CIS – Community Involvement Scheme

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 Community Involvement Scheme (CIS). The scope of work is not detailed in the provided documentation. The tender documents primarily focus on the procurement process, eligibility criteria, and contract terms, rather than the specific day-to-day activities or deliverables expected from the contractor.

The provided documents indicate that the contract will be governed by the Public Works Contract for Minor Works (PW-CF5 v2.9). This contract framework outlines general obligations for contractors, including:

• Safety, Health, and Welfare: Compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and associated regulations is mandatory. This includes appointing a Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS) and ensuring all personnel are competent and adequately resourced.
• Quality and Standards: Adherence to specified standards of workmanship and materials is required. This involves quality assurance, inspection, and testing as per relevant Irish and European standards (e.g., IS EN 206, BS EN standards).
• Site Management: The contractor is responsible for all site operations, security, safety, and preventing nuisance. This includes managing access, facilities, and coordinating with other contractors.
• Programme and Progress: The contractor must adhere to a programme of works, provide progress reports, and manage time effectively to meet completion dates.
• Contract Administration: This includes managing communications, submitting required documents, handling claims, and participating in meetings.
• Personnel: The contractor must ensure their personnel are qualified, competent, and adhere to pay and conditions of employment. Subcontracting is permitted under specific conditions.
• Insurance and Indemnity: Maintaining specified levels of Public Liability, Employer's Liability, and Professional Indemnity insurance is a prerequisite. The contractor indemnifies the employer against loss, damage, and injury arising from their operations.
• Payment: Interim and final payments will be made based on the contract sum, with provisions for retention and VAT.

Specific project details, such as the nature of the "Community Involvement Scheme," required services, volumes of work, or named locations, are not present in the provided tender metadata or extracted phrases.

3. Background & buyer context

Louth County Council is procuring services under the Community Involvement Scheme (CIS). The specific context or strategic drivers for this procurement are not detailed in the provided documentation. The tender is structured as a public works contract, indicating it falls under the remit of public sector procurement regulations. The contract will be governed by the Public Works Contract for Minor Works (PW-CF5 v2.9), a standard form contract published by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. No information regarding an incumbent contractor or specific programme alignment (e.g., HEA-funded, Higher Education 4.0) is available.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement:
• Minimum average annual turnover of €2,000,000 excluding VAT per year over the three previous financial years.
• This turnover must be within the area of business defined for this contract.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum cover of €6,500,000 per event. Maximum excess of €10,000.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum cover of €13,000,000 per event.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Minimum cover of €1.5m (default level, proportionate to project size). Maximum permissible excess is the greater of 2% of annual turnover or €5,000. Cover is on an annual aggregate basis.
• Certifications:
• Evidence of a safety management system in accordance with ISO 45001:2018 or equivalent.
• Certified membership of Safe-T-Cert may be deemed equivalent for safety management systems.
• Compliance with relevant Irish and European standards (e.g., IS EN 206, BS EN standards) as specified in the contract documents.
• Past experience:
• Evidence of Health and Safety aspects of works previously undertaken over the past 5 years (or 7 years if necessary for competition).
• This evidence must be provided in the format of Appendix B1 (List of Previous Projects) and Appendix B2 (Certificate of Satisfactory Execution).
• Specific project experience requirements are not detailed in the provided metadata.
• Personnel:
• Management staff with appropriate educational/professional qualifications and experience, including Health and Safety qualifications, training, and experience relevant to the Works.
• Personnel with appropriate educational and professional qualifications and experience, including Health and Safety qualifications, training, and experience relevant to the Works.
• CVs for management staff and personnel must detail qualifications, experience on similar scale/complexity projects, and roles held.
• Average annual manpower and managerial staff involved in Health and Safety over the last 3 years must be provided.
• Geographic / facility constraints:
• Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria and scoring methodology are not detailed in the provided tender metadata or extracted phrases. It is understood that all health and safety selection criteria are pass/fail. The successful tenderer will be required to pass the Council's H&S Prequalification (SF069) prior to award of contract.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following:

