Arranmore/Árainn Mhór Slipway Repairs 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

Donegal County Council requires structural repair works to the Arranmore slipway. The project involves the demolition of the existing slipway, construction of a new slipway toe, and a full resurfacing of the slipway deck. The existing slipway has sustained damage from erosion of its toe and wear on the deck due to regular ferry services.

The works are tidal and require coordination with tide and weather conditions. Diving operations are anticipated for the slipway toe construction, which is located below Mean Low Water Springs (MLWS). The successful contractor will determine the specific work methods.

Key activities include:

• Demolition and Disposal: Removal of deteriorated sections of the existing slipway as per specification drawings. All demolition materials must be disposed of at a certified waste facility holding a waste facility permit.
• Slipway Toe Construction:
• Precast JB4 boxes to be supplied and installed on steel adjustable rails.
• Founding precast boxes on bedrock after removing debris and sediment.
• Drilling 40mm steel dowels into solid rock with 300mm embedment, fixed with chemical anchor (Hilti Hit RE500 or similar approved).
• Filling voids between the seabed and concrete with bags of semi-dry concrete, tied closed, and placed by hand.
• Slipway Deck Reconstruction:
• Provision and installation of reinforcement as per drawings and schedule.
• A new concrete deck, 250mm deep, to match the existing grade.
• All concrete surfaces to be level finished with a "rough tamp" finish.
• Concrete to be C40/50 grade.
• Concrete pours to be scheduled to align with suitable low tides and weather.
• Concrete to be placed by concrete skip or pump.
• 3 cubes of concrete to be sampled for testing compressive strength for every 25m³ installed, with a minimum strength of 50N at 28 days. Results to be submitted to DCC.
• Mobilisation and Site Management:
• Mobilisation to site and securing of the works area.
• Contractor to act as Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS) and fulfil all main contractor duties.
• Provision of all necessary plant, access, welfare, power, and other items for safe execution.
• Washing out of concrete trucks or grouting/concrete equipment is prohibited on the pier; this must be completed off-site at a dedicated area.
• Development and management of a co-ordination plan with ferry operators, harbour users, and live traffic.
• Maintenance of island access throughout the works, with potential for occasional ferry operation cancellation or use of alternative facilities.
• Minimisation of nuisance from dust, smoke, odour, and noise.
• Environmental impact mitigation measures to prevent materials entering the sea.
• Provision and installation of formwork as required.
• Cover to reinforcement to be 100mm to the outer face.
• Health and Safety: Submission of a Construction Stage Health and Safety Plan, risk assessments, and method statements. A rescue boat may be required if determined by risk assessments.
• Completion: Works to be completed and final account settled by October 2026.

3. Background & buyer context

Donegal County Council is procuring these slipway repairs due to erosion of the existing slipway toe and wear and tear on the deck from regular ferry services. The project is subject to funding conditions and constraints, requiring completion and final account settlement by October 2026 to enable a DAFM funding claim. The Arranmore Ferry Pier is a critical piece of infrastructure, serving regular ferry operators and acting as the primary landing point for the RNLI for emergency medical evacuations. The works are tidal and require careful coordination with the marine environment and existing harbour activities.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following minimum requirements on a pass/fail basis to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Average annual turnover exceeded €200,000 during one of the last three years, or pro-rata if more recently established. The firm must have been in existence for at least 6 months.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience:
• Demonstrate successful delivery of 2 comparable projects within the last 5 years.
• Projects must have involved features defined in the Tender Response Document (TRD).
• The tenderer must have completed the role of Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS) on these projects.
• Sufficient information must be provided to demonstrate comparability and the firm's skills, efficiency, experience, and reliability.
• Referees must be provided for each reference project.
• Personnel: Access to the following minimum personnel:
• Project Manager/Engineer: 1
• Competent plant operators: 2
• Formwork carpenters (marine coastal environment): 1 (team)
• Dive Team: 1 (team)
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.
• Health & Safety Management System: Operation of health and safety systems and procedures in line with relevant Safety Health & Welfare at Work legislation.

