Blakes Corner Advance Works 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 contractor for advance works at Blakes Corner, Ennistymon, County Clare, as part of the N67/N85 Inner Relief Road project. The contract duration is 15 weeks from the letter of acceptance.

The scope of work includes:

• Preliminaries:
• Erection, servicing, and dismantling of temporary contractor offices and messes.
• Provision of traffic safety and management measures.
• Road sweeping and cleaning.
• Acceptance of appointment as Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage.
• Preparation and submission of a Safety File and a Quality Plan.
• Implementation of measures for the protection of water quality.
• Environmental management.
• Site Clearance:
• General site clearance for Area 1 (STR 01) covering 0.05 hectares.
• General site clearance for Area 2 (STR 02 and STR 03) covering 0.10 hectares.
• Demolition of structures:
• STR 01 in accordance with Appendix 2/1.
• STR 02 in accordance with Appendix 2/1.
• STR 03 in accordance with Appendix 2/1.
• Take up or down and set aside for reuse:
• 1 x Post box.
• 1 x Pedestrian crossing sign.
• Take up or down and remove to store:
• 2 x Oak beams from STR 02.
• Fencing and Environmental Noise Barriers:
• Installation of 40m of marine-grade hoarding (2m high, treated, clad with ACM) for Area 1, compliant with BS 5975 and Specification Appendix 3/1.
• Installation of 61m of marine-grade hoarding (2m high, treated, clad with ACM) for Area 2, compliant with BS 5975 and Specification Appendix 3/1.
• Installation of 2 x timber vehicle access gates in accordance with Specification Appendix 3/1.

The contract is for advance works, indicating preparatory activities for a larger infrastructure project.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is for advance works related to the N67/N85 Inner Relief Road project in Ennistymon, County Clare. Clare County Council is the contracting authority. The advance works are a precursor to the main relief road construction. The tender documents are dated July 2026, suggesting the procurement is active around this time. The project is being managed by Roughan & O'Donovan Consulting Engineers. The advance works are intended to prepare the site for the subsequent stages of the relief road development.

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 indemnity limit of €6,500,000 for any one event.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €13,000,000 for any one event.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €1,500,000 annual aggregate limit, if required.
• Maximum excess for Public Liability: €10,000 in respect of property damage only.
• Maximum excess for Insurance of Works and other Risk Items: €10,000.
• 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.

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 metadata. However, the tender process follows an Open Procedure, indicating a competitive evaluation. Bidders must comply with all mandatory requirements to be considered for award.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit their tenders electronically via the eTenders platform. The following components are required:

• Tender Response: Not specified in terms of format or page limits.
• CVs: Not specified.
• Pricing Schedule: A Pricing Document is required.
• Case Studies: Not specified.
• Declarations:
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Disclosure of any conflicts of interest.
• Mandatory Site Visit: Not specified.
• Submission Portal: eTenders. Specific format rules for submission are not detailed here.
• Copies: Tenders must include the number and type of paper and electronic copies stated in the Particulars and must be packed. (Specific numbers not detailed in metadata).

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Length: 15 weeks from the date of the letter of acceptance.
• Payment Terms: Minimum amount for interim payments, except release of retention, is €5,000.
• Liquidated Damages: A penalty of €5,000 per week applies if the Works cessation exceeds 3 months.
• Termination: Not specified in detail.
• IP Ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting: Not specified.
• Guarantees: A Reliance Guarantee (MF1.7_Model_Form_18-07-2023.pdf) is required from the Guarantor, guaranteeing the Contractor's performance and undertaking to perform obligations if the Contractor fails. The Guarantor's liability is as a principal obligor.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The contract value of €200,000 is relatively low for a construction contract of this nature, which typically involves significant preliminary and site clearance costs. The 15-week contract duration is fixed. The requirement for a Reliance Guarantee from a Guarantor suggests the contracting authority places significant weight on the financial stability and performance assurance of the bidding entity. The tender documents are dated July 2026, but the submission deadline is August 2026, indicating a short tendering period. The absence of specific turnover requirements for a contract of this value might suggest a focus on other selection criteria or a reliance on the guarantor's financial standing.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with experience in civil engineering, demolition, and site clearance. The contract value of €200,000 and a 15-week duration suggest a project manageable by a focused team.

• Credible Bidders: SMEs with demonstrated experience in similar civil engineering and site preparation works, capable of managing preliminary items, demolition, and basic fencing/barriers.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: Not explicitly stated if allowed, but common in construction. Bidders should verify this in the full tender documents.
• Bid-Prep Effort: Moderate. Requires detailed pricing for preliminaries, site clearance, and demolition, along with the preparation of safety and quality plans. The Reliance Guarantee may require time to secure.
• Pwin Signal: The fixed contract length and the requirement for a guarantor suggest a need for certainty in delivery. The relatively low value might attract local contractors. The incumbent is not named.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: [Blakes Corner Advance Works Contract - July 2026.zip]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in metadata.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Not specified in metadata.
• Key Attachments:
• Volume A: Works Requirements
• Volume B: Form of Tender and Schedule
• Volume C: Pricing Document
• MF1.7_Model_Form_18-07-2023.pdf (Reliance Guarantee)
• BCE-ROD-GEN-AW_AE-BQ-ZM-500402.pdf (Bill of Quantities)