R250 – Droichead an Churraoin Road Realignment Ground Investigation Contract 2026

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 contract requires the provision of ground investigation services for the Droichead an Churraoin Road Realignment project. The work will be conducted under the Office of Government Procurement's Public Works Investigation Contract, Document Reference FTS7 v.1.5. The investigation is anticipated to have a fieldwork duration of 4 weeks.

The contractor will be responsible for:

• Site Operations for Investigation: This phase includes all fieldwork necessary to conduct the ground investigation. The performance period for this task is 14 days, commencing after permission to start is granted. A daily rate of €750 applies for any delay beyond this period.
• Ground Investigation Factual Report (Draft): The contractor must issue a draft factual report detailing the findings of the investigation. The performance period for issuing the draft report is 14 days from the completion of site operations. A daily rate of €375 applies for delays beyond this period.
• Ground Investigation Factual Report (Final): The contractor is required to issue the final factual report. The performance period for the final report is 7 days from the issue of the draft report. A daily rate of €375 applies for delays beyond this period.
• Issue of Final Report: The final report is to be issued within 8 weeks following the Contract Date.

The contract also includes a retention element of 7% of the initial Contract Sum, payable 12 months after the Investigation is complete, provided clause 4.4 of the contract has been complied with.

The scope of work is governed by the Public Works Investigation Contract and associated documents, including "12276-Vol A - Scope". Specific attention must be paid to safety regulations, including the "Code of Practice for Avoiding Danger from Overhead Electricity Lines" and any requirements related to underground services.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is for ground investigation services related to the R250 – Droichead an Churraoin Road Realignment project. Donegal County Council is the contracting authority. The project falls under the remit of road infrastructure development within the county. The contract will utilise the Office of Government Procurement's Public Works Investigation Contract, indicating adherence to national public procurement standards. The specific drivers for this procurement are the need for detailed ground condition information to inform the design and construction of the road realignment.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for this contract:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €6,500,000 for any one event.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €13,000,000 for any one event.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Minimum annual aggregate indemnity limit of €6,500,000.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: A Site Agent who is a Geotechnical Engineer with a minimum of 5 years' experience is required.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Maximum levels of excess:

• Insurance of Investigation: €10,000
• Public Liability: €6,500
• Employer's Liability: €6,500
• Professional Indemnity: €70,000

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria and scoring mechanism are not explicitly detailed in the provided documentation. However, the contract structure implies a standard public procurement process where the lowest compliant tender may be considered, or a combination of price and quality. The payment schedule indicates specific percentages of the Price allocated to different stages:

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers are required to submit their offer in accordance with the "Conditions of the Investigation Contract" and attached forms. Specific submission requirements include:

• Pricing Schedule: A detailed pricing schedule is to be provided, outlining the offer for the investigation.
• Declarations: Tenderers must provide necessary declarations, including bona fide status and tax clearance.
• Performance Bond: A performance bond is required. The percentage of the initial Contract Sum for this bond is to be specified by the tenderer, with default percentages of 10% up to investigation completion and 5% thereafter if not specified.
• Project Supervisor for Construction Stage: The contractor or a nominee may be required to act as the Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage.
• Tender Validity: The offer must remain valid for 180 days after the tender submission deadline, or for 21 days after any notice to terminate the tender, whichever is later.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract will be based on the Office of Government Procurement's Public Works Investigation Contract, Document Reference FTS7 v.1.5. Key terms include:

• Contract Length: The investigation fieldwork is estimated at 4 weeks. A retention payment is due 12 months after investigation completion.
• Payment Terms: Payment is structured based on project milestones: 40% upon fieldwork completion, 30% upon draft report issue, 23% upon final report issue, and 7% retention after 12 months.
• Liquidated Damages: Specific daily rates are stipulated for delays in completing key tasks: €750 per day for site operations, €375 per day for draft report issuance, and €375 per day for final report issuance.
• Performance Bond: A performance bond is required, with tenderers to specify the percentage of the initial Contract Sum. Default percentages are 10% up to investigation completion and 5% thereafter if not specified.
• Arbitration: Disputes not resolved by agreement will be referred to the President of Engineers Ireland for arbitrator appointment.
• Sub-contracting: Not explicitly detailed, but the contractor may be required to act as Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Insurance Excess: The maximum excess levels for various insurance types are specified, with a notable €70,000 maximum excess for Professional Indemnity insurance.
• Performance Bond Specification: Tenderers must specify the percentage for the performance bond, with default values applying if not provided.
• Overhead Electricity Lines: The tender documentation references the "Code of Practice for Avoiding Danger from Overhead Electricity Lines," indicating potential presence of such lines on or near the project site, requiring strict adherence to safety protocols.
• Tender Value Placeholder: The estimated value is listed as "not disclosed," which is common but requires bidders to price based on their assessment of the scope.
• Public Works Investigation Contract: Use of this specific contract form implies adherence to its established clauses and procedures, which may differ from other standard forms.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) with specialised expertise in geotechnical ground investigations. The primary requirement is for a qualified Geotechnical Engineer with at least 5 years of experience to serve as Site Agent. While no specific turnover or past experience thresholds are stated, the insurance requirements, particularly the €6.5 million Professional Indemnity cover, may be a significant barrier for very small firms. Consortium bidding or subcontracting is not explicitly mentioned but is generally permissible in public sector tenders unless restricted. The bid preparation effort would involve understanding the Public Works Investigation Contract, detailing the investigation methodology, and accurately pricing the fieldwork and reporting stages, likely requiring several days of effort. The absence of an incumbent mention and the specific nature of ground investigation suggest a competitive field, but the insurance requirements will narrow the pool.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: R250 – Droichead an Churraoin Road Realignment Ground Investigation Contract 2026.zip
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided documents.
• Contact: Mr Gerard Kearney, Donegal County Council.
• Key Attachments:
• 12276 - Vol B - R150 GI - FTS..docx (Conditions of Contract and Forms)
• 12276-Vol A - Scope (Scope of Works)
• avoiding_danger_from_overhead_electricity_lines.pdf (Code of Practice)