Playground Design and Build at Ardee Street Collon Co Louth

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 to design and build a playground at Ardee Street, Collon, Co. Louth. The contract duration is estimated at 6 months. The approximate value of the main works contract is €300,000 (exclusive of VAT).

The scope of work includes:

• Playground Design: Development of a playground design suitable for a constrained urban environment. This includes consideration of a site area of approximately 1000m².
• Play Equipment Supply and Installation: Provision and fitting of play equipment in compliance with BSEN 1176 standards.
• Surfacing: Installation of safety surfacing to required depths, compliant with BSEN 1177. Surfacing must be tested to BSEN 1177, with certification supplied to the Council.
• Lighting: Design of lighting reality reports to EN 13201 and IES RP08 standards, followed by the installation of playground lighting as per these reports.
• Health and Safety Management: The contractor will be responsible for managing health and safety aspects throughout the project, in compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013. This includes developing and implementing Safety and Health Plans.
• Quality Management: Implementation of a structured system for managing quality, such as ISO 9001.
• Environmental Management: Adherence to a third-party accredited Environmental Management System, such as ISO 14001 or BS 8555.
• Project Management: On-site management of plant and resources.

The project is categorised as a Type 1 project, with a value less than €1M (Exclusive of VAT).

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is for the design and build of a playground facility at Ardee Street, Collon, Co. Louth. The project is being undertaken by Louth County Council. The approximate value of the main works contract is stated as €300,000. The project is classified as a Type 1 project, indicating a value below €1M (exclusive of VAT). The tender documents do not specify a particular programme or policy driver beyond the provision of local amenities. The site location plan indicates the proposed area for the playground within Collon.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement:
• Where there is more than one Works Contractor, the minimum annual turnover of the lead Works Contractor shall be €200,000.
• The aggregate turnover for all team members must equal or exceed the required threshold (specific aggregate threshold not stated).
• Insurance:
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Minimum level of cover €1,500,000. Maximum permissible excess is the greater of 2% of annual turnover or €5,000. Cover is on an annual aggregate basis.
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum level of cover €6,500,000 in respect of any one accident. Maximum permissible excess for property only is €10,000.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum level of cover €13,000,000 in respect of any one accident.
• Certifications:
• Safety management system in accordance with ISO 45001:2018 or equivalent.
• Quality management system, such as ISO 9001.
• Environmental Management System, such as ISO 14001, BS 8555 or equivalent.
• Safe-T-Cert certification may be deemed equivalent for quality management purposes.
• Past experience:
• At least ONE Playpark project with a value in excess of €300,000 (Exclusive of VAT) in a Constrained Urban Environment.
• At least ONE playpark project in a Constrained Urban Environment, with a minimum construction value of €300,000 (Exclusive of VAT).
• Minimum of 10 years relevant project experience for Project Director.
• Minimum of 10 years post qualification construction/engineering experience.
• Minimum of 10 years experience in the on-site management of plant and resources on similar engineering projects with a minimum value of €300,000 (Exclusive of VAT).
• Experience managing health and safety on similar projects with a minimum value of €300,000 (Exclusive of VAT).
• Evidence of Health and Safety aspects of works previously undertaken, with projects similar in nature and complexity. A list of projects must be provided via Appendix B1, with Certificates of Satisfactory Execution via Appendix B2. Safety and Health Plans from 3 previous projects are required.
• Personnel:
• Project Director: Minimum 10 years relevant project experience.
• Management staff: Appropriate educational/professional qualifications and experience, with Health and Safety qualifications, training and experience relevant to the Works.
• Personnel: Appropriate educational and professional qualifications and experience, with Health and Safety qualifications, training and experience relevant to the Works.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are not explicitly detailed with scoring weights in the provided extract. However, the tender process involves suitability assessment and technical capability evaluation. Health and Safety competence criteria are stated as pass/fail. The overall award will likely follow a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) approach, balancing price and quality, though specific weightings are not provided.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit a Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) Response, which includes:

