Supply and Delivery of a Water Tanker/Carrier Fire Appliance

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

Wexford County Council seeks a contractor for the supply and delivery of one water tanker/carrier fire appliance to the Wexford County Fire Service. The contract encompasses the design, construction, and delivery of a fire appliance that meets specific technical specifications and performance criteria.

Key activities include:

• Construction Standards: The appliance must comply with the latest edition of EN 1846, motor class of super (S), urban category (1).
• Capacity Requirements: The water tank must hold a minimum of 8,000 litres for firefighting purposes.
• Pump Performance: The installed pump must deliver a performance of 10 bar, with a flow rate of 2,000 litres per minute.
• Chassis Specifications: The appliance must be built on an 18 tonnes (18,000 Kg) Gross Vehicle Weight Rating chassis.
• Engine Power: The engine must have a minimum output of 320 BHP.
• Seating Capacity: The appliance must accommodate two persons.
• Locker Arrangement: Appropriate locker arrangements for firefighting equipment must be included.

The contractor is responsible for ensuring that all components meet the outlined specifications and for delivering the appliance to the designated location within the specified timeline.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is initiated to enhance the firefighting capabilities of Wexford County Fire Service, aligning with local government objectives to improve emergency response services. The decision to procure a new water tanker is driven by the need to replace aging equipment and ensure compliance with updated safety and operational standards. The contract is part of Wexford County Council's ongoing commitment to public safety and efficient emergency services.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Product Liability: €6.5 million
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million
• Environmental Liability: €6.5 million
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: All work must be carried out at a facility located within a 25 km radius of Wexford Fire Station.

Bidders must provide evidence of compliance with these criteria in their tender submissions.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Bids will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The evaluation will follow a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) approach, focusing on the best price-quality ratio. No minimum scoring threshold is specified for individual criteria.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documents:

• Method statement / response document: Use the provided Tender Response Document (TRD) template, adhering to any specified page limits.
• CVs: Include CVs for key personnel, limited to two pages each.
• Pricing schedule: Format as per the provided template.
• Case studies: Provide two case studies demonstrating relevant experience, with values ranging from €100,000 to €330,000.
• Declarations: Complete the Declaration of Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest forms.
• Mandatory site visit: Not applicable for this tender.
• Submission portal: All submissions must be made via www.etenders.gov.ie.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract will be for a period of three years, with the possibility of three extensions based on satisfactory performance and budget availability. Key terms include:

• Payment terms: Not specified in the documents.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Regular performance reports and adherence to agreed service levels.
• Liquidated damages: Not specified in the documents.
• Termination clauses: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to terminate the contract for reasons outside its control, including increased costs due to changes in the Customs Union.
• IP ownership: Not specified in the documents.
• Sub-contracting rules: Allowed, but the primary contractor must demonstrate control over the delivery of the contract.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Potential risks and concerns include:

• Geographic constraint: The requirement for all work to be conducted within a 25 km radius of Wexford Fire Station may limit the pool of eligible bidders.
• Insurance requirements: The high levels of required insurance may pose a barrier for smaller firms without existing coverage.
• Lack of specified turnover: The absence of a minimum turnover requirement may lead to uncertainty regarding the financial stability of bidders.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is open to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with relevant experience in manufacturing or supplying fire appliances. Viable bidders should have:

• Size/specialism: Experience in fire service equipment or similar sectors.
• Consortium/sub-contracting: Allowed, enabling SMEs to collaborate to meet requirements.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Approximately 10-15 days to prepare a compliant bid.
• Pwin signal: The lack of an incumbent may provide opportunities for new entrants, but the high insurance and technical specifications may favor established firms.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: WCC_2A_RFT_Contract_OpenProcedure_2026 (Water Tanker).docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified.
• Contact for queries: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie.
• Important attachments: Appendix 1 – Contract Terms and Conditions, Tender Response Document (TRD).