Seismic Survey Acquisition Services for Geological Survey Ireland

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

Buyer Title CPV / category Estimated value Per-year Procedure type Lots Location Contract length Submission deadline Go-live / start | :---------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------ | :------------- | :-------------- | :--------- | :--------------- | :----- | :--------- | :-------------- | :------------------ | :-------------- | Department of Climate Energy and the Environment Seismic Survey Acquisition Services 71356200-0 €400,000 Not stated Open procedure Not stated Ireland 12 months 2026-09-08 12:00 2026-10-01

2. Scope of Work

The contract requires the provision of seismic survey acquisition services to Geological Survey Ireland. The services are to be delivered over a 12-month term, with a potential extension of up to 6 months. The estimated expenditure for these services is €400,000 (excluding VAT) over the contract duration, including any extensions. Bids exceeding €400,000 (excluding VAT) will not be considered.

The core activities under this contract involve:

• Seismic Survey Acquisition: Conducting seismic surveys to gather geological data.
• Data Processing and Analysis: While not explicitly detailed as a separate deliverable, the acquisition of seismic data implies subsequent processing and analysis to derive meaningful geological information.
• Reporting: Providing reports on the acquired seismic data and survey findings.
• Compliance: Adhering to all applicable environmental, social, and labour laws, as well as specific EU and national regulations.
• Geological Data Collection: The services are for Geological Survey Ireland, indicating a focus on subsurface geological structures and potential resources.
• Specific Requirement: A minimum of 1 km radius survey is required, centred on borehole coordinates, with a maximum 25° stratigraphic dip in a SSE direction.

The contract is structured as a single Lot, with a single Prime Contractor responsible for the overall delivery of the services, irrespective of any subcontracting.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is being conducted by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, acting as the Contracting Authority for Geological Survey Ireland. The requirement for seismic survey acquisition services is driven by the ongoing need to gather and understand Ireland's subsurface geological data. This aligns with broader governmental objectives related to resource management, environmental assessment, and potentially energy exploration. The procurement is being conducted under an open procedure, as per EU regulations, to ensure a competitive and transparent selection process. The estimated value suggests a focused, project-specific need rather than a large-scale, ongoing programme.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

To be considered for this tender, bidders must meet the following mandatory requirements:

• Turnover requirement: A minimum average annual turnover of €400,000 for each of the last two financial years. Tenderers must be able to provide signed accounts, financial statements, or a certified turnover statement from an independent accountant upon request.
• Insurance: The successful tenderer must hold the following insurances for the term of the Services Contract:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million limit per insurance year.
• Public Liability: €6.5 million limit per insurance year.
• Product Liability: Not applicable (N/A).
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million in the aggregate per insurance year. Tenderers must confirm they can obtain these insurances and that their policies include Ireland within their territorial limits.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified as a distinct criterion, but implied through the need to demonstrate financial standing and technical ability.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Services are to be provided within Ireland.

Tenderers must also confirm their ability to provide evidence of tax compliance and that the required insurances can be put in place.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award of the contract will be based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). While specific scoring weights are not detailed in the provided extract, the evaluation will assess compliant tenders against defined award criteria. The process involves an initial assessment of mandatory exclusion grounds and selection criteria. Only tenders that pass these initial stages will be evaluated against the award criteria. The extract indicates that the Contracting Authority reserves the right to examine tenders before verifying exclusion grounds and selection criteria, but ultimately, compliance with these will be verified.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the eTenders platform (www.etenders.gov.ie). Late submissions will not be accepted.

Key submission components 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 (Appendix 2). Prices must be all-inclusive (excluding VAT), expressed in Euro, and remain valid for 6 months from the Tender Deadline.
• Declarations:
• eESPD confirming satisfaction of selection criteria and absence of mandatory exclusion grounds.
• Tenderer’s Statement confirming acceptance of RFT requirements and Services Contract terms.
• Declaration as to Personal Circumstances of Tenderer (Appendix 4).
• Format: Tenders must be submitted in English. Electronic documents must be readable using PDF or Microsoft Office readers.
• File Size Limits: A file size limit of 250MB per file and a total limit of 2GB for all documentation apply on the eTenders platform.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Length: The Services Contract will be for a term of 12 months, with a right for the Contracting Authority to extend the term for a period of up to 6 months, with a maximum of one such extension.
• Payment Terms: Payments will be made in accordance with the Services Contract (Appendix 5).
• Pricing Validity: All prices quoted in the Tender must remain valid for 6 months commencing from the Tender Deadline. Currency variations over the contract term will be borne by the Tenderer.
• Termination: The Services Contract contains provisions for termination, including a 14-day notice period if a breach continues for 15 calendar days and a 30-day notice period for remediable breaches after a written request.
• Sub-contracting: The successful tenderer will be designated the Prime Contractor and must designate a single entity responsible for the contract, irrespective of subcontracting.
• Retention: A retention amount of €40,000 may be withheld from payments, not exceeding a specified limit.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Estimated Value vs. Bid Limit: The estimated expenditure is €400,000 (excl. VAT), and bids exceeding this amount will not be considered. This tight cap on bids, combined with the estimated value, suggests a precisely budgeted requirement.
• SME Encouragement: The Contracting Authority explicitly encourages participation by SMEs, including through consortia or relationships with larger enterprises. This indicates a potential openness to diverse bidder profiles.
• No Site Visit: There is no mandatory site visit specified for this tender.
• Product Liability N/A: The exclusion of Product Liability insurance is noted.
• Foreign Subsidies/IPI: Tenderers are alerted to EU regulations concerning foreign subsidies and third-country economic operators, requiring compliance and potential declarations.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender appears suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with specialised seismic survey acquisition capabilities. The turnover requirement of €400,000 annually for the last two years is achievable for established SMEs in this sector. The insurance requirements are standard for this type of service.

• Consortium/Sub-contracting: Consortiums and sub-contracting are permitted. SMEs are encouraged to form relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises if the scope is beyond their individual capacity.
• Bid-Prep Effort: The effort to prepare a bid would likely involve compiling standard company information, financial statements, insurance details, and a pricing schedule. Given the straightforward nature of the requirements, bid preparation could range from 5 to 15 days for a well-prepared SME.
• Pwin Signal: There is no explicit indication of an incumbent supplier or a framework agreement. The open procedure and SME encouragement suggest a competitive field. The primary determinant of success will likely be the most economically advantageous tender, balancing price and technical capability.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: GSI Seismic Survey Acquisition RfT.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact/Clarification Portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Key Attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 3: Tenderer’s Statement
• Appendix 5: Services Contract