N63 Mount Talbot to Athleague Pavement works

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 pavement improvement works on the N63 Mount Talbot to Athleague road in County Roscommon. The contract will be executed under the Public Works Contract for Minor Building or Civil Engineering Works Designed by the Employer. The scope encompasses the resurfacing and associated works required to upgrade the specified section of the N63 national road.

The constituent activities and deliverables include:

• Pavement Improvement: Resurfacing and associated works to upgrade the N63 between Mount Talbot and Athleague.
• Road Surface Works: This will involve milling existing surfaces and laying new asphalt layers. Specific requirements include milling to a depth greater than 20mm and ensuring material has a minimum workable life of 15 minutes. Unbound mixtures are to be placed within 500mm of the carriageway formation.
• Ancillary Civil Engineering: Works may include the management and replacement of existing pipework within 1m of the carriageway formation level that will become redundant. Gully gratings must have a minimum clear waterway area of 90,000mm².
• Testing: A minimum of 1 test per specified unit or volume is required, with a minimum of 2 tests per day for certain activities. A minimum of three pairs of cores are to be taken.
• Site Management: The contractor will be responsible for the construction stage, including acting as Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS).
• Documentation: Submission of a completed Pricing Document and Schedule, along with Works Proposals.
• Materials: Materials used must meet specified standards, including IS EN 12697-49 and IS EN 13108-21 for factory production.
• Reporting: Monthly statements are required.

The project is defined by the Works Requirements as scheduled and included in Volume A, with measurement and pricing governed by TII's Requirements for Measuring and Pricing (RMP).

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is for pavement improvement works on the N63 Mount Talbot to Athleague section, managed by Roscommon County Council. The project aligns with national and regional road infrastructure development plans. While not explicitly stated, such projects typically contribute to improving road safety, traffic flow, and economic connectivity within the region. The procurement follows standard public sector tendering procedures for civil engineering works. No specific programme or policy, such as Higher Education 4.0 or a DSP scheme, is cited as the direct driver, but it falls under general infrastructure improvement initiatives. The incumbent contractor, if any, is not identified in the provided documentation.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €6,500,000 for any one event. Maximum excess for property damage only is €10,000. No excess is permitted for death, injury, or illness.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €13,000,000 for any one event. No excess is permitted.
• Insurance of the Works: Minimum amount insured for professional fees is 12.5% of the Contract Sum. Maximum excess for Insurance of Works and other Risk Items is €10,000.
• Certifications:
• Safety Management System: Must be in accordance with ISO 45001:2018 or equivalent.
• Testing Certification: Carried out by a Registrar/Certification Body meeting ISO 19011:2018 requirements.
• Past experience: Bidders must provide a list of completed projects similar in nature and complexity to the required works. Specific criteria for the number, size, or period of these projects are not detailed in the provided extract but will be in the Suitability Assessment Questionnaire.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria and scoring mechanism are not detailed in the provided tender documents. Typically, public sector tenders in Ireland are awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), which balances price and quality. The specific weighting between price and quality, along with any minimum scoring thresholds for individual criteria or overall, would be outlined in the full tender documentation.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following:

• Form of Tender: The completed Form of Tender, including the lump sum offer.
• Pricing Document and Schedule: The completed Pricing Document and Schedule. The Pricing Document is a Bill of Quantities measured in accordance with TII's Requirements for Measuring and Pricing (RMP).
• Works Proposals: Including details of the candidate's Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS) and Initial Management Arrangements.
• Declarations:
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Details of parent company and interest in applicant member company (if applicable).
• Letter of Undertaking/Bond from a Surety (Appendix D1/D2).
• Banker's Letter (Appendix C).
• List of Previous Works Projects (Appendix B1).
• Copies: The number and type of paper and electronic copies required are stated in the Particulars.
• Submission Portal: Tenders must be submitted electronically via eTenders.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Type: Public Works Contract for Minor Building or Civil Engineering Works Designed by the Employer.
• Contract Duration: The offer is valid for 180 days after the submission deadline, or 21 days after written notice to terminate, whichever is later.
• Payment Terms: Minimum amount for interim payments, except release of retention, is €0.
• Liquidated Damages: A rate of €1,000 per day is specified for the Works. Rates for specific sections are to be completed by the Employer.
• Retention: 10% of the initial Contract Sum up to Substantial Completion, reducing to 5% for the subsequent period.
• Termination: The contract allows for termination under specific clauses, with damages capped at the amount payable under clause 12.6 of the Conditions of Contract.
• Performance Bond: Required, 10% of the initial Contract Sum up to Substantial Completion, and 5% thereafter for 450 days.
• Collateral Warranties: Required from specified categories of Specialists.
• Ancillary Certificates: Required from specified categories of Contractor’s Personnel.
• Named Specialists: Provisions for identifying and appointing specialists are included.
• Defects Period: One year from the date of Substantial Completion of the Works.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Insurance Professional Indemnity: The tender documents state "Professional indemnity insurance is not required." However, it then details requirements for it if it were required, including a minimum indemnity limit and a maximum excess based on turnover. This ambiguity requires clarification.
• Performance Bond Duration: The duration for the 5% performance bond is stated as "450 days after that," with a note to delete one of two form fields. This needs careful attention to ensure the correct period is applied.
• Value Disclosure: The estimated contract value is not disclosed, which is common for smaller public works but can make initial bid assessment challenging for SMEs.
• Minor Works Contract: The use of the "Public Works Contract for MINOR Building or Civil Engineering Works Designed by the Employer" suggests a project of a certain scale, but the absence of a stated value or detailed scope means the actual size is unclear.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with experience in civil engineering and roadworks. The absence of a specific turnover requirement and the focus on a "Minor Building or Civil Engineering Works" contract suggest it is not intended for very large contractors.

• Viable Bidder Profile: An SME with a proven track record in road surfacing, milling, and associated civil works, holding the required insurance levels, and capable of meeting ISO 45001 standards would be a strong candidate.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The tender documents do not explicitly prohibit consortia or joint ventures, and the signing blocks allow for multiple JV members. Sub-contracting is implicitly allowed through the "Named Specialists" section.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing a compliant tender, including the Pricing Document, Works Proposals, and gathering all required appendices (banker's letter, surety letter, past projects), could take an SME team approximately 5-10 working days.
• Pwin Signal: The tender is for a specific road section and uses standard public works contract forms. Without information on previous bidders or incumbents, it's difficult to assess a Pwin signal. The absence of a stated value means it could be a competitive tender.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s): Vol B Tender & Schedule Final.pdf, Appendix_D1_QW1_Letter_of_Undertaking_Bond.docx, Appendix_B1_List_of_Previous_Works_Projects_which_is_CEE.docx, Appendix_C_Bankers_Letter.docx, Appendix_D2_QW2_Letter_of_Undertaking_Bond.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided documents.
• Contact: [email protected] (Mr. John Mockler, Senior Engineer)
• Most Important Attachments:
• Vol B Tender & Schedule Final.pdf (Contains the core tender form, schedule, and insurance requirements)
• Appendix_B1_List_of_Previous_Works_Projects_which_is_CEE.docx (Details for demonstrating past experience)
• Appendix_C_Bankers_Letter.docx (Requirement for financial standing)