Provision of End to End Scheme Design for a National District Heat Grant Scheme

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1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

The contract requires the provision of end-to-end scheme design and evaluation framework development for a National District Heating Grant Scheme. The estimated value of the covered services is €330,000 (excluding VAT). The scheme aims to support district heating infrastructure, with a provisional allocation of €50-100 million announced by the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment.

The contractor will be responsible for the following key activities:

• Scheme Design: Developing the comprehensive design for the National District Heating Grant Scheme. This includes defining the scheme's objectives, eligibility criteria, application processes, and funding mechanisms.
• Evaluation Framework Development: Creating a robust framework for evaluating grant applications. This will involve establishing clear assessment criteria, scoring methodologies, and reporting requirements to ensure fair and effective allocation of funds.
• Work Package Delivery: Executing specific work packages as outlined in Appendix 1 of the Call for Tender document. This will involve detailed planning and execution of tasks related to scheme design and evaluation.
• Risk Management: Identifying key risks associated with the delivery of the services, assessing their severity and likelihood, and proposing mitigation measures.
• Collaboration: Facilitating effective collaboration with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) project team and other key stakeholders.
• Sustainable Practices: Demonstrating current or planned green public procurement practices that enhance sustainable awareness and work practices. This includes factoring in environmental considerations into management.

The tender documents specify that tenders must score at least 60% of the maximum marks for Award Criteria 1, 2, and 3 to progress to the evaluation of the cost criterion. Submissions failing to meet minimum award criteria for the first three will not be evaluated for cost.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is driven by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) initiative to establish a National District Heating Grant Scheme. The Department of Climate, Energy and Environment (DCEE) has made a provisional allocation of €50-100 million for district heating infrastructure. This scheme aligns with broader government objectives related to energy efficiency, climate action, and the transition to sustainable energy sources. The scheme is intended to support the development of district heating infrastructure, with a maximum level of support of €1 million per project or 10% of expected capital costs, whichever is lower. The scheme will cover up to 45-50% of eligible costs.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement:
• Certified Turnover of €165,000 per annum for the last three preceding financial years.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €13,000,000 limit for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence, per insurance year.
• Public Liability: €6,500,000 limit for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence, per insurance year.
• Professional Indemnity: €1,000,000 in the aggregate.
• Note: Tenderers may provide a statement that they will obtain appropriate insurance levels prior to contract signing.
• Certifications:
• Tenderers should confirm their carbon footprint and provide evidence of ISO 14000 or other relevant certification/proof of working practices.
• Past experience:
• Provide 3 examples of work demonstrating services of similar scale, nature, and complexity within the past 3 years.
• Each project example is limited to a maximum of 3 pages.
• Personnel:
• CVs for proposed individuals are required.
• Specific minimum experience requirements for personnel are not explicitly stated but will be assessed under Award Criterion 2 for quality, level, and relevance.
• Geographic / facility constraints:
• Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on a combination of qualitative and cost criteria, following the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principle.

Criterion