Road Safety Improvement Schemes

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 contractors to undertake road safety improvement schemes across Cork City Council's jurisdiction. The objective is to enhance road and pedestrian facilities at high-risk locations, improving safety, convenience, and public amenity for all road users. The schemes will be located on national, regional, and local roads, operating under live vehicular and pedestrian traffic conditions in urban, public realm, suburban, and rural settings.

The primary activities for the successful contractor will include:

• Site Clearance: Preparation of work areas.
• Excavation: Removal of existing road and footpath pavements.
• Utility Installation: Installation of subsurface utility ducting and drainage systems. This includes ESB ducting (125mmØ red ducting, with 60mmØ red ducting permitted for runs under 12m by agreement), approved warning tape (250mm yellow), and red marker strips (200mm) above ESB ducts. LV service ducting will be 110mm red PVC. All ducting must be laid in accordance with ESB MV/LV Ducting Specification and tested/certified upon completion. Contractors must expect and manage existing utilities (gas, electrical, telecoms, water, drainage, sewerage), including locating, protecting, and potentially diverting them.
• Pavement Construction: Construction of new road pavements and footpaths. Specific reinstatement requirements are detailed in the "Guidelines for Managing Openings in Public Roads" (the "Purple Book"), including drawings SD1-SD14.
• Traffic Calming Features: Installation of various traffic calming measures.
• Landscaping: Implementation of landscaping elements.
• Traffic Signalling and Public Lighting: Installation of traffic signalling and public lighting equipment. Specific requirements for LED luminaires include surge protection as per EN 61643-11:2012.
• Paving: Installation of specific paving areas, including:
• Re-construction of 20m², 9m², 8m², 36m², 13m², 14m², 19m², 15m², 70m², and 44m² areas.
• Installation of proposed pavement areas: 123m² x 100mmH, 124m² x 80mmH, and 164m² x 80mmH.
• Installation of 5m² buff tactile paving and 6m² buff tactile paving.
• Installation of 12m² red tactile paving.
• Traffic Management: Application for closures and licences must be made at least 4 weeks in advance of commencement.

The contract duration is 12 months.

3. Background & buyer context

Cork City Council is procuring these Road Safety Improvement Schemes to address identified high-risk locations within its jurisdiction. The initiative aligns with a broader objective to enhance road and pedestrian safety, convenience, and public amenity. The schemes will be implemented on various road types across the city, operating under live traffic conditions. This procurement is a direct response to the need for proactive safety measures and infrastructure upgrades within the urban environment managed by Cork City Council. There is no mention of an incumbent contractor in the provided documents.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: €6,500,000 per event, with a maximum excess of €10,000.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: €13,000,000 per event, with no excess.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender, beyond general health and safety compliance.
• Past experience: Details of a minimum of three similar projects must be provided. These projects should be evidenced by a Certificate of Satisfactory Execution (Appendix B2) or Certificate of Satisfactory Delivery of Services (Appendix B3).
• Personnel:
• A minimum of one person with at least 5 years of relevant experience.
• A minimum of one person who is a qualified Temporary Traffic Management person.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are not explicitly detailed with scoring percentages in the provided documents. However, the tender process requires bidders to submit a Suitability Assessment Questionnaire, Form of Tender and Schedule, Pricing Document, and Works Proposals. Omission of any of these will invalidate the tender. The evaluation will assess the suitability of the applicant, likely encompassing technical capability, financial standing, and health and safety compliance, alongside the pricing of the proposed works. The contract will be awarded to the most economically advantageous tender.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the e-tenders portal. The submission must include the following:

• Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (QW2): This includes various appendices for declarations and evidence.
• Form of Tender and Schedule:
• Pricing Document:
• Works Proposals:
• Declarations:
• Appendix A: Applicant’s Personal Situation Declaration (on oath/solemn declaration).
• Appendix A1: Letter of Confirmation that Declaration on Oath is still valid.
• Appendix B1: List of Previous Works (with Certificates of Satisfactory Execution).
• Appendix B2: Certificate of Satisfactory Execution – Works Only.
• Appendix B3: Certificate of Satisfactory Delivery of Services.
• Appendix C1: Health and Safety Declaration – Contractor or PSCS Appointments.
• Appendix C3: Health and Safety Compliance Declaration – Contractor/Specialist.
• Appendix C4: Health and Safety Compliance Declaration – Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS).
• Appendix C5: Health and Safety Compliance Declaration – Contractor (as Designer).
• Appendix D: Declaration that Applicant can meet Minimum Standard for Economic and Financial Criteria.
• Appendix F: Declaration that Applicant can meet the Minimum Standard for the Technical Equipment Criterion.
• Appendix G: Declaration that Applicant can meet Minimum Health and Safety Standards (Educational and Professional Qualifications) for criteria 3.4.1a and 3.4.1b.
• Appendix H: Declaration that Applicant can meet Minimum Health and Safety Standards (Educational and Professional Qualifications) for criteria 3.4.2a and 3.4.2b.
• Appendix I: Letter from Surety confirming bond facilities.
• Tax Clearance: Tenderers must supply their Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Copies: One electronic copy of the tender is required.

A mandatory site visit is not specified.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Length: 12 months.
• Payment Terms: Not specified, but standard prompt payment legislation will apply.
• SLAs/KPIs: Not specified in the provided documents.
• Liquidated Damages: Not specified.
• Termination: Not specified.
• IP Ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting: Not specified.
• Bond Requirements: A bond facility is mentioned, with a surety confirming they can issue a bond up to 10% of the contract value within 4 weeks of application, subject to normal terms and conditions.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Comprehensive Suitability Questionnaire: The tender requires extensive documentation and declarations, particularly concerning health and safety compliance across multiple appendices. This indicates a high level of scrutiny in the suitability assessment phase.
• Lack of Specific Value: The estimated value is not disclosed, making it difficult for bidders to gauge the scale of the contract and assess their capacity against potential turnover requirements (though no specific turnover requirement is stated).
• Detailed Technical Specifications: While not fully detailed in the brief, the mention of specific standards (e.g., ESB ducting specs, "Purple Book" for reinstatement, EN standards for lighting) suggests detailed technical requirements that will need careful adherence.
• Emphasis on Past Performance: The requirement for Certificates of Satisfactory Execution/Delivery for a minimum of three similar projects highlights the importance of proven track record.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely best suited for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with established experience in civil engineering, road construction, and traffic management.

• Credible Bidders: Firms with a demonstrable history of delivering road improvement projects, including pavement construction, utility works, and traffic calming, are well-positioned. Strong health and safety management systems and personnel are essential.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The documents do not explicitly prohibit or encourage consortiums or sub-contracting. However, the extensive declaration requirements suggest a focus on the lead contractor's direct capabilities and compliance.
• Bid-Prep Effort: The significant number of appendices and declarations required for the Suitability Questionnaire indicates a substantial bid preparation effort, likely requiring several days of dedicated work for a competent bid team.
• Pwin Signal: The lack of an incumbent mention and the open procedure suggest a competitive tender. However, the emphasis on past performance and detailed technical requirements may favour firms with prior experience working with Irish local authorities or on similar public sector projects.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s): [1 Invitation to Tender.pdf]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided documents.
• Contact: Áine McGrath, Executive Engineer, Cork City Council – Traffic Operations, [email protected], 086 8515436.
• Most Important Attachments:
• [1 Invitation to Tender.pdf]
• [4. QW2_Appendix_A.doc] (Applicant’s Personal Situation Declaration)
• [7. QW2_Appendix_B2.doc] (Certificate of Satisfactory Execution – Works Only)
• [9. QW2_Appendix_C1.doc] (Health and Safety Declaration – Contractor or PSCS Appointments)