Provision of Fencing and Access Gates at St. Naul's National School, Keelogs, Inver, Co. Donegal

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

The contractor is responsible for the construction of fencing and access gates at St. Naul's National School, located in Keelogs, Inver, Co. Donegal. The project involves the replacement of existing timber fencing and the installation of new fencing and gates to enhance the security and accessibility of the school premises.

Key activities include:

• Site Preparation: Conducting a thorough site inspection to assess existing conditions and prepare for construction.
• Fencing Installation: Installing perimeter fencing as per the detailed drawings provided in the tender documents.
• Access Gates: Constructing and installing access gates that comply with safety and operational standards.
• Materials Handling: Managing the procurement and delivery of materials required for the fencing and gates.
• Compliance: Ensuring all works comply with relevant health and safety regulations, including the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations.
• Quality Assurance: Implementing quality control measures to ensure the workmanship meets specified standards.
• Defects Liability: Providing a 12-month defects liability period post-completion, during which any defects must be rectified at no additional cost to the employer.

The project is categorized under CAT 10: External Environment Projects, which includes perimeter fencing, fencing upgrades, gates, and associated works.

3. Background & buyer context

This tender is being issued as part of an initiative to enhance the safety and accessibility of educational facilities in the region. The project aligns with local government policies aimed at improving infrastructure in schools. The St. Naul's National School has identified the need for upgraded fencing and access gates to ensure a secure environment for students and staff. There is no incumbent contractor mentioned, indicating that this is a new procurement process.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum average annual turnover of €500,000 in construction-related works over the last three years.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability: €6.5m for any one event
• Employer's Liability: €13.5m for any one event
• Product Liability: not specified for this tender
• Professional Indemnity: not specified for this tender
• Cyber: not specified for this tender
• Motor: not specified for this tender
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Minimum of 2 comparable projects completed in the last five years, each with a value of at least €250,000.
• Personnel: At least one project manager with a minimum of 5 years' experience in similar projects.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Must be able to operate within Co. Donegal.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Bids will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The contract will be awarded based on the lowest price, with no minimum scoring threshold specified for the quality of the proposal.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documents:

• Method statement / response document: Must follow the provided template with a maximum of 10 pages.
• CVs: For key personnel, limited to 2 pages each.
• Pricing schedule: Must use the specified template.
• Case studies: At least 2 case studies of similar projects, each valued between €250,000 and €500,000.
• Declarations: Including ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest declarations.
• Mandatory site visit: Bidders must arrange a site visit prior to submission. Contact Rory O’Donnell at 074 9736416.
• Submission portal: All submissions must be made via the eTenders platform, adhering to specified format rules.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract will be governed by the PW-CF6 Public Works Short Form of Contract. Key terms include:

• Term + extension structure: The contract duration is not specified, but completion is expected within 12 months of the start date.
• Payment terms: Interim payments will be made based on milestones achieved, with a retention of 5% until the end of the defects liability period.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Timely completion of works and adherence to quality standards are critical.
• Liquidated damages: A penalty of €500 per week will apply for delays beyond the agreed completion date.
• Termination clauses: The employer may terminate the contract for default if the contractor fails to meet obligations.
• IP ownership: All designs and documentation produced will remain the property of the employer.
• Sub-contracting rules: Sub-contracting is permitted but must be disclosed and approved by the employer.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Potential risks and concerns include:

• Turnover threshold: The minimum turnover requirement of €500,000 is close to the expected project value, which may limit competition.
• Geographic constraints: The requirement for bidders to operate within Co. Donegal may restrict participation from firms outside the area.
• Tight timeline: The expected completion date is aggressive, with significant penalties for delays.
• Site visit requirement: Mandatory site visits may pose logistical challenges for bidders not located nearby.

10. SME fit assessment

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that can credibly bid on this tender typically possess:

• Size/specialism: Firms with experience in fencing and construction works, particularly those familiar with school environments.
• Cert profile: Relevant insurance and compliance certifications are necessary.
• Consortium or sub-contracting: Allowed, but must be disclosed.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Approximately 10-15 days to prepare a competitive bid.
• Pwin signal: The absence of an incumbent contractor may provide an opportunity for new entrants, but the low price focus may favor established firms with lower cost structures.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: Invitation to Tender.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: not specified
• Contact email: [email protected]
• Important attachments:
• Volume A: Works Requirements
• Volume B: Form of Tender and Schedule
• Volume C: Pricing Schedule and Specifications