Fast Ferry Passenger Service between Oileán Thoraí Co. Dhún na nGall and Cé Mhachaire Rabhartaigh on the mainland

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 contract requires the provision of a fast ferry passenger service connecting Oileán Thoraí (Tory Island) in County Donegal with Cé Mhachaire Rabhartaigh (Magheraroarty) on the mainland. The service is intended to operate year-round, subject to potential exemptions. The estimated value of the contract is €335,804 over a 36-month term, with potential for extensions.

The core activities for the successful tenderer include:

• Ferry Operation: Operating a fast ferry service for passengers between Oileán Thoraí and Cé Mhachaire Rabhartaigh.
• Vessel Management: Ensuring the availability of suitable primary and backup vessels/boats capable of providing the service throughout the contract term. This includes providing proof of ownership or lease/charter agreements for the duration of the contract.
• Safety and Compliance: Operating the service safely and ensuring all vessels possess a valid Irish Passenger Certificate issued by the Department of Transport.
• Crewing: Providing suitable qualified crew for the operation of the ferry service.
• Service Specification Adherence: Operating the service in accordance with the specifications detailed in Appendix 1 of the RFT.
• Reporting and Documentation: Providing required documentation, including annual accounts, cash flow statements, and declarations regarding financial standing and any circumstances that could interfere with service provision.
• Insurance: Maintaining specified insurance cover throughout the contract term.
• Environmental, Social, and Labour Law Compliance: Adhering to all applicable environmental, social, and labour laws as established by EU and national law, and collective agreements.

The service is expected to operate for 12 months of the year, subject to exemptions. Tenderers must demonstrate the capability to operate all aspects of the fast ferry service safely and successfully. If subcontracting is proposed, details of the subcontractor's experience and the proposed management structure must be provided.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is for a fast ferry passenger service connecting Oileán Thoraí (Tory Island) with the mainland in County Donegal. The Department of Rural and Community Development is the contracting authority. The estimated contract value suggests a service of moderate scale and duration. The tender documents highlight the Contracting Authority's policy to encourage participation by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), encouraging larger enterprises to include SMEs in their proposals and SMEs to explore consortia or partnerships. This indicates a strategic objective to foster broader economic participation and capacity building within the sector. No specific programme or policy is explicitly cited as the driver, but the nature of the service suggests it aligns with objectives related to island connectivity and rural development.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must satisfy the following mandatory selection criteria to be considered for evaluation:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €12,700,000 limit for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Public Liability: €6,500,000 limit for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Protection and Indemnity (Marine) Insurance (including pollution cover): €10,000,000 limit for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Hull and machinery: For the full value of the ferry.
• Certifications: A valid Irish Passenger Certificate for the vessels/boats, issued by the Department of Transport, is required.
• Past experience: Tenderers must demonstrate relevant experience in providing a ferry service of a similar nature on an all-year-round basis. If no current ferry operation exists, a comprehensive summary of experience in providing similar services highlighting suitability is required.
• Personnel: Suitable qualified crew must be available. Specific qualifications are not detailed but are implied by the nature of the service.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Vessels must have a valid Irish Passenger Certificate. The service operates between Oileán Thoraí and Cé Mhachaire Rabhartaigh.

Tenderers must also provide:

• Copies of annual accounts (audited, if required by law) for the 3 most recent years.
• A cash flow statement for the first 12 months of the proposed operation.
• A declaration, certified by auditors (or bank statement for audit-exempt entities), confirming financial standing and any circumstances that could interfere with service provision.
• Details of primary and backup vessels/boats, including certificates of ownership or lease/charter agreements.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The tender documents do not explicitly detail the award criteria or scoring methodology. However, the selection criteria are evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis. Tenderers must satisfy all mandatory minimum requirements to proceed to evaluation. The Contracting Authority does not bind itself to accept the lowest priced or any tender. The evaluation process will likely consider both price and quality, with the final award based on the most economically advantageous tender.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the "electronic tenderbox" on www.etenders.gov.ie. Tenders submitted by any other means will not be accepted.

Key submission requirements include:

• Electronic Single Procurement Document (eESPD): Tenderers must complete and submit the electronic version of the eESPD.
• Tenderer's Statement: A scanned signed copy of the Tenderer's Statement (Appendix 3), printed on the Tenderer's letterhead, must be returned.
• Pricing Schedule: All Tenderers must complete the Pricing Schedule at Appendix 2. Prices must be all-inclusive (excluding VAT), expressed in Euro, and remain valid for 12 months from the Tender Deadline.
• Supporting Documentation:
• Copies of annual accounts for the 3 most recent years.
• A cash flow statement for the first 12 months of the proposed operation.
• A declaration regarding financial standing.
• Details of primary and backup vessels/boats, including ownership or lease/charter agreements.
• Proof of a valid Irish Passenger Certificate for vessels.
• Language: Tenders must be submitted in English and/or Irish.
• File Limits: A file size limit of 250MB per single file and a maximum total limit of 500MB for all documentation apply.
• Format: All submitted soft copy documents must be readable using Microsoft Word, Excel, or PDF readers.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: The Services Contract will be issued for a term of 36 months.
• Extensions: Possible extensions are mentioned, but details are not specified.
• Payment terms: Payments will be made in accordance with the Services Contract at Appendix 5.
• Pricing adjustments: Prices can only be increased or decreased on the first anniversary of the Effective Date and subsequent anniversaries, based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (excluding fuel costs).
• Currency: Any currency variations over the term of the contract will be borne by the Tenderer.
• Insurance: Specific insurance requirements are detailed in section 2.21.1.
• Subcontracting: Tenderers may subcontract elements of the service. If relying on a subcontractor's capacity for selection criteria, a separate e-ESPD is required for that subcontractor.
• Termination: Not specified beyond general clauses related to conflict of interest or failure to provide evidence.
• Parent-company guarantee/bond: Not specified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Insurance Requirements: The insurance requirements, particularly the €10,000,000 limit for Protection and Indemnity (Marine) Insurance including pollution cover, are substantial for a contract valued at €335,804. This may present a barrier for smaller operators.
• Lack of Detailed Award Criteria: The absence of explicit award criteria and scoring weights means tenderers must infer the evaluation approach, potentially leading to uncertainty in bid preparation.
• All-Year-Round Operation: The requirement for an "all-year-round basis" for ferry services, especially in a location like Tory Island, implies a need for robust operational planning and contingency management, which may be challenging to demonstrate without specific experience.
• SME Encouragement vs. Insurance: While SMEs are encouraged, the high insurance thresholds might disproportionately affect their ability to bid competitively.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely open to small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with specific expertise in maritime operations and ferry services. A viable bidder would need:

• Maritime Experience: Proven experience in operating ferry services, ideally on an all-year-round basis, and familiarity with passenger vessel operations.
• Financial Capacity: The ability to provide audited accounts for three years and a 12-month cash flow statement.
• Vessel Availability: Access to suitable primary and backup vessels, with necessary certification (Irish Passenger Certificate).
• Insurance Capacity: The ability to secure the specified high-limit insurance policies, which may be a significant hurdle for very small businesses.

Consortia and subcontractors are permitted. SMEs are encouraged to form relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises. The bid preparation effort is likely moderate, involving the compilation of financial statements, operational plans, and vessel details. The presence of high insurance requirements and the encouragement of SME participation suggest a potential for incumbent advantage or a need for strong financial backing for new entrants.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: RFT Bád Gasta Thóraí 2026 - 2029 .pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email or clarification portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Most important attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 3: Tenderer’s Statement
• Appendix 6: Services Contract