Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Works at Moorepark

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 for the design, construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of wastewater treatment plant upgrade works at Teagasc's Moorepark Campus in Fermoy, Co. Cork. The existing facility treats wastewater from research, pilot plant, and associated campus operations. The upgrade aims to enhance treatment flexibility, operational resilience, environmental protection, and process monitoring capabilities, ensuring regulatory compliance.

The project scope includes:

• Upgrades to treatment infrastructure: This encompasses the physical components of the wastewater treatment process.
• Process control systems: Enhancements to automated systems that manage and regulate treatment operations.
• Monitoring systems: Implementation or improvement of systems for tracking key performance indicators and environmental parameters.
• Associated civil works: Construction and modification of structures, pipework, and site infrastructure.
• Mechanical works: Installation and integration of mechanical equipment.
• Electrical works: Installation and integration of electrical systems and controls.
• Operation and maintenance services: Teagasc may include ongoing operational and maintenance responsibilities as part of the contract delivery model.

The contract period is approximately 12 months, with potential for subsequent operation and maintenance services. The procurement is structured in two stages: Stage 1 involves a Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), followed by Stage 2, a Competitive Procedure with Negotiation for shortlisted applicants.

3. Background & buyer context

Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, is procuring upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant at its Moorepark Campus. This initiative aligns with Teagasc's commitment to environmental protection and operational efficiency within its research facilities. The Moorepark Campus conducts diverse agricultural, food, and environmental research. The existing wastewater treatment facility requires modernization to meet current regulatory standards and to support the campus's ongoing research activities. The procurement is being conducted under the Competitive Procedure with Negotiation, adhering to EU directives and Irish regulations.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must satisfy the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Applicants must demonstrate an average minimum annual turnover of €1.5 million for each of the three preceding financial years (2023, 2024, 2025). This must be certified by an auditor's letter confirming the amounts.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum cover of €6,500,000 per accident.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum cover of €13,000,000 per accident.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Minimum cover of €1,500,000 per claim. The maximum permissible excess on Professional Indemnity Insurance is the greater of 2% of annual turnover or €5,000.
• Certifications: While not explicitly listed as mandatory for all bidders, the tender documentation references ISO 45001 (or equivalent) for safety management systems and ISO 14001 (or equivalent) for environmental management systems. Safe-T-Cert membership may be deemed equivalent for quality control purposes.
• Past experience: Applicants must provide evidence of completed projects similar in nature and complexity to the works required. The Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) contains detailed criteria for this. Appendix B1 requires a list of previous works projects.
• Personnel: Curricula Vitae (CVs) for management and personnel staff are required, detailing their educational and professional qualifications, Health and Safety training, and experience on similar projects. Specific minimum years of experience are not stated as a hard gate but are assessed within the CV evaluation.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The procurement uses a Competitive Procedure with Negotiation, culminating in an evaluation based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). While specific scoring weights are not detailed in the provided extract, the process involves two stages: Stage 1 (Suitability Assessment) and Stage 2 (Negotiation and Final Tender).

The MEAT evaluation will likely consider a combination of technical merit and price. Minimum pass marks for qualification criteria are stated: 60% of marks (1200 out of 2000) for some criteria, 60% (1500 out of 2500) for others, 60% (2400 out of 4000), and 60% (900 out of 1500). These thresholds apply to the Suitability Assessment stage. The final award will be based on the MEAT principle, implying a balance between quality and cost.

6. Submission requirements

The initial submission requires applicants to complete and submit the Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) along with all requested supporting documentation. Key submission components include:

• Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): The primary document for Stage 1 evaluation.
• Supporting Documentation: This includes:
• Certified average minimum turnover for the last three financial years (2023, 2024, 2025), supported by an auditor's letter.
• Details of previous works projects, to be submitted using Appendix B1 (List of Previous Works Projects).
• Certificates of Satisfactory Execution for previous projects (Appendix B2).
• Curricula Vitae (CVs) for key personnel, using the provided template (Appendix-CV Template Form.docx), detailing qualifications, experience, and Health and Safety training. A maximum of three past projects will be considered per CV.
• Banker's Letter (Appendix C_Bankers_Letter.docx).
• Health and Safety Supplement (3.4.1-HS-Works-Contractor_v3.1-25-11-2025.docx).
• Declarations: Implicitly required through the SAQ and supplementary forms, including tax clearance verification.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be delivered via eTenders.
• Mandatory site visit: Not explicitly stated as mandatory for Stage 1, but a site visit may be organised via the eTenders messaging facility.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract duration is approximately 12 months, with the possibility of subsequent operation and maintenance services. Payment terms are not specified in the provided documentation. Key Service Level Agreements (SLAs) or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are not detailed at this stage, but will likely be defined during the negotiation phase. Liquidated damages or penalty regimes are not mentioned. Termination clauses and Intellectual Property (IP) ownership will be detailed in the full contract documents. Sub-contracting rules and requirements for parent-company guarantees or bonds are not specified in the extract.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The procurement uses a Competitive Procedure with Negotiation, which allows for significant dialogue and refinement of proposals after initial submission. This can be advantageous for complex projects but also requires bidders to be adaptable. The two-stage process means that initial submissions focus on suitability, with detailed technical and commercial proposals submitted later. The absence of a stated estimated value means bidders must assess the likely scale based on the scope and their own experience. The inclusion of operation and maintenance services within the potential scope adds complexity to the contractor's role and pricing. The deadline for submission is relatively distant, suggesting a thorough evaluation process.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely geared towards medium to large enterprises with established experience in wastewater treatment plant design, construction, and operation. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) might be able to participate if they form a consortium with other companies or act as specialist sub-contractors to a larger lead bidder. The requirement for significant insurance cover (€6.5m Public Liability, €13m Employer's Liability, €1.5m Professional Indemnity) and a minimum average annual turnover of €1.5 million presents a substantial barrier for very small businesses operating independently. Bid preparation effort for the SAQ stage would be considerable, requiring detailed documentation of turnover, past projects, personnel qualifications, and health and safety compliance. The "Pwin" (probability of winning) signal is unclear without knowing the incumbent or previous tender history, but the competitive procedure with negotiation suggests Teagasc is seeking optimal solutions rather than simply the lowest price.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename(s): C4816 - Invitation to Tender Letter.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: not stated
• Contact email or clarification portal: eTenders messaging facility
• Most important attachments:
• Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)
• Appendix B1 - List of Previous Works Projects
• Appendix-CV Template Form.docx
• 3.4.1-HS-Works-Contractor_v3.1-25-11-2025.docx