• Method statement / response document:
• Completed Health and Safety Supplement 3.4.1, addressing specific criteria (HS) for educational and professional qualifications (management and personnel), list of works carried out, and measures for ensuring quality.
• Appendix B1: List of Previous Works Projects.
• Appendix B2: Certificate of Satisfactory Execution for previous projects.
• Appendix C: Banker's Letter (on applicant headed paper).
• Appendix D1/D2: Letter of Undertaking re. Bond (on surety's letterhead).
• SF007: Notice of Appointment of Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS) and Contractor.
• A Safety Statement in the format outlined by the Health and Safety Authority, addressing requirements in Table 1 of Appendix 1 to Supplement 3.4.1.
• CVs: For management staff and personnel, detailing relevant qualifications, Health and Safety training, experience, and roles.
• Pricing schedule: Not specified in the provided documents.
• Case studies: Not specified in the provided documents.
• Declarations:
• Declaration of competence and adequate resources under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
• Declaration regarding awareness and application of relevant Health and Safety Regulations.
• Declaration regarding enforcement actions, legal proceedings, accidents, fatalities, or incidents.
• Declaration that the organisation is competent and adequately resourced to fulfil obligations.
• Declaration that the Safety Statement addresses specific requirements and minimum standards.
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via eTenders. Specific format rules are not detailed.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Form: Public Works Contract for Minor Works (PW-CF5 v2.9).
• Term: Not specified.
• Extension: Not specified.
• Payment terms: Interim and final payments will be made. Retention applies. Time for payment and interest provisions are included.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified in the provided documents.
• Liquidated damages: Provisions for liquidated damages for failure to complete on time are included in the contract.
• Termination: The contract outlines termination for contractor default, termination by the contractor, and termination at the employer's election, with specified consequences.
• IP ownership: Rights in Contractor's Documents are addressed.
• Sub-contracting: Permitted under specific conditions as outlined in Section 5.4 of the contract.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond: A Performance Bond is required. A Letter of Undertaking re. Bond from a surety is a submission requirement. The amount of the performance bond is not to exceed a specified percentage of the eventual contract sum or a fixed euro amount, subject to contract requirements.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Lack of Scope Detail: The most significant red flag is the absence of a detailed scope of work. The tender documents focus heavily on procurement and contractual requirements but provide no information on what the "Community Involvement Scheme" actually entails. This makes it difficult for potential bidders to assess their suitability or prepare a meaningful bid.
• Health and Safety Focus: A substantial portion of the eligibility and submission requirements are dedicated to Health and Safety competence. While crucial, the emphasis suggests a high-risk project or a specific focus by Louth County Council on this aspect. Bidders must be exceptionally well-prepared in this area.
• Mandatory H&S Prequalification: The requirement to pass the Council's H&S Prequalification (SF069) prior to award indicates a multi-stage assessment where H&S is a critical gate.
• Standard Contract Form: The use of the Public Works Contract for Minor Works (PW-CF5 v2.9) is standard but implies a certain contractual framework and risk allocation that bidders should be familiar with.
• Turnover Requirement: The €2 million average annual turnover requirement is substantial for a "Minor Works" contract, potentially limiting competition.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely geared towards established small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a strong track record in construction and a robust Health and Safety management system.

• Who can credibly bid: A credible bidder would be a construction company with at least three years of trading history, demonstrating an average annual turnover of €2 million. They must have a proven track record in managing health and safety on construction sites, evidenced by their Safety Statement, ISO 45001 certification (or equivalent like Safe-T-Cert), and previous project experience. Experience in works similar in nature and complexity to those required by Louth County Council (though unspecified) is essential.
• Consortium/sub-contracting: The contract allows for subcontracting (Section 5.4), which could enable smaller firms to participate by subcontracting specific elements. However, the primary bidder must meet the turnover and experience requirements. Consortium bids are not explicitly mentioned but are generally permissible under public procurement rules if structured correctly.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Given the extensive Health and Safety documentation required (Supplement 3.4.1, Safety Statement, Appendices B1/B2, Banker's Letter, Surety Letter), bid preparation effort is likely high. A conservative estimate would be 10-20 working days for a well-prepared SME, assuming they have most documentation readily available. The lack of scope detail will increase uncertainty and potentially require more time for clarification.
• Pwin signal: The €2 million turnover requirement for a contract labelled "Minor Works" suggests that the project may be more substantial than the label implies, or that Louth County Council is seeking a high level of assurance. The strong emphasis on Health and Safety and the requirement for a performance bond also point to a need for experienced and reliable contractors. Without information on previous winners or incumbents, it's difficult to assess incumbent strength.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename(s): [2026 3.4.1- Works Contractor.docx], [PW-CF5_Contract_v2.9_25-11-2025.pdf], [Appendix-C-Bankers-Letter (2).docx], [Appendix-B1-List-of-Previous-Works-Projects-which-is-CEE (2).docx], [Appendix-D1-QW1-Letter-of-Undertaking-re.-Bond.docx], [Appendix-D2-QW2-Letter-of-Undertaking-re.-Bond (2).docx], [SF007 Appointment and Acceptance Letter for PSCS and Contractor.docx]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Not specified.
• Most important attachments:
• [2026 3.4.1- Works Contractor.docx] (Health and Safety Competence)
• [PW-CF5_Contract_v2.9_25-11-2025.pdf] (Public Works Contract for Minor Works)
• [Appendix-B1-List-of-Previous-Works-Projects-which-is-CEE (2).docx] (List of Previous Works Projects)