• Applicant Details: Completion of Section 2.1 of the SAQ, including registered office, trading commencement date, and tax reference numbers.
• Authorised Representative Details: Section 2.2 of the SAQ.
• Nature of Applicant: Section 2.3 of the SAQ, detailing company structure, trading history, and consortium/joint venture details if applicable.
• Reliance on Other Entities: Section 2.5 of the SAQ, if relying on third-party capacity for financial or technical criteria.
• Applicant Specialists: Section 2.6 of the SAQ, if required for specific areas.
• Applicant Declaration: Section 2.7 of the SAQ, confirming compliance with requirements, provision of documentation, disclosure of registrable interests and conflicts of interest, and consent for data processing.
• ESPD or Appendix A: A completed European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) or Appendix A for the Applicant, consortium members, and any relied-upon entities.
• Previous Works Projects: Appendix B1, listing completed projects with Certificates of Satisfactory Execution (Appendix B2).
• Health and Safety Supplement: Section 3.4.1, detailing Health and Safety competence, including:
• Educational and Professional Qualifications (Management and Personnel).
• List of Works Carried Out (Appendix B1/B2).
• Measures for Ensuring Quality (including Safety Management System evidence, ISO 45001, Safe-T-Cert).
• Statement of Average Annual Numbers of Persons Employed (last 3 years).
• Insurance Undertakings: Letters of Undertaking from insurance providers confirming facilities to provide Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, and Employer's Liability Insurance at the required levels.
• Surety Undertakings: Letters of Undertaking from surety companies confirming facilities to provide performance bonds.
• Tax Clearance: Tax Reference Number for online verification by Revenue.
• Certificates: Evidence of ISO 45001, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001 or equivalent certifications.

Submission is via the eTenders platform.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Length: Estimated 6 months.
• Framework: Successful tenderers will be placed on a framework for two years.
• Payment Terms: Not specified.
• SLAs/KPIs: Not specified.
• Liquidated Damages: Not specified.
• Termination Clauses: Not specified.
• IP Ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting: Not specified.
• Performance Bond: A performance bond may be required, with surety companies confirming facilities to issue bonds within 4 weeks of application. The amount is not specified but will meet supplementary requirements.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Approximate Value vs. Experience Threshold: The approximate contract value is €300,000, while a minimum of ONE playpark project experience is required with a value in excess of €300,000 (Exclusive of VAT). This could limit the pool of eligible bidders if they have not completed a project of this exact minimum value.
• Constrained Urban Environment: The requirement for past experience in a "Constrained Urban Environment" is specific and may exclude firms with broad playpark experience but without this particular site characteristic.
• Health and Safety Focus: The detailed Health and Safety Supplement (3.4.1) indicates a significant emphasis on the contractor's safety management systems and personnel qualifications, with pass/fail criteria.
• Framework Duration: While the contract is for an estimated 6 months, the mention of a two-year framework for successful tenderers suggests potential for follow-on work or a panel arrangement, though this is not explicitly defined.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that specialise in playground design and construction and have a proven track record in this specific area.

• Credible Bidders: SMEs with experience in delivering playpark projects, particularly those with a value exceeding €300,000 (exclusive of VAT) and situated in urban settings, are well-positioned. Strong health and safety management systems (ISO 45001 or equivalent) and quality/environmental certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 14001) are essential.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The tender documents mention "Consortia etc." and the ability for lead contractors to aggregate turnover, suggesting that consortium bids or subcontracting may be permissible or even encouraged, particularly for larger or more complex requirements.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing the Suitability Assessment Questionnaire, including detailed evidence of past projects, health and safety compliance, and management systems, will require significant effort. This could range from 10-20 days for a well-prepared SME, depending on existing documentation.
• Pwin Signal: The specific requirement for a minimum of one playpark project exceeding €300,000 in a constrained urban environment, alongside the approximate contract value, suggests that the contracting authority is seeking demonstrated capability rather than just general construction experience. There is no clear indication of an incumbent supplier from the provided documents.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s): QW_Part_2_v1.1_18-11-2024 (1).docx, 3.4.1-HS-Works-Contractor_v3.1-25-11-2025.docx, Appendix_B1_List_of_Previous_Works_Projects_which_is_CEE (2).docx, Appendix_D1_QW1_Letter_of_Undertaking_Bond (2).docx, Appendix_D2_QW2_Letter_of_Undertaking_Bond (2).docx, Forms_of_undertaking (2).docx, Collon playground Site Location plan.pdf.
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified.
• Contact Email / Clarification Portal: Not specified.
• Most Important Attachments:
• Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (Part 2)
• Health and Safety Supplement (3.4.1)
• Appendix B1: List of Previous Works Projects