Upgrade Works at Tullow Town Park, Tullow, Co. Carlow

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 contractors to undertake upgrade works at Tullow Town Park, Co. Carlow. The project involves the construction of a new skatepark facility and associated landscaping. The scope includes site preparation, construction of concrete skatepark elements, and landscaping works.

Key activities and deliverables include:

• Skatepark Construction:
• Construction of concrete skatepark elements, including ramps, banks, quarter pipes, manual pads, roll-ins, hips, ledges, and curved kerbs.
• Specific elements include:
• Slab and ramps (minimum 150mm thick R/C concrete).
• Reinforcement to BS 4483 and BS 4449, with minimum lap of 400mm.
• Concrete grade minimum C30/37.
• Steel coping (60mm galvanised steel tube).
• Frames from 60mm bent angle and 30mm SHS.
• 16mm galvanised solid steel bar.
• Skating surfaces to be float finished concrete or granite paving.
• Ramp build-up material to be Type 1 MOT or lean mix concrete, compacted in maximum 300mm layers.
• Slab edges to have aris-trowelled edge.
• Upstands to be painted (colour to be confirmed).
• Site Preparation and Sub-structure:
• Type 1 sub-base in accordance with Clause 804 of the TII Specification.
• 6I5 capping to be in accordance with Clause 613 of the TII Specification.
• Sub-bases and capping layers to extend 500mm beyond the proposed slab edge perimeter.
• Proof rolling of the skate park area, with soft spots filled with well-compacted 6I3/6I5 capping.
• Landscaping:
• Mounding of as-dug material to the back of raised areas to landscape architect's detail (1:3 gradient).
• Installation of precast concrete benches and kerbs.
• General Construction Requirements:
• All levels are in metres unless specified otherwise.
• Nominal cover to reinforcement to be 40mm to top.
• Concrete finishes to be steel trowelled.
• Contractor to allow for temporary propping of steel edge copes when concreting.
• Notification to the architect and engineer if ground conditions vary from those shown.
• Compliance with current Building Regulations and BS standards.

3. Background & buyer context

Carlow County Council is procuring these works to upgrade facilities within Tullow Town Park. The project aims to introduce a new recreational amenity, specifically a skatepark, to enhance the park's offering for the local community. The tender documents reference a tree survey undertaken on 24 November 2023 and a site assessment on 22 February 2023, indicating a recent evaluation of the park's existing conditions and ecological context. This procurement aligns with the council's objective to improve public amenities and provide modern recreational spaces.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement:
• Average annual turnover of €900,000 in the General Construction/Civil Engineering category over the past three years.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum €6,500,000 per event.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum €13,000,000 per event.
• Contractor All Risks Insurance: As per the Form of Tender & Schedules.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Not specified for this tender, but excess must not exceed the greater of 2% of annual turnover or €5,000.
• 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 quality assurance.
• Past experience:
• Evidence of Health and Safety aspects of works previously undertaken by the Applicant over the past 5 years (or 7 years if necessary for competition). Projects must be similar in nature and complexity to the Works. This is to be provided via Appendix B1 (List of Previous Works Projects) and Appendix B2 (Certificate of Satisfactory Execution).
• Personnel:
• Evidence of management staff with appropriate educational/professional qualifications and experience relevant to the Works.
• Evidence of personnel with appropriate educational and professional qualifications and experience relevant to the Works.
• Submission of a statement of average annual numbers of persons employed and those in managerial positions over the last 3 years, specifically in relation to Health and Safety.
• Geographic / facility constraints:
• Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are not explicitly detailed with scoring percentages in the provided documentation. However, the tender process follows a standard public procurement model where bids are evaluated based on a combination of price and quality. The Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and associated Health and Safety Competence sections indicate that technical capability, health and safety compliance, and quality assurance measures are critical evaluation components. These are typically assessed on a pass/fail basis or contribute to the overall quality score. The final award will be made to the most economically advantageous tender, considering both price and qualitative aspects.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documentation:

• Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): Completed in full, including Section 2 and relevant Health and Safety Supplement 3.4.1.
• Curricula Vitae (CVs): For management staff and other relevant personnel, detailing qualifications, experience, and project roles. CVs should not exceed a specified page count (not stated).
• Pricing Schedule: To be completed in the format provided (template not specified).
• List of Previous Works Projects: Completed via Appendix B1, with corresponding Certificates of Satisfactory Execution via Appendix B2.
• Declarations:
• Banker's Letter (Appendix C).
• Letter of Undertaking/Bond from a Surety (Appendix D1/D2).
• Safety Statement in the format outlined by the Health and Safety Authority.
• Other declarations as required by the SAQ and its appendices.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Bids must be submitted via the eTenders platform. Specific formatting rules for electronic submission are not detailed.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Type: Likely a Public Works Contract, given the SAQ structure and references to PSCS/PSDP roles.
• Term: Not specified.
• Extension: Not specified.
• Payment Terms: Standard public sector payment terms apply, likely 30 days from valid claim, subject to prompt payment legislation.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not detailed in the provided extracts. Health and Safety compliance is a critical performance indicator.
• Liquidated Damages: Not specified.
• Termination Clauses: Not detailed.
• IP Ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting: Not specified.
• Parent-Company Guarantee/Bond: A Letter of Undertaking/Bond from a Surety is required as part of the submission documentation (Appendices D1/D2). The amount is not specified but is linked to the eventual contract sum.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Value Undisclosed: The absence of an estimated contract value makes it difficult for bidders to gauge the scale of the project and assess resource allocation. This could lead to a wide range of bid sizes or a lack of competitive tension if the value is significantly higher or lower than anticipated.
• Limited Detail on Award Criteria: While the SAQ covers technical and safety aspects, the specific weighting and scoring for award criteria (price vs. quality) are not detailed. This can make bid preparation challenging, as the precise balance of factors influencing the award is unclear.
• Health and Safety Focus: The extensive SAQ sections dedicated to Health and Safety Competence (3.4.1a-e) indicate a high priority placed on safety management. Bidders must demonstrate robust H&S policies, training, and track record. Failure in these pass/fail criteria will lead to exclusion.
• Turnover Requirement: The €900,000 average annual turnover requirement, while not exceptionally high, is a standard gate for general construction/civil engineering works.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured for general construction and civil engineering contractors. A small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) could credibly bid if they meet the turnover requirement and have a demonstrable track record in similar civil engineering and construction projects, particularly those involving concrete structures and landscaping.

• Viable Bidder Profile: An SME with an annual turnover averaging €900,000 in general construction/civil engineering, a strong health and safety management system (ideally ISO 45001 certified or equivalent like Safe-T-Cert), and at least 5 years of experience delivering comparable projects would be well-positioned.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The documents do not explicitly prohibit consortia or sub-contracting. However, the SAQ is completed by the "Applicant" or "Lead Member," suggesting a primary entity is responsible. SMEs may consider forming consortia to meet requirements or sub-contracting specialist elements if permitted.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing the SAQ, detailed pricing, and supporting documentation (CVs, previous projects, H&S statements) would likely require 10-20 days of effort for an experienced team.
• Pwin Signal: The tender is open to competition. There is no clear indication of an incumbent or a sole-supplier framework. The primary gatekeepers are the turnover and experience requirements, alongside the stringent health and safety compliance.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s): Not specified in provided metadata.
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided metadata.
• Contact Email / Clarification Portal: Not specified in provided metadata.
• Most Important Attachments:
• [2638-SAQ 3.4.1-HS-Works-Contractor.docx] (Health and Safety Competence)
• [Appendix_B1_List_of_Previous_Works_Projects_which_is_CEE (1).docx] (List of Previous Works Projects)
• [Appendix_C_Bankers_Letter (2).docx] (Banker's Letter)