Additional office areas to Corlann Services Clare training centre

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 construction services to create additional office areas within the Corlann Services Clare training centre. The project involves extending the existing building to provide approximately 278m² of new first-floor office space.

The scope of work includes:

• Construction of new office areas: This involves forming approximately 278m² of additional first-floor office space. Specific room sizes mentioned include 14 m², 10 m², 22 m², 17 m², 15 m², 11 m², 16 m², 12 m², 38 m², 23 m², 26 m², and 20 m².
• Building works: The contractor will be responsible for all construction activities required to complete the new office areas. This includes structural work, internal fit-out, and finishes.
• Compliance with standards: The works must comply with the Short Public Works Contract PW-CF6 v1.15, Building Control Regulations, and relevant Irish and European standards (e.g., BS EN standards for timber, steel, and electrical installations).
• Site management: The contractor must manage the site, ensuring safety, order, and minimal disruption to existing operations. This includes securing the site, keeping it free from obstructions, and protecting persons and nearby areas from hazards.
• Access and services: The contractor is responsible for the suitability and availability of access routes to and through the site, as well as obtaining and providing required facilities, power, water, and other services, unless specified otherwise by the contract.
• Testing and commissioning: The contractor must ensure all works are tested and commissioned as required by the contract and relevant regulations.
• Handover and documentation: At completion, the contractor must hand over the completed works and provide all necessary documentation, including O&M manuals, as specified in the contract.
• Defect rectification: The contractor must rectify any defects identified before the issue of the Defects Certificate.

The contract is based on the Short Public Works Contract PW-CF6 v1.15. The contractor must construct and complete the works at its own expense, complying with the contract, the Employer’s Representative’s instructions, and the law.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is for additional office space at the Corlann Services Clare training centre, located at Gort Road Industrial Park, Ennis. Corlann Services is an organisation that provides services, and the training centre is a key facility. The need for additional office areas suggests an expansion of operations or an increase in personnel requiring dedicated workspace. The procurement is being conducted under the Short Public Works Contract framework, indicating a project of a certain scale and complexity managed by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. No specific programme or policy is explicitly mentioned as driving this procurement, but it aligns with general public sector needs for functional and adequate facilities.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €13,000,000 for any one event.
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity of €6,500,000.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity of €6,500,000.
• Insurance of the Works and goods and materials for the Works: Maximum excess of €5,000.
• Public Liability: Maximum excess of €6,500.
• Employer's Liability: Maximum excess of €6,500.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are not detailed in the provided extract. However, the contract is based on the Short Public Works Contract PW-CF6 v1.15, which typically follows a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) approach. This means bids will be evaluated on a combination of price and quality. Specific scoring weights and sub-criteria would be detailed in the full tender documents.

6. Submission requirements

The submission requirements are not fully detailed in the provided extract. However, based on the contract type and typical public works tenders, bidders will likely need to submit:

• Completed Form of Tender: This will include pricing details.
• Declarations: This may include declarations of eligibility, bona fides, tax clearance, and absence of conflicts of interest.
• Insurance Details: Proof of required insurance cover.
• Method Statement/Programme: Potentially a programme of works or method statement demonstrating how the contractor will deliver the project within the specified timeframe.
• CVs: For key personnel, if specified.
• Case Studies: If required, to demonstrate relevant experience.
• Submission Portal: Bids will be submitted electronically via the eTenders platform.

Specific templates, page limits, and mandatory attachments will be detailed in the full tender documentation.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Type: Short Public Works Contract PW-CF6 v1.15.
• Contract Length: 6 months.
• Payment Terms: Interim payments on account as scheduled, a percentage upon substantial completion, and the balance after the Defects Certificate is issued. Payment claims require a notice, followed by the Employer's Representative's certificate within 14 days. The Employer shall pay the invoiced amount within the period stated in the Schedule. Late payments incur interest as per the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012.
• Liquidated Damages: Apply if the contractor fails to substantially complete the works within the Time for Completion, at a rate specified in the Schedule.
• Termination: The contract allows for termination under specific circumstances, including suspension of works for over 3 months.
• Sub-contracting: The contractor cannot subcontract the whole of the works. Subcontracting parts of the works requires the Employer’s Representative’s consent unless already provided for in the contract.
• Performance Bond: May be required, to be provided within 7 days of tender acceptance if stated in the Schedule.
• Price Variation: The Price will change only as expressly provided in the contract. Contractor's costs are at their risk except where the Price is increased under the contract. Adjustments for Compensation Events are detailed.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Value Undisclosed: The absence of a disclosed estimated value for a construction project of this scale (278m² of new office space) is unusual. This could indicate a highly variable scope or a reliance on the contractor's pricing.
• Short Contract Duration: A 6-month contract for new building construction, especially with potential for unforeseen site conditions or delays, presents a tight timeline.
• Short Public Works Contract: This contract form is typically used for projects up to €1 million. The lack of a disclosed value makes it difficult to assess if this project falls within that band or if it's an exception.
• Limited Detail on Selection Criteria: Key selection criteria such as turnover and past experience are not specified in the provided metadata, which is atypical for a public tender of this nature. Bidders will need to consult the full tender documents for these crucial details.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized construction firms with experience in building extensions and office fit-outs.

• Credibly Bid: A firm with a proven track record in delivering similar-sized building projects within Ireland, possessing the required insurance cover, and capable of adhering to the Short Public Works Contract conditions would be a suitable bidder. Experience with public sector projects is advantageous.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The contract explicitly prohibits subcontracting the whole of the works. Subcontracting parts of the works is permitted with the Employer's Representative's consent. Consortium bids are not explicitly mentioned but would likely be permissible if structured correctly and all members meet eligibility criteria.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Given the need to review the Short Public Works Contract, understand the scope, and prepare pricing and any required method statements, bid preparation could take several days for an experienced firm.
• Pwin Signal: The lack of a disclosed value and specific selection criteria makes it difficult to assess the incumbent's strength or potential for a competitive bidding environment. The use of the Short Public Works Contract suggests a project within a defined budget band, but without that figure, it's speculative.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: PW-CF6_Contract_v1.15_25-11-2025.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not surfaced in provided metadata.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Not surfaced in provided metadata.
• Key Attachments:
• PW-CF6 v1.15 25-11-2025 Conditions
• Schedule (details specific to this contract, e.g., Time for Completion, Price, Employer's Representative)