Ballyragget Weir Barrier Mitigation Project

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 procurement seeks consultancy services for the Ballyragget Weir Barrier Mitigation Project. The project involves a phased approach, commencing with a Feasibility Study & Option Selection, followed by Preliminary Design, and concluding with the Statutory Process. The contract will be awarded sequentially for each stage at the Client's discretion. Construction is scheduled for the fisheries environmental window between July 1st and September 30th, 2027.

The core activities for the appointed consultant include:

• Phase 1: Feasibility Study & Option Selection (8 weeks duration): This initial phase requires the consultant to conduct a feasibility study and identify potential mitigation options.
• Phase 2: Preliminary Design (12 weeks duration): This phase involves developing outline designs, including detailed hydrological and hydraulic studies, flood risk analysis, and sketch scheme designs. The consultant will liaise with the ecology team.
• Phase 3: Statutory Process (8 weeks duration): This phase focuses on preparing final design drawings for planning permission or exemption applications to the Local Authority.

The consultant must ensure that the design, construction methodology, and project description are consistent with environmental and statutory consent documentation. Close cooperation and coordination with an independently appointed Environmental Consultant and other specialist consultants are mandatory. Any material changes to the design, construction methodology, access arrangements, or programme that could impact environmental assessments must be notified to the Client and the Environmental Consultant. The consultant is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of their professional services.

3. Background & buyer context

The Ballyragget Weir Barrier Mitigation Project is part of the National Barrier Mitigation Programme. The project is scheduled for construction during the fisheries environmental window of July 1st to September 30th, 2027. The project site is located within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA), and Proposed Natural Heritage Area (pNHA), necessitating strict adherence to environmental protection regulations. Inland Fisheries Ireland is the procuring authority. An Environmental Consultant will be appointed separately to undertake ecological surveys and environmental assessments, requiring close collaboration with the engineering consultant.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability: €6,500,000, with indemnity to the Client as principal.
• Employer's Liability: €13,000,000.
• 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 evaluation of qualifying tenders will be based on a Quality/Price assessment with a weighting of 40% for Quality and 60% for Price. The quality assessment will be scored according to a specified table, which is not detailed in the provided extract.

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document: Tender Response Document to be completed in full.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: Pricing Document (NBMP_0814010.01.01.02.01.004) to be completed.
• Case studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Declarations:
• Standard Conditions of Engagement for Consultancy Services (Technical) Schedules A & B.
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number required.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: All tender documents must be returned via the www.etenders.gov.ie portal. No hard copy or email submissions will be accepted.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term + extension structure: The contract is awarded sequentially for each stage at the Client's discretion.
• Payment terms: Payment of each amount due, less any withholding tax, will be made within 30 days after the Consultant supplies a valid invoice, provided a current tax clearance certificate from the Revenue Commissioners is supplied. Fees are inclusive of all disbursements, except for specially sanctioned disbursements.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified for this tender.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified for this tender.
• Termination clauses: The Client may terminate for cause, insolvency, or at will. Termination for cause requires a notice period of 14 to 28 days. Termination at will requires 14 to 28 days' notice. Termination for insolvency requires 1 to 48 days' notice. On termination, the Consultant shall stop performing services except for those required in the notification or emergency services.
• IP ownership: The Consultant grants the Client a royalty-free, perpetual, non-exclusive, irrevocable, assignable licence to reproduce and use Consultant's Documents. For specific documents in Schedule A, an absolute assignment of all rights, title, and interest, including intellectual property, is granted to the Client.
• Sub-contracting rules: Sub-contracting is not permitted unless agreed or requested by the Client. Sub-consultants must provide a collateral warranty in favour of the Client. The Consultant is responsible for the acts and omissions of sub-consultants.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified for this tender.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The contract structure involves sequential awarding of stages at the Client's discretion, meaning the full scope of work is not guaranteed upfront. The project is located within environmentally sensitive areas (SAC, SPA, pNHA), requiring strict adherence to environmental regulations and close coordination with an appointed Environmental Consultant. The indicative programme dates are subject to change. The tender value of €150,000 appears low for a multi-stage consultancy project of this nature, potentially indicating a limited scope or a phased approach to funding.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized engineering or environmental consultancy firms with demonstrated experience in hydrological and hydraulic studies, flood risk analysis, and statutory planning processes. The phased nature of the contract allows for a staged commitment. Consortium bidding or sub-contracting is permitted, provided it is agreed or requested by the Client, and sub-consultants provide collateral warranties. The bid preparation effort is moderate, requiring completion of specific tender documents and a pricing schedule. The award is based on 40% quality and 60% price, suggesting that technical capability and cost-effectiveness are both important. The absence of specific turnover or past experience requirements suggests a degree of openness to new entrants, but the quality weighting indicates that a strong technical proposal will be crucial.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename(s): NBMP_0814010.01.01.02.008_COE1_I01.pdf, NBMP_0814010.01.01.02.001_Inv_to_T.pdf, NBMP_0814010.01.01.02.009_PD_Civil.xlsx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email or clarification portal: Not specified
• Most important attachments:
• Standard Conditions of Engagement for Consultancy Services (Technical)
• Scope of Services document
• Pricing Document