days for a well-resourced SME. There is no clear indication of an incumbent contractor or a strong Pwin signal from the provided text.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s): PW-CF6_Contract_v1.15_25-11-2025.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact Email / Clarification Portal: Not specified in the provided text.
• Most Important Attachments:
• PW-CF6_Contract_v1.15_25-11-2025.pdf (Conditions of Contract)
• Schedule (details specific to the project, e.g., Time for Completion, Price, Performance Bond requirements)
• Drawings and Specifications (detailing the proposed science labs)