Quay Street Pedestrianisation, New Ross, Co. Wexford

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 a contractor for the pedestrianisation of Quay Street in New Ross, Co. Wexford. The project involves urban renewal works, likely encompassing civil engineering, street furniture installation, and associated landscaping. Specific details on the scale and exact nature of the works are not fully elaborated in the provided metadata, but the project title indicates a focus on transforming a street into a pedestrian-friendly zone.

The scope of work is understood to include:

• Civil Engineering Works: This will likely involve resurfacing, kerbing, drainage, and potentially the diversion or upgrade of underground services. The nature of urban renewal suggests a need for careful execution to minimise disruption.
• Urban Renewal Elements: This could encompass the installation of new street furniture such as seating, lighting, planters, and potentially public art. The aim is to enhance the aesthetic and functional appeal of the street for pedestrians.
• Pedestrianisation Implementation: The core of the project is to create a space primarily for pedestrian use. This may involve physical barriers, traffic calming measures, and clear demarcation of pedestrian zones.
• Associated Works: Depending on the existing infrastructure, the project may also include elements of landscaping, integration with existing public spaces, and potentially utility works.

The tender documents reference specific appendices for detailing previous works and technical capabilities, suggesting a comprehensive construction project requiring adherence to safety and quality standards. The project is categorised under Civil Engineering / Urban Renewal Works.

3. Background & buyer context

Wexford County Council is procuring the pedestrianisation of Quay Street in New Ross. This initiative aligns with broader urban regeneration strategies aimed at enhancing public spaces and improving the quality of life for residents and visitors. While specific policy drivers are not detailed in the provided metadata, such projects typically support local economic development by creating more attractive and accessible town centres. The project is categorised under Civil Engineering / Urban Renewal Works, indicating a focus on infrastructure development and public realm enhancement. No incumbent contractor is mentioned in the provided text.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement:
• Yearly turnover arising from Civil Engineering / Urban Renewal Works: €2,500,000.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum €6,500,000 per accident. Maximum excess for property damage only: €10,000.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum €13,000,000 per accident.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Minimum €1,500,000 annual aggregate limit. Maximum permissible excess: the greater of 2% of annual turnover or €5,000.
• Certifications:
• Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience:
• A minimum of three comparable projects of similar size, scale, and complexity, each with a value exceeding €1,500,000.00, completed within the last 5 years (or 7 years if necessary for competition).
• Evidence of Health and Safety aspects of works previously undertaken, including Safety and Health Plans from two previous projects.
• Personnel:
• Management staff must possess appropriate educational/professional qualifications and experience, including relevant Health and Safety qualifications and training.
• Personnel must have appropriate educational and professional qualifications and experience, including Health and Safety qualifications, training, and experience relevant to the works.
• Specific roles like Foreman and Site Engineer require a minimum of 10 years' experience in the construction trade, with at least 5 years in a relevant management role, or equivalent qualifications.
• Site Safety Officer requires at least 10 years' experience in the construction trade and formal accredited Health and Safety training within the last 5 years, with at least 3 years in the capacity.
• Geographic / facility constraints:
• Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria and scoring mechanism are not detailed in the provided metadata. Typically, public sector tenders in Ireland are awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), which balances price and quality. The weighting between price and quality, along with specific sub-criteria and any minimum scoring thresholds, would be detailed in the full tender documentation.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit the following:

• Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) / Qualification Questionnaire (QQ): This includes specific sections on Health and Safety competence (3.4.1a-e HS).
• Appendix B1: List of Previous Works Projects, organised by precedence, with project title and certificate details.
• Appendix B2: Certificate of Satisfactory Execution for previous projects.
• Appendix C: Bankers Letter on applicant headed paper.
• Appendix D2: Letter of Undertaking from a Surety confirming bond facilities.
• Health and Safety Supplement 3.4.1: Detailing technical capability criteria related to Health and Safety.
• Safety Statement: In the format outlined by the Health and Safety Authority, addressing specific requirements and minimum standards.
• Curricula Vitae (CVs): For management staff and other personnel, detailing qualifications, experience, and Health and Safety training.
• Pricing Schedule: Format and template to be specified in the tender documents.
• Declarations: Including those related to Health and Safety policy, organisation, training, risk assessments, and any enforcement actions or incidents.
• Submission Portal: Bids must be submitted via the eTenders platform.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Type: The tender documents reference "Public Works Contract" and "Model Form MF1.12", indicating a standard form contract is likely to be used.
• Sub-contracting: The contract is between an Employer and a Contractor, with a Specialist appointed by the Contractor. The Specialist warrants to the Employer that they have exercised and will continue to exercise the standard of skill, care, and diligence expected of properly qualified persons.
• Insurance: The Specialist must maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance with specific minimum limits and excess requirements, as detailed in Section 4.
• Intellectual Property: Ownership and copyright of Contractor's Documents provided or produced by the Specialist transfer to the Employer. Intellectual property rights in Design Information remain vested in the Specialist, who grants the Employer an irrevocable, royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to use this information.
• Termination/Discontinuance: The Specialist must provide a Discontinuance Notice to the Employer if intending to terminate or discontinue the contract. The Employer can then elect to issue instructions directly to the Specialist, bypassing the Contractor.
• Liability: The Specialist's liability to the Employer is subject to a "Liability Cap," with specific exceptions for death, personal injury, fraud, wilful default, gross negligence, third-party property, IP infringement, and liabilities that cannot lawfully be excluded.
• Governing Law: The agreement is governed by and construed according to Irish law.
• Dispute Resolution: Disputes will be resolved through negotiation, and if unresolved within 21 days, by arbitration according to rules referenced in the Main Contract.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Specialist Direct Instruction: The contract structure allows the Employer to issue instructions directly to the Specialist, bypassing the main Contractor. This creates a potential for complex contractual relationships and communication challenges, with the Employer liable for payments to the Specialist in such scenarios.
• Insurance Requirements: The Professional Indemnity Insurance requirements are detailed, including monitoring the market for "Each and Every" cover if only "Annual Aggregate" is initially available, with specific premium rate limitations. This could impose additional obligations on bidders.
• Health and Safety Focus: The tender places a significant emphasis on Health and Safety competence, with detailed criteria and required documentation (HS Supplement 3.4.1, Safety Statement, etc.). Bidders must demonstrate a robust H&S management system.
• Value Not Disclosed: The absence of an estimated contract value in the metadata means bidders must assess the project's scale and complexity based on the scope and eligibility criteria alone.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a strong track record in civil engineering and urban renewal projects. The key indicators for SME fit are:

• Credible Bidders: SMEs with demonstrated experience in delivering projects valued over €1.5 million, possessing the required insurance levels, and a robust Health and Safety management system (potentially certified to ISO 45001 or Safe-T-Cert) would be well-positioned. The turnover requirement of €2.5 million average annual turnover in the specific work area suggests a need for established, though not necessarily large, firms.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The contract structure involves a Contractor appointing a Specialist. While not explicitly stated as disallowed, the eligibility criteria for past experience and turnover are applied to the "Applicant" or "Tenderer." SMEs could potentially form consortia to meet turnover and experience requirements, or act as specialists if a larger contractor is leading the bid. The tender documents do not explicitly prohibit sub-contracting by the main bidder.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing the comprehensive Health and Safety documentation, detailed project lists with certificates, and financial information (banker's letter, surety undertaking) will require significant effort. An estimate of 10-20 days of focused effort from a bid team, including technical, H&S, and commercial personnel, is reasonable.
• Pwin Signal: The tender is open, with no explicit mention of an incumbent. The detailed eligibility criteria, particularly for past experience and insurance, are standard for public works contracts of this nature. The emphasis on H&S competence is a common feature in Irish public procurement. The "not disclosed" value means bidders must perform their own risk assessment based on the scope and eligibility.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s): Not specified in metadata.
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in metadata.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Via the eTenders platform.
• Most Important Attachments:
• [F. Appendix_B1_List_of_Previous_Works_Projects_which_is_CEE.docx]
• [C. 3.4.1-HS-Works-Contractor_v3.1-25-11-2025.docx] (Health and Safety Supplement)
• [MF1.12_-_Model_Form_14-10-2024.docx] (Model Form Agreement)