Bridgetown College Wexford - Heating Centre Upgrade

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 perform an upgrade of the heating centre at Bridgetown College, Co. Wexford, under the Department of Education & Youth Emergency Works Scheme 2026. The contract encompasses the complete decommissioning, installation, and commissioning of a new heating system.

The constituent activities include:

• Decommissioning and removal of the existing oil-fired boiler plant and associated redundant services.
• Installation of a new LPG-fired boiler plant and all necessary associated heating centre equipment.
• Installation of new external LPG storage tanks and underground LPG distribution services.
• Modification of the existing Low Temperature Hot Water (LTHW) heating distribution network, including controls and the Motor Control Centre (MCC).
• Installation of new flues, pressurisation equipment, expansion vessels, and water treatment systems.
• Provision and integration of associated electrical services and safety interfaces.
• Execution of all necessary excavation, builders' works, making good, and reinstatement of the site.
• Comprehensive testing, commissioning, certification, and demonstration of the new system.
• 12-month maintenance during the Defects Period.
• Completion of all ancillary works required to ensure a fully operational installation.

The works will be governed by the Short Public Works Contract (PW-CF6). The contractor will be required to act as Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS) in compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 to 2021.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is part of the Department of Education & Youth Emergency Works Scheme 2022. The project aims to upgrade the heating centre at Bridgetown College, Co. Wexford, addressing existing infrastructure needs. The works are being procured under the Short Public Works Contract (PW-CF6), a standard form for public construction projects in Ireland. The Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board is the contracting authority. The successful contractor will be required to comply with all relevant safety regulations, including appointment as Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS).

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

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

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €6,500,000.00 for any one event.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €13,000,000.00 for any one event.
• Maximum excess for Public Liability: €6,500.
• Maximum excess for Employer's Liability: €6,500.
• Maximum excess for insurance of the Works and goods/materials: €2,500.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Bidders shall provide a minimum of ten satisfactory references for comparable projects upon request.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria and scoring mechanism are not detailed in the provided documentation. However, the tender documents indicate that acceptance of a tender is dependent on the successful contractor providing necessary evidence of compliance, including insurances, tax clearance, previous works examples, and health and safety information, within 7 days of request. This suggests a pre-qualification stage based on mandatory requirements before any scoring of submitted tenders. The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), which typically involves a balance of quality and price, though specific weightings are not provided.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit their bids via the eTenders platform. Specific requirements include:

• Method statement / response document: Not specified for this tender.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: Not specified for this tender.
• Case studies: A minimum of ten satisfactory references for comparable projects must be provided upon request.
• Declarations:
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number are required for online verification of tax status.
• Evidence of compliance, including insurances, tax clearance, previous works examples, and health and safety information, must be provided within 7 days of request.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: All tenders must be submitted via eTenders. Specific format rules are to be detailed in the CFT and Tender Submission Checklist.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract will be based on the Short Public Works Contract (PW-CF6). Key terms include:

• Term + extension: The contract includes a 12-month Defects Period maintenance. Further extension provisions are not specified.
• Payment terms: Interim payments are made on account as scheduled. A significant portion of the price is paid after substantial completion, with the balance paid after the Defects Certificate is issued. Payment claim notices require a response within 14 days, and the Employer must pay invoices within the period stated in the Schedule. Late payments incur interest as per the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified for this tender.
• Liquidated damages: A rate of €300 per day is mentioned in the "DO-NOT-USE-AS-BINDING" section, but its application to this specific tender is not confirmed. Liquidated damages apply if the Contractor fails to substantially complete the Works within the Time for Completion.
• Termination clauses: The contract outlines termination scenarios, including Employer termination if a suspension lasts longer than 3 months and permission to proceed is not granted.
• IP ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting rules: The Contractor may engage sub-processors for data processing, provided prior written notice is given to the Employer and equivalent contractual clauses are in place. Assignment of the contract requires Employer consent.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond: If the Schedule states a performance bond is required, it must be provided within 7 days of tender acceptance.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The tender documents are relatively standard for a public works contract. However, the absence of specific detail in several key areas presents potential risks for bidders:

• Lack of detailed award criteria: The absence of a defined scoring matrix for quality and price makes it difficult for bidders to tailor their submissions effectively. The emphasis on MEAT suggests a balance, but the weighting is unknown.
• Limited information on contract length and value breakdown: While the estimated value is €290,000, the overall contract duration and specific payment milestones are not detailed, making financial planning more challenging.
• Reliance on eTenders for critical information: Key details such as the Tender Submission Checklist, specific submission requirements, and potentially the award criteria are referenced as being available via eTenders, necessitating careful monitoring of the platform.
• Potential for incumbent advantage: While not explicitly stated, the nature of educational facility upgrades can sometimes favour existing service providers if they possess specific knowledge of the site's systems.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with demonstrable experience in mechanical and electrical services, specifically in heating system upgrades.

• Who can credibly bid: A firm with a proven track record in installing and commissioning commercial heating systems, including LPG infrastructure, and experience with public sector contracts would be well-positioned. The requirement for PSCS appointment indicates a need for strong health and safety management capabilities.
• Consortium or sub-contracting: The contract does not explicitly prohibit sub-contracting, and it is common in construction projects of this nature. However, the primary contractor will be held responsible. Consortium bids are not explicitly mentioned but are generally permissible in public procurement.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Given the need to gather references, understand the PW-CF6 contract, and prepare a compliant tender, bid preparation could require 10-20 days of effort for a focused team.
• Pwin signal: The tender is advertised under the Short Public Works Contract, suggesting it is open to a competitive market. The absence of specific incumbent information or framework agreements implies a standard procurement process. The €290,000 value falls within the range where SMEs can compete effectively.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: [0862 - INVITATION TO TENDER.pdf]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided documents.
• Contact email or clarification portal: All tender/technical queries and site visit requests must be submitted via the eTenders messaging facility.
• Most important attachments:
• [0862 - INVITATION TO TENDER.pdf] (contains scope and general information)
• PW-CF6_Contract_v1.15_25-11-2025.pdf (the contract conditions)