The South East Greenway – Lot 4

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 concerns the construction of Lot 4 of the South East Greenway, a project developed by Wexford County Council in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on a disused railway line. The successful contractor will be appointed as the Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS) and will be responsible for the overall safety and health management of the construction works.

The scope of work for Lot 4 encompasses approximately 1.2km of greenway construction. This includes:

• River Barrow Crossing: Construction of greenway across the River Barrow, north of New Ross, utilising the existing steel heritage bridge known as the Red Bridge, which spans approximately 180m.
• Embankment Section: Construction of a 200m length of greenway along an embankment connecting the North abutment of the Red Bridge to the Mount Elliott Tunnel.
• Mount Elliott Tunnel: Construction of greenway through the disused CIE tunnel, which is approximately 680m in length.
• Northern Terminus: Creation of a termination point at the northern end of the Mount Elliott Tunnel, incorporating a series of switchbacks to provide access to the R700 road.

The contractor will be required to comply with all duties and responsibilities under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005, and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 to 2021. This includes the preparation and implementation of a detailed Construction Stage Safety and Health Plan, site-specific risk assessments, and a temporary traffic management plan. The contractor will also be responsible for providing suitable welfare facilities and managing the site compound.

Key activities include:

• Managing all safety and health aspects of the construction works.
• Liaising with statutory bodies, including ESB Networks, Telecoms Network Providers, National Parks and Wildlife, and Emergency Services.
• Implementing a permit-to-work system for activities such as confined space entry, hot works, excavation, lifting, loading, and diving.
• Designing and managing temporary works, including access platforms, propping, scaffolding, and traffic management.
• Coordinating with Wexford County Council and local landowners regarding site compound location, storage, and staging areas.
• Maintaining and reinstating land occupied during the works.
• Ensuring safe access and egress for adjoining land users and residents.
• Managing existing services, including ESB, Gas Networks, Telecoms, and Irish Water, and complying with relevant codes of practice for avoiding danger from underground and overhead services.
• Preparing and submitting a Safety File upon completion of the works.

The works are expected to commence in April 2026 and be completed within 18 months. Standard working hours are Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00, and Saturday, 08:00 to 14:00, with potential for out-of-hours work subject to approval.

3. Background & buyer context

Wexford County Council, in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), is developing the South East Greenway project. This initiative aims to transform a disused railway line into a recreational route. The project commenced development in 2019 and is being progressed in separate lots. Lots 1, 2, and 3 are constructed, with 6km of the greenway opened in July 2023. Lot 5a, measuring 5.5km, commenced construction in November 2023.

Fehily Timoney and Company (FT) has been appointed to manage the remaining lots from their current status through to TII Phase 7. This tender for Lot 4 is part of this ongoing development programme. The specific focus on Lot 4 involves constructing approximately 1.2km of the greenway, including a river crossing via the Red Bridge and passage through the Mount Elliott tunnel. The successful contractor will assume the role of Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS), a statutory role under Irish health and safety legislation.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

The tender documents do not explicitly detail specific eligibility and selection criteria for bidders in the provided extract. However, the role of Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS) implies that bidders must demonstrate competence and experience in managing construction health and safety.

Based on the nature of the works and the regulatory framework, it is anticipated that bidders will need to demonstrate:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance: Not specified for this tender.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender. However, adherence to ISO standards and relevant Irish health and safety regulations is implicit.
• Past experience: Bidders will likely need to demonstrate significant experience in managing construction projects, particularly those involving infrastructure, heritage structures, tunnels, and working near water and utilities. Experience as a PSCS would be a strong advantage.
• Personnel: The contractor will be required to appoint a safety officer if they have twenty or more people under their control. Key personnel will need to demonstrate relevant expertise.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

The Preliminary Safety and Health Plan outlines the regulatory framework and the expected duties of the PSCS, indicating the level of expertise and responsibility required.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The provided tender documents do not contain specific details regarding the award criteria and scoring methodology. Typically, for public sector tenders of this nature, the award is based on a combination of technical merit and price. The evaluation would likely assess the bidder's proposed approach to safety management, their understanding of the project's risks, their proposed programme, and their overall technical capability, weighted against their financial offer. The principle of "Most Economically Advantageous Tender" (MEAT) is standard for such procurements.

