Consultancy Services for Local Transport Plan 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

This procurement seeks consultancy services for the development of a Local Transport Plan (LTP) and associated strategic planning documents within the South Dublin County Council (SDCC) administrative area. The project involves a comprehensive analysis of current and future transport demand, land use scenarios, and the development of strategic options and implementation plans.

The core activities include:

• Baseline Assessment:
• Establishing current land use and transport demand patterns within the Area of Influence.
• Developing a Future Scenarios Report and a Demand Analysis Report, forecasting future land use scenarios for a minimum of two future forecast years.
• Forecasting future Transport Demand and Travel Demand Patterns.
• Options Development:
• Developing a Detailed Stakeholder Management Plan and Public Consultation Strategy.
• Conducting public consultation activities.
• Developing an Options Development Document.
• Procuring and managing any necessary third-party services.
• Screening and Packaging:
• Screening a long list of options.
• Developing an Updated Options Development Document.
• Packaging land uses and transport options.
• LTP and Implementation Plan Development:
• Developing Future Year Scenarios Documents.
• Developing Draft Local Level LTPs and Implementation Plans.
• Finalising District and Local LTPs and Implementation Plans.
• Environmental and Appropriate Assessment:
• Conducting Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) screening.
• Developing Environmental/SEA Report(s) and AA Screening Report(s).
• Updating/revising these reports as necessary.
• Public Consultation and Reporting:
• Conducting public consultation on draft plans.
• Producing Public Consultation Reports.
• Finalising SEA Statements.
• Project Management and Reporting:
• Regular meetings and workshops with the Contracting Authority.
• The client will be given a minimum of 2 weeks to comment on and give direction each time a document is issued/re-issued for review.
• Subsequent iterations of documents must be provided within a maximum of 1 week, unless otherwise agreed.

The project requires a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in transport planning, land use planning, public consultation, environmental assessment, and GIS. The estimated duration for the overall project is approximately 16 weeks, with various sub-stages having shorter estimated durations (e.g., 4, 8, 12, 20, 42 weeks).

3. Background & buyer context

South Dublin County Council (SDCC) is undertaking this procurement to develop a Local Transport Plan (LTP) and associated strategic planning documents. This initiative aligns with broader national and regional planning objectives, likely contributing to sustainable development and improved infrastructure planning within the county. The context suggests a need to address population growth, estimated at 31,000 people between 2011 and 2022, with a further projected increase of 30,000 people between 2022 and 2028, totalling an estimated 61,000 people between 2011 and 2028. This growth necessitates strategic planning for land use and transport. The procurement follows the identification of the Contractor as a preferred bidder.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Minimum €1,250,000 on each and every claim basis, and €1,500,000 on an annual aggregate basis.
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum €6,500,000 in respect of any one accident.
• Employer’s Liability Insurance: Minimum €13,000,000 in respect of any one accident.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Bidders must provide a list of previous projects of a similar nature, supported by Certificates of Satisfactory Execution. The number of projects required is not explicitly stated, but the template allows for up to 28 projects.
• Personnel: Specific roles require minimum years of experience:
• Consultation Specialist: Minimum 7 years relevant experience (degree to Level 8 or equivalent).
• Senior Quantity Surveyor: Minimum 7 years relevant experience (degree to Level 8 or equivalent).
• Land Use and Urban Planner: Minimum 7 years relevant experience (degree to Level 8 or equivalent).
• Environmental Assessment: Minimum 7 years relevant experience (degree to Level 8 or equivalent).
• Appropriate Assessment: Minimum 7 years relevant experience (degree to Level 8 or equivalent).
• Transport Planning roles (Senior Transport Planner, Transport Modeller, Civil/Transport Engineer): Minimum 5 years relevant experience (degree to Level 8 or equivalent).
• Public Consultation Specialist: Minimum 5 years relevant experience (degree to Level 8 or equivalent).
• Graphic Designer: Minimum 5 years relevant experience (degree to Level 8 or equivalent).
• Web Designer: Minimum 5 years relevant experience (degree to Level 8 or equivalent).
• Risk assessment specialist: Minimum 5 years relevant experience (degree to Level 8 or equivalent).
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are not explicitly detailed with scoring weights in the provided documents. However, the procurement process implies a standard evaluation of submitted tenders. Typically, public sector tenders in Ireland are awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), which balances price and quality. The quality aspects would likely be assessed based on the bidder's proposed approach, team expertise, understanding of the scope, and past performance as demonstrated in their submission. The pricing schedule will form the basis for the economic assessment.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit their tenders electronically via the eTenders platform. The submission must be a ZIP FILE to protect file name integrity. Specific requirements include:

• Method statement / response document: Not explicitly named as a template, but the tender response will be evaluated.
• CVs: CVs for named roles are required, with minimum experience levels specified in Section 4. Page limits are not stated.
• Pricing schedule: A Work Breakdown Template (Appendix 2) is provided, requiring details on hours, hourly rates, and sub-total costs per team member and deliverable.
• Case studies: Appendix B1 requires a list of previous projects with Certificates of Satisfactory Execution. The number of instances provided is three, but additional evidence can be submitted.
• Declarations:
• Data Protection Declaration (Appendix 1) confirming consent for processing personal data.
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Confidentiality Agreement (signed by the Contractor).
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: www.etenders.gov.ie. Bidders must click "Submit" to finalise their submission.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Duration: The contract duration is not specified, but the estimated project duration is approximately 16 weeks.
• Payment Terms: Payment of milestone fees is mentioned, with a standard clause for payment within 30 days after the Consultant supplies a valid invoice.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Client review periods are specified: a minimum of 2 weeks for comments and direction on issued documents, with subsequent iterations due within 1 week unless otherwise agreed.
• Liquidated Damages: Not specified for this tender.
• Termination Clauses: The County Council is entitled to terminate the Agreement by giving a minimum of 30 days' prior written notice. Termination at will clauses are also mentioned, with notice periods of 14 to 28 days.
• IP Ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting: Sub-contractors are permitted, provided they are made aware of the confidential nature of information and adhere to the agreement's provisions.
• Parent-company Guarantee/Bond: Not specified for this tender.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Unspecified Value and Duration: The absence of an estimated contract value and a defined contract length makes it difficult for bidders to gauge the scale and potential profitability of the engagement.
• Tight Iteration Timelines: The requirement for document iterations within a maximum of 1 week, following a 2-week client review period, could create pressure on the contractor's resources and workflow.
• Confidentiality and Data Protection Emphasis: The extensive documentation on confidentiality and data protection, including potential vetting and Official Secrets Act compliance, indicates a high level of sensitivity surrounding the project information.
• Preferred Bidder Status: The Confidentiality Agreement states the Contractor has been identified as the preferred bidder, suggesting a potential pre-determination or a highly competitive initial stage.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured for specialist consultancy firms with expertise in transport planning, land use, and environmental assessments. A small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) with a strong track record in these specific areas, particularly in public sector projects, could be a suitable bidder. The requirement for a multi-disciplinary team suggests that a single SME might need to form a consortium or engage specialist sub-consultants to meet all the personnel experience requirements.

• Credible Bidders: Firms with established public sector experience in strategic planning, transport modelling, environmental impact assessments, and public consultation.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: Allowed, as indicated by the mention of sub-contractors in the confidentiality agreement and the need for a multi-disciplinary team.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Moderate to high, due to the need to detail a multi-stage work plan, provide extensive CVs, and address detailed insurance and past experience requirements.
• Pwin Signal: The "preferred bidder" status mentioned in the Confidentiality Agreement could indicate a strong incumbent or a firm that has already undergone significant initial evaluation. The lack of a stated budget or clear award criteria makes it difficult to assess further.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s): [SDCC Invitation to Tender memo.pdf]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided documents.
• Contact Email / Clarification Portal: [email protected] (for eTenders assistance). Specific tender clarifications contact not provided.
• Most Important Attachments:
• Appendix 1 - Data Protection.docx
• Appendix B1: List of Previous Projects/Certificate of Satisfactory Execution
• Appendix 2 - Work Breakdown Template_SDCC ABTA.xlsx
• 12_03_2024 Confidentiality Agreement Services.docx