Bus Shelters and Bus Stops Civils Contract 2026

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 civil works related to bus shelters and bus stops across County Louth. The contract will involve the construction, maintenance, and potential upgrade of these public transport infrastructure elements. The scale of the works is not explicitly quantified in terms of volume or specific locations within the provided documentation, but it is understood to be a county-wide civil works contract.

The constituent activities and requirements for the contractor include:

• Construction of new bus shelters and bus stops: This will involve all necessary civil engineering works, including foundations, concrete bases, kerbing, paving, and any associated groundworks.
• Maintenance and repair of existing bus shelters and bus stops: This will encompass routine maintenance, repair of damaged elements, and ensuring the structural integrity and functionality of existing infrastructure.
• Installation of associated street furniture: This may include the installation of seating, lighting, signage, and waste bins within the bus stop areas.
• Compliance with European Standards: Works must adhere to relevant European Standards, including EN 1423, EN 1424, EN 1436, and EN 1871, particularly concerning road markings and safety features. Specific standards like IS EN 1436:1998 for road surface characteristics (Class S2: SRT>50) and EN 1463 2000 for road studs (depressible, non-depressible, and reflector types) are cited.
• Traffic Management: The contractor must implement traffic management schemes for works on or near public roads, potentially involving significant traffic volumes (over 1,000 AADt).
• Site Management and Safety: The contractor is responsible for the safety and stability of the works, securing the site, keeping it in good order, and protecting the public from hazards. This includes compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
• Quality Control and Materials: All goods and materials used must be of good quality and suitable for their intended purpose. Certification will be required to comply with Building Control Regulations.
• Reporting and Documentation: The contractor must provide necessary information to the Employer's Representative and Assigned Certifier, including details of works, materials, and compliance with standards.

The contract is governed by the Short Public Works Contract PW-CF6 v1.15, which outlines the general conditions for construction projects.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is being undertaken by Louth County Council to establish a framework for civil works related to bus shelters and bus stops. The contract is intended to ensure the continued provision and maintenance of essential public transport infrastructure within the county. While no specific policy or programme is explicitly cited as the driver, such procurements typically align with national and local government objectives for improving public transport accessibility, user experience, and sustainable mobility. The use of the Short Public Works Contract (PW-CF6) indicates a standard approach to public works procurement in Ireland, managed by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. No incumbent contractor is mentioned.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: A minimum average annual turnover of €750,000 (excluding VAT) in Building & Civil Works for the last 3 financial years.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum €6,500,000 in respect of any one accident. Maximum excess for property only: €10,000.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum €13,000,000 in respect of any one accident. Maximum excess: €0.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Minimum €1,000,000. Maximum permissible excess is the greater of 2% of the tenderer's annual turnover or €5,000.
• Certifications: Safety management system in accordance with ISO 45001:2018 or equivalent.
• Past experience: A minimum of 10 years of experience in the management of Building & Civil works for Local Authorities, including at least one contract with a value exceeding €100,000 (excluding VAT). Bidders must submit a minimum of 5 comparable projects.
• Personnel:
• Site Foreman: Minimum 10 years of experience in Building and civil engineering works.
• Traffic Management Personnel: Must hold Roadworks Construction Skills Certificate or equivalent, demonstrate experience in at least 3 Road Schemes requiring traffic management of over 1,000 AADt, and have at least 5 years of construction traffic management experience.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are not detailed in the provided extract. However, public sector tenders in Ireland typically follow a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) approach, which balances price and quality. The weighting between price and quality, along with specific sub-criteria and scoring mechanisms, would be detailed in the full tender documentation. A minimum scoring threshold per criterion or overall may be applied.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit the following:

• Pricing Schedule: Format and template to be provided.
• Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): This will include detailed responses to qualification criteria.
• Banker's Letter: A letter from the applicant's principal banker, dated within the past 3 months, confirming the banking relationship duration.
• Letter of Undertaking re. Bond: A letter from a surety confirming their ability to provide a performance bond if the tender is successful.
• List of Previous Works Projects: A minimum of 5 completed projects similar in nature and complexity to the required works, organised in order of precedence and accompanied by Certificates of Satisfactory Execution (Appendix B2).
• Declarations:
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Bona Fides declarations.
• Conflict of Interest declarations.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: All documents to be submitted through the eTenders platform. Specific format rules for electronic submissions will apply.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

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

• Term + extension: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Payment terms: Interim payments on account as scheduled, with a final payment after the Defects Certificate is issued. Payment claim notices require a response within 14 days, and the Employer must pay invoices within the period stated in the Schedule.
• SLAs/KPIs: Not explicitly detailed in the provided extract, but implied through requirements for timely completion and quality of works.
• Liquidated damages: Applicable if the Contractor fails to substantially complete the Works within the Time for Completion, at a rate specified in the Schedule (not provided).
• Termination: The contract allows for termination under specific circumstances, including prolonged suspension of works.
• IP ownership: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Sub-contracting: The Contractor may not assign the Contract or any part of it without the Employer’s consent. Sub-processors for Personal Data require prior written notice.
• Performance Bond: If required by the Schedule, a performance bond must be provided within 7 days of tender acceptance, executed by the Contractor and an approved surety. The amount is not specified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Undisclosed Value: The absence of an estimated contract value is a significant factor. This makes it difficult for bidders to gauge the scale of the contract and assess the proportionality of turnover and experience requirements.
• Short Public Works Contract: The use of PW-CF6 v1.15 suggests a project of potentially moderate complexity or value, but the lack of a stated value means this is speculative.
• Specific Standards: The detailed citation of European Standards (EN 1423, EN 1424, EN 1436, EN 1871, EN 1463) indicates a focus on material quality and performance, particularly for road markings and studs.
• Weather Event Definition: The contract includes a specific, detailed definition of a "weather event" for potential extensions of time, referencing Met Éireann data and 90th percentiles, which could lead to disputes if not carefully managed.
• Performance Bond Requirement: The potential requirement for a performance bond, as indicated by the inclusion of surety letter templates, adds an upfront cost and administrative burden for bidders.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely open to small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that meet the specified financial and experience criteria.

• Credible bidders: SMEs with a demonstrated track record in civil engineering and local authority contracts, possessing the required turnover (€750,000 average annual) and insurance levels (€6.5m PL, €13m EL, €1m PI), would be well-positioned. Experience in roadworks and traffic management is crucial.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The tender documents do not explicitly prohibit consortia or sub-contracting. However, the emphasis on the lead applicant's experience and turnover suggests a preference for prime contractors. SMEs might consider forming consortia to meet the requirements.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Preparing a compliant bid, including gathering project references, financial information, and surety undertakings, could require 10-20 days of effort for a firm already familiar with public procurement processes.
• Pwin signal: The absence of an incumbent mention and the open procedure suggest a competitive tender. The specific requirements for experience and insurance are standard for public works, indicating a level playing field rather than a strong incumbent advantage. The lack of a stated value means the potential contract size is unknown, impacting the perceived win probability.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename(s): Not specified in the provided metadata.
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided metadata.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Not specified in the provided metadata.
• Most important attachments:
• PW-CF6 v1.15 25-11-2025 (Short Public Works Contract Conditions)
• Appendix-C-Bankers-Letter (2).docx
• Appendix-D1-QW1-Letter-of-Undertaking-re.-Bond.docx
• Appendix-B1-List-of-Previous-Works-Projects-which-is-CEE (2).docx