6. Submission requirements

The provided documents do not detail the specific submission requirements for the tender response. However, based on the nature of the procurement and the Preliminary Safety and Health Plan, it is expected that bidders will be required to submit:

• Method Statement / Response Document: Detailing their approach to fulfilling the PSCS role, managing the specific risks identified for Lot 4, and their proposed construction methodology.
• Pricing Schedule: A detailed breakdown of costs associated with the works.
• Declarations: Including any required statutory declarations, tax clearance certificates, and potentially a declaration of suitability.
• Health and Safety Plan: A detailed Construction Stage Safety and Health Plan, building upon the preliminary plan provided.
• Risk Assessments: Site-specific risk assessments for the proposed works.
• Temporary Traffic Management Plan (TTMP): A plan for managing traffic during construction.
• CVs: For key personnel, demonstrating their experience and qualifications, particularly in health and safety management.
• Case Studies: Examples of previous projects demonstrating relevant experience.
• Certifications: Evidence of relevant accreditations or certifications.

The submission will be made via the eTenders platform. Specific templates, page limits, and formatting requirements would be detailed in the full Request for Tender (RFT) documentation.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The provided documents do not detail specific contract terms beyond the regulatory framework and the PSCS role. However, based on the nature of the contract and the preliminary safety documentation, the following are likely to be material:

• Contract Length: The works shall be completed within 18 months of appointment.
• Payment Terms: Standard public sector payment terms are expected, likely adhering to prompt payment legislation.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: While not explicitly stated, performance will be measured against the safe and timely completion of the works in accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005, and associated regulations.
• Liquidated Damages: Not specified in the extract, but common in construction contracts for delays.
• Termination Clauses: Standard termination clauses for breach of contract or insolvency are expected.
• IP Ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting Rules: The contractor is responsible for sub-contractors in the same manner as employees.
• Parent-Company Guarantee / Bond: Not specified.

The contractor will be required to fulfil the duties of the Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS) under Irish legislation.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• PSCS Appointment: The tender is for the contractor to fulfil the duties of the Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS). This is a statutory role with significant legal responsibilities. Bidders must be fully aware of these duties and liabilities.
• Tunnel and Heritage Bridge Works: The scope includes works within a disused tunnel and on a heritage steel bridge (Red Bridge). These present specific risks related to confined spaces, potential contaminants (soot, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, diesel particulates, lead-based paint), structural integrity, and working at height over water.
• Environmental Risks: Risks of Weil's disease from open watercourses and potential contamination within the tunnel require specific health and safety protocols.
• Existing Services: A complex network of existing ESB, Gas Networks, Telecoms (Eir, Aurora), and Irish Water services are present adjacent to and within the Lot 4 boundary. The contractor must meticulously identify, liaise with utility providers, and manage these services to avoid disruption or danger.
• Tight Go-Live: The intended contract commencement date is April 2026, with a submission deadline in October 2026. This suggests a potential mismatch in dates, or that the submission deadline is for a future procurement stage. Assuming the go-live date is correct, bidders must be ready to mobilise quickly.
• Safety Focus: The primary document provided is a Preliminary Safety and Health Plan, indicating a strong emphasis on health and safety compliance throughout the procurement and execution phases.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured around the appointment of a Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS). This role requires significant experience in construction health and safety management, regulatory compliance, and project coordination.

• Who can credibly bid: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with a strong track record in construction project management, particularly those with proven experience in fulfilling PSCS duties on infrastructure projects, heritage sites, or complex civil engineering works, are likely to be suitable. A demonstrated understanding of Irish health and safety legislation is essential.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The documents do not explicitly state whether consortium bids or sub-contracting are permitted. However, given the nature of the PSCS role, the lead contractor would likely need to demonstrate overall capability, potentially sub-contracting specific construction elements.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Bid preparation would likely require significant effort, estimated at 10-20 days, focusing on developing a comprehensive Construction Stage Safety and Health Plan, detailed risk assessments, method statements, and a robust programme, alongside pricing.
• Pwin signal: The tender is for a specific lot within a larger greenway development. The fact that other lots are already constructed or under construction suggests a structured programme. The emphasis on the PSCS role and the detailed safety documentation indicates a high level of regulatory scrutiny. The presence of specific risks (tunnel, heritage bridge, utilities) may favour specialist contractors.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: P24112-FT-ZZ-L4-TR-HS-0006.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email / clarification portal: Not specified in the extract. Refer to the full RFT documentation.
• Most important attachments:
• Preliminary Safety and Health Plan (P24112-FT-ZZ-L4-TR-HS-0006.pdf)
• Works Requirements Volume A (referenced, not provided)
• Appendix 1 – Designers Risk Assessment (referenced, not provided)
• Appendix 2 – Known Service Location Details (referenced, not provided)