Tenderers may rely on the resources of other entities to meet these requirements, provided they can prove these resources will be at their disposal.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), considering the following criteria:

Criterion Weighting Maximum Marks Minimum Marks Description | :-------- | :-------- | :------------ | :------------ | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Quality 100% 1000 1 Adequate documentation submitted, including evidence of 2 similar projects completed with the role of PSCS in the past 5 years. Cost 100% Not specified Not specified Lowest price. The lowest cost tender meeting all qualitative requirements receives the maximum score.

Qualitative award criteria are assessed first. The methodology for calculating the cost score is based on the lowest price achieving the maximum score.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the eTenders facility on www.etenders.gov.ie.

• Method statement / response document: Use the provided Tender Response Document (TRD). Personalisation or addition of branding is not allowed. All fields in the TRD must be completed in full.
• CVs: Not explicitly mentioned, but key personnel should be available for verification meetings.
• Pricing schedule: To be included within the TRD.
• Case studies: 2 instances of previous comparable experience/projects, completed within the last 5 years, where the tenderer acted as PSCS.
• Declarations:
• Declaration of Bona Fides (as per Art. 57 of Directive 2014/24/EU).
• Declaration regarding compliance with relevant statutory obligations.
• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) - electronic or separate attachment.
• Declaration regarding International Procurement Instrument (2022/1031) and Article 5K of Regulation 2022/576.
• Confirmation of tax compliance.
• Confirmation of financial standing.
• Mandatory site visit: Not mandatory, but recommended. No advanced permission is required for site visits.
• Submission portal: eTenders. Upload response as a ZIP FILE.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract length: Anticipated to be 3 weeks.
• Payment terms: Not specified.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified, but contract management will involve regular performance reports and adherence to an agreed Service Level Agreement and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Liquidated damages: €500 per day.
• Termination clauses: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to terminate if commercial arrangements become uncompetitive due to matters outside its control (e.g., changes in Customs Union). Termination will follow contract terms.
• IP ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting rules: Not specified, but if a subcontractor's value exceeds 10% of the contract value, they must meet exclusion ground requirements.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond: Not specified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Tight Completion Deadline: The requirement for works to be completed and the final account settled by October 2026, driven by funding claim deadlines, presents a significant time constraint. This is particularly challenging given the anticipated 3-week contract duration and the tidal nature of the works.
• Tidal and Marine Environment: The works are inherently complex due to their location below high water mark and MLWS, requiring specialised planning, plant, and personnel. This increases risk and potential for weather-related delays.
• Busy Operational Pier: The slipway is a critical, high-traffic facility for ferry services and emergency landings. Coordinating works to maintain access and minimise disruption to these operations is a key challenge.
• PSCS Role: The requirement for the contractor to also act as PSCS adds a layer of responsibility and potential conflict if not managed carefully.
• Funding Dependency: The contract's completion deadline is directly tied to DAFM funding claims, implying potential pressure on the contractor to meet this date.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as an open procedure, encouraging participation from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). However, the technical requirements and the need for experience in marine construction and PSCS roles suggest that a specialised SME, potentially with prior experience in similar coastal or harbour works, would be best positioned.

• Credible bidders: SMEs with a proven track record in marine civil engineering, slipway construction, or similar coastal infrastructure repair projects. Experience as a PSCS on such projects is mandatory. Firms with established relationships with dive teams and marine plant operators would be advantageous.
• Consortium/sub-contracting: SMEs are explicitly encouraged to form relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises to meet capacity requirements. Sub-contracting is permitted, but reliance on a subcontractor's capacity requires them to meet specific criteria.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Bid preparation will likely require significant effort, estimated at 10-15 days, due to the detailed technical specifications, site-specific challenges, and the need to document 2 comparable projects with PSCS experience.
• Pwin signal: The tender does not explicitly indicate an incumbent. The primary driver for success will be demonstrating the technical capability to execute complex marine works within a tight timeframe and budget, alongside robust health and safety management. The requirement for 2 specific comparable projects with PSCS experience suggests a focus on proven capability rather than solely on price.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: Arranmore Slipway 2026 RFT and works specification.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Queries via the messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie.
• Most important attachments:
• Tender Response Document (TRD)
• Tender Drawings
• Works Requirements