Provision of Independent ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and ISO 50001 Energy Management System Auditing and Certification Services as an Integrated Management System

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

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires an independent, accredited certification body to conduct auditing and certification services for its integrated management system, specifically focusing on ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 standards. The contract spans two audit cycles, each lasting three years, with a total maximum duration of six years.

The contractor's day-to-day activities will include:

• Certification and Audit Activities:

• Conducting certification, surveillance, and recertification audits for the EPA's integrated management system.

• Planning and delivering audits in accordance with the integrated ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 three-year certification cycle.

• Auditing all EPA locations, including Headquarters and Regional Inspectorates, at least once during each three-year cycle.

• Preparing, issuing, and presenting formal audit reports and findings.

• Making certification and recertification recommendations based on accreditation rules.

• Verifying corrective actions arising from audit findings.

• Audit Programme:

• Conducting surveillance audits in the intervening years of each certification cycle.

• Performing recertification audits in the final year of each three-year cycle.

• Adjusting audit locations and schedules as necessary, subject to agreement and accreditation requirements.

The contractor must maintain full independence and impartiality throughout the contract and must not provide consultancy or corrective action drafting services to the EPA.

3. Background & buyer context

The EPA has held ISO 14001 certification since 2011 and is now seeking to integrate ISO 50001 into its existing Environmental Management System (EMS). This procurement aligns with the EPA's commitment to maintaining and renewing its ISO certifications in compliance with international standards and public sector obligations. The contract is being sought to ensure ongoing third-party audits, which are mandatory for certification and essential for the EPA's environmental and energy performance commitments.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum average annual turnover of €170,000 for each of the last three years.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million
• Cyber Liability: €1 million
• Certifications: Must hold valid accreditation to certify ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 from a recognized national accreditation body (e.g., ISO/IEC17021-2 and ISO50003:2021 or equivalent).
• Past experience: Minimum of three comparable projects involving ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 auditing and certification services.
• Personnel: Access to suitably qualified personnel with recognized ISO auditor qualifications and experience in integrated audit stages.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Bids will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The price/quality split is 30% cost and 70% quality. A minimum score of 60% is required for each qualitative criterion to be considered for further evaluation.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documents:

• Method statement / response document: Use the provided template, adhering to any page limits specified.
• CVs: For key personnel, with a maximum of two pages per CV.
• Pricing schedule: Complete the designated template.
• Case studies: Three examples of relevant past projects, detailing scope and value.
• Declarations: Including ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest statements.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified.
• Submission portal: eTenders, following any specific format rules outlined in the tender documents.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

Key contract terms include:

• Duration: Initial term of three years, with an option to extend for an additional three years, subject to performance and budget availability.
• Payment terms: Invoices paid within 30 days of receipt.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Timely delivery of audit reports and adherence to the audit schedule.
• Termination clauses: The EPA reserves the right to terminate the contract for breach of independence or impartiality.
• IP ownership: All reports and documentation produced by the contractor will remain the property of the EPA.
• Sub-contracting rules: Not specified, but reliance on the resources of other entities is permitted under certain conditions.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Potential risks and concerns include:

• The turnover requirement of €170,000 may limit participation from smaller firms.
• The requirement for a valid accreditation may restrict the pool of eligible bidders to established certification bodies.
• The contract's dependency on maintaining independence could complicate relationships if the contractor has prior engagements with the EPA.
• The integration of ISO 50001 into the existing EMS may present challenges for firms unfamiliar with the EPA's current systems.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is open to:

• Firms with experience in ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 auditing and certification.
• Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that can demonstrate the required financial and technical capacity.
• Consortiums or joint ventures are permitted, provided all parties meet the eligibility criteria.
• Bid preparation is expected to require several days, depending on the complexity of the firm's qualifications and experience.
• The incumbent's strength and the established nature of the EPA's requirements may signal a competitive bidding environment.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: RFT ISO 14001_5001 Auditing and Certification Services.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: not specified
• Contact email: not specified
• Important attachments: Tender Response Document, Appendix B2 — Suitability Assessment, Mandatory Requirements Schedule.