B701 210001 Fire Upgrade, Universal Access and Garda Estate Management (Elective) Works at Castletownbere Garda Station, Co Cork

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 to undertake fire upgrade, universal access, and Garda estate management works at Castletownbere Garda Station. The contract duration is specified as 6 months.

The scope of work includes:

• Fire Safety Upgrades: Implementing measures to enhance fire safety within the Garda station. Specific details on the nature and extent of these upgrades are not provided in the metadata.
• Universal Access Improvements: Works to ensure universal access, implying modifications to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Details on specific accessibility features or areas requiring modification are not specified.
• Garda Estate Management (Elective) Works: This component suggests ongoing or elective maintenance and management tasks related to the Garda station's estate. The term "elective" indicates these may be planned or chosen works rather than emergency repairs. Specific tasks under this category are not detailed.

The tender documents reference Appendices and specific forms such as "Appendix B1 List of Previous Works Projects" and "Appendix B2 Certificate of Satisfactory Execution," indicating that the contractor will need to provide detailed project histories and evidence of satisfactory completion for similar past works. The "Health and Safety Competence" document (3.4.1-HS-Works-Contractor-v3.0) outlines extensive requirements for demonstrating compliance with the Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, covering management and personnel qualifications, training, safety plans, and quality assurance measures. This suggests a strong emphasis on health and safety protocols throughout the project lifecycle.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is being managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW), a key government body responsible for public infrastructure and property management in Ireland. The project is located at Castletownbere Garda Station in County Cork. The tender title indicates a focus on essential upgrades including fire safety and universal access, alongside broader estate management. The "Elective" nature of the estate management works suggests these are planned improvements rather than reactive maintenance. The OPW's involvement signifies that this project aligns with government objectives for public building safety, accessibility, and operational efficiency. No specific programme or policy is explicitly cited in the provided metadata, but such works typically fall under broader public sector infrastructure improvement initiatives.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Minimum average annual turnover of €620,000.00 in General Construction/Civil Engineering/Works Specialist categories.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum €6,500,000.00 per accident.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum €13,000,000.00 per accident.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Minimum cover is not specified (stated as N/A, with a note that the default level is €1.5m, to be proportionate to project size).
• Certifications: Not explicitly detailed in the provided metadata, but the Health and Safety Supplement mentions OHSAS 18001 or equivalent and Safe-T-Cert as potentially acceptable for safety management systems.
• Past experience: Applicants must demonstrate successful completion of at least two projects of similar complexity with a capital value greater than €500,000, using Public Works Contracts PW-CF6 or PW-CF5, within the past 7 years.
• Personnel: The Contracts Manager must have a minimum of ten (10) years of experience. Specific requirements for other management and personnel roles are detailed within the Health and Safety Supplement, focusing on relevant qualifications, training, and experience.
• 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 follow a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) approach, which balances price and quality. The Health and Safety Supplement indicates that all health and safety selection criteria are pass/fail. Specific scoring weights for technical capability, price, and other factors would be detailed in the full tender documentation.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit a Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) response. This includes:

• Declarations: A signed declaration by the Applicant's Authorised Representative confirming compliance with qualification criteria, provision of supporting documentation, disclosure of registrable interests and conflicts of interest, and consent for data processing.
• Applicant Details: Comprehensive information on the Applicant, including registered address, trading history, company registration, tax reference numbers, and details of parent companies or other group entities involved.
• Health and Safety Supplement: Detailed evidence of Health and Safety competence, including:
• Educational and professional qualifications of management and personnel.
• List of previously carried out works projects, supported by Certificates of Satisfactory Execution (Appendix B1 and B2).
• Measures for ensuring quality and a safety management system.
• Statement of average annual numbers of persons employed over the last 3 years.
• Banker's Letter: Appendix C, on bank headed paper, confirming the applicant's banking relationship and facilities.
• Previous Works Projects: Appendix B1, detailing completed projects, and Appendix B2, Certificates of Satisfactory Execution.
• Pricing Schedule: Not explicitly detailed in the provided metadata, but standard practice requires a detailed pricing submission.
• CVs: For management staff, detailing relevant qualifications, experience, and health and safety training.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified in the provided metadata.
• Submission portal: Assumed to be eTenders.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Length: 6 Months.
• Payment Terms: Not specified in the provided metadata. Standard Public Works Contracts typically include provisions for interim payments based on work completed and prompt payment directives.
• SLAs/KPIs: Not specified in the provided metadata. Health and Safety compliance is a critical performance indicator, with all related criteria being pass/fail.
• Liquidated Damages: Not specified in the provided metadata.
• Termination Clauses: Not specified in the provided metadata.
• IP Ownership: Not specified in the provided metadata.
• Sub-contracting Rules: Not specified in the provided metadata, but the SAQ Part 2 requires disclosure of entities relied upon, including subcontractors.
• Parent Company Guarantee/Bond: Not specified in the provided metadata.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The tender deadline is unusually far in the future (October 2026). This could indicate a long planning horizon or a placeholder date. The absence of a stated estimated value is common for OPW tenders but requires bidders to assess project scale based on other criteria. The significant emphasis on detailed Health and Safety documentation and past performance, particularly the requirement for Certificates of Satisfactory Execution for previous projects, suggests a rigorous evaluation process where non-compliance will lead to disqualification. The "elective" nature of some works could imply flexibility in scheduling or scope, which might require careful contract management.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for established small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a proven track record in general construction and a strong focus on health and safety compliance. The minimum turnover requirement of €620,000.00 is achievable for many SMEs. The requirement for two previous projects exceeding €500,000 capital value, coupled with the need for specific Public Works Contract experience (PW-CF6 or PW-CF5), may limit the pool of eligible SMEs unless they have operated on larger public sector projects. Consortium bids are permitted, allowing smaller firms to combine capabilities to meet requirements. Bid preparation effort would be substantial due to the detailed SAQ, Health and Safety Supplement, and documentation requirements, likely requiring several days of focused work. The "Pwin" signal is neutral; the distant deadline and lack of specific value suggest it's not a rushed or incumbent-favoured process, but the detailed qualification criteria mean only well-prepared firms will succeed.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename(s): B701 210001 Fire Upgrade, Universal Access and Garda Estate Management (Elective) Works at Castletownbere Garda Station, Co Cork
• eTenders CFT ID: Not surfaced in metadata.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Not surfaced in metadata.
• Most important attachments:
• [18362 SAQ QW-Part-2-v1.0 Restricted Castletownbere Garda Station.docx] (Suitability Assessment Questionnaire)
• [18362 3.4.1-HS-Works-Contractor-v3.0-28-07-2023.docx] (Health and Safety Competence)
• [18362 Appendix-B1-List-of-Previous-Works-Projects-which-is-CEE.docx] (List of Previous Works Projects)