Consultancy for Parking Strategy Development

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

The Contracting Authority, Limerick City and County Council, seeks consultancy services for the development of a parking strategy specifically for Limerick City Centre. This procurement is conducted under an open procedure. The resulting contract will operate as a single-party framework.

The scope of services includes, but is not limited to:

• Strategy Development: The core deliverable is a comprehensive parking strategy for Limerick City Centre. This will involve analysis of current parking provisions, identification of future needs, and formulation of recommendations.
• Study Area Focus: The primary focus is Limerick City Centre, with an indicative map provided in Appendix 8 showing the proposed study area. The scope may extend to areas where additional parking needs are identified.
• Data Analysis and Research: Tenderers will be expected to gather and analyse relevant data pertaining to parking usage, demand, and existing infrastructure within the study area.
• Methodology and Approach: Tenderers must outline their proposed methodology and approach to developing the parking strategy, including timelines, as detailed in Appendix 1.
• Environmental Considerations: The strategy must incorporate environmental considerations, as specified in Appendix 1.
• Contract Management: Tenderers will be assessed on their proposed contract management approach.
• Project Delivery: The approach to project delivery, including timelines, is a key component of the evaluation.
• Potential Site Visits: Tenderers are encouraged to visit Limerick City Centre to familiarise themselves with the area. Specific durations for staff time for site visits are mentioned in relation to Adoyle or City Centre, assuming 8 hours for 2 staff over 2 days, including PM and APM.

The contract is anticipated to have a term of 12 months or a maximum value of €230,000 (excluding VAT), whichever is reached first. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to extend the term for up to two additional 12-month periods, subject to legal and budgetary obligations. The estimated expenditure over the contract term, including potential extensions, is €230,000 (excluding VAT).

3. Background & buyer context

Limerick City and County Council is procuring consultancy services to develop a parking strategy for Limerick City Centre. This initiative aligns with the Council's objective to manage and improve urban mobility and accessibility within the city. The procurement is being conducted under the open procedure as defined by the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016. The Council aims to encourage participation from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and encourages larger enterprises to include SMEs in their proposals. No incumbent contractor is explicitly mentioned.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

To be considered compliant, tenderers must meet the following criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Average annual turnover must have exceeded €400,000 in one of the last three years. Firms established more recently must demonstrate pro-rata turnover, and the firm must have been in existence for at least 6 months.
• Insurance: The successful tenderer must hold the following insurances for the term of the Services Contract:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million for any one claim or series of claims.
• Public Liability: €6.5 million for any one claim or series of claims.
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million limit for any one claim or series of claims.
• Certifications: A current valid tax clearance certificate from the Irish Revenue Commissioners is mandatory. Evidence of application for a tax clearance certificate is acceptable initially, but award is conditional on its production and maintenance.
• Past experience: Tenderers must provide at least two examples of works of similar scope to the project. CVs with qualifications to act as a consultant for the project are also required.
• Personnel: CVs are required for personnel acting as consultants, demonstrating appropriate qualifications.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender, beyond the encouragement for tenderers to visit Limerick City Centre.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). The weighting and minimum score requirements for each award criterion are as follows:

Tenderers failing to achieve the minimum score in any criterion will be eliminated. The Fee Proposal score is calculated based on the lowest tendered price receiving maximum points.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit their tenders electronically via the eTenders.gov.ie portal. The following documents are required:

• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD): Completed and submitted as per Appendix 4. Tenderers may use a previously submitted ESPD if the information remains correct and they meet the selection criteria for this competition.
• Tenderer’s Statement: Signed and scanned copy, printed on the tenderer's letterhead, as per Appendix 3.
• Pricing Schedule: Completed as per Appendix 2. Prices must be all-inclusive (excluding VAT), in Euro, and valid for 12 months from the tender deadline.
• CVs: For named roles, demonstrating qualifications for the project.
• Case Studies/References: At least two examples of works of similar scope.
• Declarations:
• Declaration as to Personal Circumstances of Tenderer (Appendix 5).
• Tax Clearance Certificate or proof of application.
• Confirmation of insurance coverage.
• Methodology & Approach: Detailed as per Appendix 1.
• Environmental Considerations: Addressed as per Appendix 1.

All submitted documents must be in English and in a readable format (Word, Excel, PDF). A maximum of 4GB is allowed for combined uploaded documents.

7. Key dates & process

The standstill period will be 14 calendar days from the notification of the award decision.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: 12 months, with a maximum value of €230,000.
• Extensions: The Contracting Authority may extend the term for up to two additional 12-month periods.
• Payment terms: Invoices are paid within 60 days of receipt of a valid invoice. Invoices are deemed accepted if no queries are raised within 14 days.
• Termination: Either party may terminate with 14 days' notice if the contract continues for 30 calendar days without progress or activity.
• Price validity: Quoted prices must remain valid for 12 months from the tender deadline.
• Currency risk: Any currency variations over the contract term are borne by the Tenderer.
• Sub-contracting: While not explicitly prohibited, the Prime Contractor will hold overall responsibility.
• Indemnity: Tenderers must indemnify the Contracting Authority against claims arising from failure to comply with employee transfer regulations.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Value vs. Term: The contract value (€230k) is capped, and the term is limited to 12 months or this value, whichever comes first. This suggests a defined scope and potential for early completion or a need for efficient delivery.
• SME Encouragement: The tender explicitly encourages SME participation and suggests forming relationships with larger enterprises if the scope is beyond their capacity. This indicates a potential openness to consortia or subcontracting arrangements.
• Site Visit Encouragement: While not mandatory, tenderers are strongly encouraged to visit Limerick City Centre. This implies that local knowledge or familiarity with the area could be beneficial.
• No Lowest Price Award: The award is MEAT, not solely based on the lowest price, indicating that quality and approach are significant factors.
• Tax Clearance: A valid Irish Revenue Commissioners tax clearance certificate is a strict condition for award.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a single-party framework with a defined maximum value and term. A credible bidder would likely be a consultancy firm with demonstrable expertise in urban planning, transport strategy, or related fields. The requirement for two comparable project examples suggests a need for established experience.

• Who can credibly bid: Small to medium-sized consultancies specialising in transport planning, urban strategy, or economic development, with a proven track record in delivering similar strategies for local authorities. Larger firms with dedicated transport planning divisions are also suitable.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: While a single-party framework is specified, the tender encourages SMEs to explore forming relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises. This suggests that consortia or subcontracting arrangements are permissible and potentially encouraged to enhance SME participation.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Preparing a compliant bid will require significant effort, likely several days, to develop a detailed methodology, fee proposal, and gather supporting documentation (CVs, case studies, tax clearance, insurance confirmations).
• Pwin signal: The tender is open to competition. The emphasis on MEAT suggests that a strong technical proposal and competitive pricing are essential. The encouragement of SME participation may indicate a desire to broaden the supplier base.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: 1.0 RFT Parking Strategy Consultancy.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided text.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Most important attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 6: Services Contract