Douglas Street Campus Building Works

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 building works for the Cork College of FET, Douglas Street Campus. The procurement is conducted under an Open Procedure using the PW-CF6 Short Public Works Contract. The estimated value of the works is €400,000. The contract documents, including the Instruction to Tenderers (ITT), describe the works in detail.

Key activities and requirements include:

• Building Works: The specific nature of the building works is detailed in Volume A, which is not fully provided in this extract but is referenced as "the documents describing the Works."
• Contractual Framework: The contract will be based on the PW-CF6 Short Public Works Contract.
• Tender Submission: Tenders must be submitted electronically via the eTenders platform.
• Pricing: Tenderers must complete a pricing document (Volume C), which may be a Schedule of Rates or a Bill of Quantities, either provided by the Contracting Authority or prepared by the Tenderer. All sums must be in euro, to two decimal places, and exclude VAT unless otherwise stated. Negative rates or prices, or zero rates, are not permitted.
• Project Supervisor for Construction Stage (PSCS): The contractor may be appointed as PSCS under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, if stated in the Schedule. If a nominee is not provided in the SAQ Response, the Tenderer will be taken to offer to act as PSCS itself, requiring it to be a competent individual or body corporate.
• Compliance: Tenderers must comply with all applicable EU and domestic tax laws. They must also adhere to safety regulations, including those related to working near overhead lines (within 10 metres) and the use of ladders compliant with EN131 for professional use. Fire safety measures, including a fire blanket and minimum of 2 extinguishers, are required to be on standby.
• Technical Standards: Specific technical standards are cited, including Reaction to fire to BS EN 13501-2 REI 30, fire resistance of complete partition assembly to BS EN 13501-2, weighted sound reduction index Rw to BS EN ISO 717-1, and insulation to Mineral wool to BS EN 13162. Heating systems must comply with EN 15450, EN 12831, EN 12828+A1, EN 378-1, and EN 378-3. Geotechnical testing should follow S EN 17628.
• IT Infrastructure: A minimum of sixteen (16) CAT-6 cable runs are required.
• Site Constraints: Scaffolding or ladders must not be erected within 10 metres of overhead lines.
• Completion Time: The Time for Completion is stated as 70 days.

3. Background & buyer context

Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) is procuring building works for its Douglas Street Campus. This procurement is being conducted under an Open Procedure, indicating a desire to attract a broad range of qualified bidders. The use of the PW-CF6 Short Public Works Contract suggests a project of moderate complexity and value, suitable for a streamlined procurement process. The tender documents are published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), indicating adherence to national public procurement standards and practices. The specific strategic drivers or policy initiatives behind this particular project are not detailed in the provided text, but it falls within the general remit of educational infrastructure development for Cork ETB.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Demonstrate an average annual turnover of €1,000,000 for the last financial year.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: €6.5M
• Employer’s Liability Insurance: €13M
• 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.

Failure to meet any of these criteria within 7 days of a written request will result in elimination.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criterion for this tender is lowest price only, provided the tenderer meets all qualification criteria. There is no explicit mention of quality weighting or sub-criteria scoring.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted in accordance with the ITT and must include:

• Form of Tender and Schedule (Volume B): Fully completed and signed.
• Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): Completed in the format stated in the Particulars.
• Pricing Document (Volume C): Completed, which may be a Schedule of Rates or Bill of Quantities. A read-only PDF copy is required for electronic submissions.
• Additional Information: As specified in Appendix 2 to the Instructions.
• Declarations: Tenderers must confirm compliance with tax laws and data protection.
• Method Statement / Response Document: Not explicitly detailed as a separate document, but the SAQ and pricing document serve this purpose.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Case Studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Mandatory Site Visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission Portal: Electronic submission via the eTenders platform.

Tenders must not be qualified in any way and must be submitted in the specified language (Irish law applies).

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Type: PW-CF6 Short Public Works Contract.
• Contract Formation: Binding contract formed upon the Contracting Authority issuing the Tender Acceptance.
• Contract Documents: Include Tender Acceptance, written post-tender clarifications, Conditions of the Short Public Works Contract, documents describing the Works (Volume A), completed Form of Tender and Schedule (Volume B), and completed pricing document (Volume C).
• Performance Bond: May be required upon award.
• Payment Terms: Not specified.
• SLAs/KPIs: Not specified.
• Liquidated Damages: Not specified.
• Termination Clauses: Not specified.
• IP Ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting Rules: Not specified.
• Parent Company Guarantee: Not specified.
• Time for Completion: 70 days.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The primary risk for bidders lies in the lowest price only award criterion. This can incentivize aggressive pricing, potentially leading to reduced margins or quality compromises if not managed carefully. The €1,000,000 turnover requirement, while a standard eligibility gate, is significantly higher than the €400,000 contract value, suggesting a potential preference for larger, more established firms or a desire for financial robustness beyond the immediate contract value. The absence of specific details on the scope of works in the provided text means bidders must rely heavily on Volume A for a full understanding of the project's technical demands. The submission deadline of August 2026 is unusually distant, suggesting this is a long-lead procurement or a placeholder date.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely accessible to small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that meet the financial and insurance thresholds. The €1,000,000 turnover requirement is a significant hurdle for very small businesses but is achievable for many established SMEs. The lowest price only award criterion means that price competitiveness is paramount, which can be an advantage for SMEs with efficient operations. Consortium bidding or subcontracting is not explicitly mentioned as disallowed, but the requirement for a single tender per tenderer suggests a primary contractor is expected. The bid preparation effort will be moderate, focusing on accurately pricing the works and demonstrating compliance with the SAQ and insurance requirements. The Pwin signal is neutral; the distant deadline and lowest price award suggest a competitive field, but the specific nature of the works (not detailed here) could favour incumbent knowledge if the site is complex.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: [W23028 Cork ETB,TRC ITT August 26.docx]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Communications must be in writing via the means stated in the Particulars (not provided).
• Key Attachments:
• Instruction to Tenderers (ITT)
• Volume A (Documents describing the Works)
• Volume B (Form of Tender and Schedule)
• Volume C (Pricing Document)