EST-Const-Upgrade of Medical Gas Plant and Ancillary Equipment at University Hospital Waterford

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 construction services for the upgrade of the medical gas plant and associated ancillary equipment at University Hospital Waterford. The contract will be executed under the Short Public Works Contract PW-CF6 v1.14. The contractor is responsible for constructing and completing the Works at its own expense, complying with the contract, the Employer’s Representative’s written instructions, and applicable law.

Key activities and responsibilities include:

• Site Management: Securing the site, keeping it in good order, free from obstructions, and ensuring the safety of persons on site. Protecting occupiers, users, owners, and nearby areas from hazards and interference resulting from the Works. Minimising nuisance or inconvenience to the public and users of land, roads, or footpaths.
• Construction: Constructing the Works according to good practice, using only goods and materials of good quality. Setting out the Works by reference to specified points, lines, and levels, and verifying their accuracy.
• Access and Inspection: Ensuring access to the Site and other places where Works are being constructed or materials are produced, stored, extracted, or prepared, for inspection, testing, and observation by the Employer, Employer’s Representative, and Assigned Certifier. Providing necessary information for these inspections.
• Notification and Uncovering: Informing the Employer’s Representative and Assigned Certifier in good time before any part of the Works is covered or materials are made difficult to inspect, providing an opportunity for inspection.
• Uncovering and Rectification: Uncovering, dismantling, re-covering, or re-erecting work; testing or providing facilities for testing and inspection, as instructed by the Employer’s Representative. Removing and replacing non-compliant Works or goods, or rectifying non-compliant parts of the Works as instructed.
• Suspension: Complying with instructions to suspend all or part of the Works, protecting, storing, and securing affected Works, and maintaining insurances during suspension. Resuming Works promptly upon instruction.
• Discovery of Items: Preserving and notifying the Employer’s Representative of any discovered fossils, coins, antiquities, monuments, items of value, archaeological or geological interest, or human remains.
• Access Routes and Services: Responsibility for the suitability, availability, maintenance, and charges for access routes to and through the Site. Obtaining and providing all required facilities, power, water, and other services for construction, unless the Employer is required to provide them.
• Defects Certificate: The Employer’s Representative will issue a Defects Certificate within the time stated in the Schedule, potentially after outstanding work is completed.

The contract specifies that the Contractor must not assign the contract or any part of it without the Employer’s consent.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is being conducted by the Health Service Executive (HSE), a major public sector body responsible for the provision of health services in Ireland. The tender relates to essential infrastructure upgrades at University Hospital Waterford, a significant healthcare facility. The specific project, the "Upgrade of Medical Gas Plant and Ancillary Equipment," indicates a need to maintain or enhance critical life-support systems within the hospital. Such upgrades are typically driven by the need to comply with current regulations, improve operational efficiency, ensure patient safety, and maintain the long-term functionality of vital hospital infrastructure. The procurement is likely part of a broader programme of capital investment in healthcare facilities across the HSE's estate.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for this tender:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €13.0m for any one event.
• Public Liability Insurance: Maximum excess of €6,500.
• Employer's Liability Insurance (excess): Maximum excess of €6,500.
• 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 award criteria and scoring mechanism are not detailed in the provided extract. However, the contract is based on the Short Public Works Contract, which typically involves a price/quality assessment. The specific weighting for quality versus price, and any sub-criteria or minimum scoring thresholds, would be detailed in the full tender documentation.

6. Submission requirements

The specific submission requirements are not fully detailed in the provided extract. However, based on standard public procurement practices and the nature of the contract, bidders will likely need to provide:

• A completed tender response document, adhering to any specified format and page limits.
• CVs for key personnel, potentially with specified page counts and role requirements.
• A detailed pricing schedule, using a mandated template.
• Case studies demonstrating relevant past experience, potentially with specified numbers and value ranges.
• Mandatory declarations, including:
• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD).
• Bona Fides declarations.
• Tax clearance certificates.
• Conflict of Interest declarations.
• Details regarding the number and type of paper and/or electronic copies required.
• Information on how to verify tax compliance online via the Revenue Commissioners.
• A mandatory site visit may be required, with specific dates and contact details to be provided.
• Submission will be via the eTenders portal, with adherence to any specific formatting rules for electronic submissions.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Type: Short Public Works Contract PW-CF6 v1.14.
• Term & Extension: Not specified in the extract.
• Payment Terms: Interim payments on account as scheduled, a percentage of the price upon substantial completion, and the balance after the Defects Certificate is issued. Payment is due within the period stated in the Schedule after the Employer receives an invoice. Late payments incur interest as per the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012.
• SLAs/KPIs: Not specified in the extract.
• Liquidated Damages: Applicable at the rate stated in the Schedule if the Contractor fails to substantially complete the Works within the Time for Completion. The rate is specified as €50 per day in a non-binding context.
• Termination: The Employer may terminate the Contractor's obligation to complete the Works if a suspension lasts longer than 3 months and the Employer does not permit the Contractor to proceed.
• IP Ownership: Not specified in the extract.
• Sub-contracting: The Contractor may not subcontract the whole of the Works. Subcontracting parts of the Works requires the Employer’s Representative’s consent, unless already provided for in the contract.
• Performance Bond: Required if stated in the Schedule, to be provided within 7 days of tender acceptance.
• Price Variation: The Price will change only as expressly provided in the Contract. Adjustments may occur due to Compensation Events or changes in law affecting customs, excise duties, or PRSI.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The provided documentation is primarily the standard Short Public Works Contract conditions, which are generally consistent across public sector construction tenders. No specific unusual clauses or deal-shape concerns unique to this particular tender for the upgrade of medical gas plant at University Hospital Waterford are immediately apparent from the extract. The absence of a stated estimated value is common for tenders using standard contract forms where the final price is determined by the accepted tender. The reliance on the Short Public Works Contract framework suggests a standard procurement process.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured around the Short Public Works Contract, which is designed for construction projects. A Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) with demonstrable experience in mechanical and electrical engineering, specifically in hospital infrastructure or similar critical systems, could potentially bid.

• Credible Bidders: Firms with a proven track record in mechanical services, medical gas systems installation, and hospital construction or refurbishment projects would be well-suited. Experience with HSE projects or similar public sector healthcare facilities would be advantageous.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The contract explicitly prohibits subcontracting the whole of the Works. Subcontracting parts of the Works is permissible with the Employer’s Representative’s consent. This allows SMEs to potentially bid by subcontracting specific elements they cannot perform themselves, or to join a consortium with other firms.
• Bid-Prep Effort: Given the standard contract form, the primary effort will be in understanding the specific site requirements, developing a detailed technical proposal, and accurately pricing the works. This could range from 10-20 days of focused effort for an experienced team, depending on the complexity of the proposed solution and the availability of detailed site information.
• Pwin Signal: The tender is being run by the HSE, a major public sector client. The use of a standard public works contract suggests a competitive process. Without information on previous tenderers or the incumbent, it is difficult to assess the strength of any incumbent or the likelihood of a particular firm winning. The absence of a stated value means the scale of competition is not immediately clear.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s): Not specified in the provided text.
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Not specified in the provided text.
• Most Important Attachments:
• [Short Public Works Contract.pdf] (Conditions PW-CF6 v1.14)