Request for Tender for the Supply of Housing Delivery Strategy and HDAP Advisory Services for Limerick (2027-2040)

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

The contractor will provide advisory services for Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) to prepare a statutory Housing Delivery Action Plan (HDAP) for 2027–2030 and a broader Housing Delivery Strategy to 2040. The estimated value for these services is €100,000 (excluding VAT) over the contract term. LCCC has already completed significant preparatory work, including demographic analysis, housing need assessment, private sector pipeline analysis, land capacity assessment, TRABIS pipeline review, neighbourhood-based housing modelling, and initial financial profiling. The consultant's role is to focus on strategic direction, integration, interpretation, and modelling of existing datasets, rather than extensive primary data collection.

The commission will be undertaken through five interlinked stages:

• Stage 1: Baseline Survey and Evidence Gathering: This involves data collection, integration, and the development of a housing evidence base, building upon LCCC's existing datasets.
• Stage 2: Strategic Analysis and Assessment: This stage will involve analysing the gathered evidence to inform strategic direction.
• Stage 3: Housing Vision: Development of a housing vision for each of the eight Strategic City Neighbourhoods and fifteen Key Rural Towns and Villages within Limerick.
• Stage 4: Housing Delivery Planning and Intervention Framework: Creation of a framework for planning housing delivery and identifying necessary interventions.
• Stage 5: Implementation, Monitoring and Programme Management Framework: Development of a framework for the implementation, monitoring, and management of the housing delivery programme.

The primary outputs required are:

• Output A: Statutory Housing Delivery Action Plan (HDAP) 2027–2030: This plan must satisfy the requirements of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH).
• Output B: Housing Delivery Strategy to 2040: This strategy will build upon the HDAP, supporting neighbourhood-level planning, identifying medium and long-term housing opportunities, supporting investment prioritisation, and facilitating future land activation and delivery planning.

The study area encompasses eight Strategic City Neighbourhoods and fifteen Key Rural Towns and Villages. Tenderers must align with the Development Plan and Government Circulars concerning Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) and HDAP objectives.

3. Background & buyer context

Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) is procuring these advisory services to fulfil its statutory obligations and strategic housing objectives. The procurement aligns with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) requirements for a Housing Delivery Action Plan (HDAP). The services will support the preparation of the HDAP for the period 2027–2030 and a broader Housing Delivery Strategy extending to 2040. This initiative is part of LCCC's commitment to long-term housing growth, neighbourhood planning, and delivery acceleration within the county. LCCC has already invested in significant preparatory work, including data collection and analysis, indicating a strategic focus on evidence-based planning for future housing needs.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for evaluation:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €12.7 million
• Public 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: Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers must confirm their ability to hold the specified insurance levels from the effective date of the Services Contract. A formal confirmation from the tenderer's insurance company or broker will be requested prior to award.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), determined by the following criteria:

Price/Quality Split: The total weighting for quality criteria (1, 2, and 4) is 80%, with Price accounting for 20%.

Minimum Scoring Thresholds: Tenderers must achieve the minimum qualifying threshold for each non-price criterion (Criteria 1, 2, and 4) to be considered for the award. Failure to meet any of these thresholds will result in the tenderer being eliminated from the competition, and their price score will not be evaluated.

Scoring Methodology: For non-price criteria (1, 2, and 4), a scoring scale from 0% to 100% will be applied, with specific descriptions for each score band (e.g., 91-100% for "Excellent response"). For Price, the lowest tendered rate receives maximum points, with other tenders scored proportionally. In case of a tie, the tender with the highest overall qualitative score (sum of Criteria 1, 2, and 4) will be deemed the MEAT.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via www.etenders.gov.ie by the specified deadline. The submission must include:

• Tenderer’s Statement: A scanned, signed copy of the Tenderer’s Statement (Appendix 3), printed on the tenderer's letterhead. Signatures must be legible.
• Pricing Schedule: Completed as per Appendix 2.
• Response to Requirements: A detailed description demonstrating how tenderers will meet the issues and requirements set out in Appendix 1. This must go beyond affirmative statements and include specific approaches.
• CVs: Short Form CVs for key personnel, no longer than half an A4 page per person, with a maximum of 3 A4 pages in total for this criterion.
• Other Documents:
• Declaration in the form attached at Appendix 4 (required within 7 days of request, post-award).
• Evidence of reliability if grounds for exclusion exist (required within 7 days of request, post-award).
• Format: All submitted documents must be in PDF format and readable. Tenderers must adhere to eTenders file size limits.
• Language: Tenders must be submitted in English.
• Consortia/Subcontractors: Details of all members of a group of undertakings and their roles must be provided, along with contact details for a nominated representative entity.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: The Services Contract will have an initial term of 12 months.
• Extension: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to extend the term for up to 6 months, with a maximum of one such extension.
• Payment: Payments will be made in accordance with the Services Contract at Appendix 5.
• Pricing Validity: All prices quoted must remain valid for 24 months from the Tender Deadline.
• Currency Risk: Any currency variations over the term of the contract will be borne by the Tenderer.
• Termination: The contract may be terminated by either party with 14 days' notice if a specific condition (related to a 48-calendar day period) is not met.
• Tax Clearance: A valid Irish tax clearance certificate will be a condition for payment throughout the contract term. The Contracting Authority may verify the tax status online.
• Subcontracting: Subcontractors must be designated, and the Prime Contractor holds overall responsibility.
• Insurance: The successful Tenderer must hold Employer's Liability (€12.7 million) and Public Liability (€6.5 million) insurance for the term of the contract.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Estimated Value vs. Contract Term: The estimated value of €100,000 for a 12-month contract with a potential 6-month extension is relatively low for strategic advisory services of this nature, suggesting a focus on leveraging existing data rather than extensive new research.
• Limited Insurance Requirements: Only Employer's Liability and Public Liability insurance are explicitly mandated. Professional Indemnity or Cyber insurance are not mentioned, which may be unusual for a consultancy providing strategic advice.
• Emphasis on Existing Data: The RFT explicitly states that tenderers should focus on integrating and interpreting existing datasets rather than extensive primary data collection. This may favour bidders with strong analytical capabilities and familiarity with the Limerick context.
• No Explicit Turnover Requirement: The absence of a specific minimum turnover requirement could indicate an openness to smaller firms, but this is balanced by the insurance requirements.
• Tight Clarification Deadline: The clarification deadline of 20th July 2026, just 9 days before the tender submission deadline, requires prompt engagement from potential bidders.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured to be accessible to a range of firms, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The estimated contract value of €100,000 over 12-18 months is manageable for specialist consultancies. The scope focuses on analysis and strategy development, which can be delivered by firms with expertise in housing policy, urban planning, and data analysis.

• Credible Bidders: Firms with a proven track record in housing strategy, policy development, and local authority advisory services in Ireland would be well-positioned. Expertise in statutory plan preparation (HDAP) and long-term strategic planning is essential.
• Consortium/Subcontracting: The RFT explicitly encourages SMEs to explore forming relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises. Consortium bids and subcontracting are permitted, allowing smaller firms to combine capabilities or for larger firms to engage specialist SMEs.
• Bid-Prep Effort: Given the need to understand existing data, develop a phased approach, and detail team capabilities, bid preparation could require 10-20 days of effort for a dedicated team, depending on their existing knowledge base and proposal development process.
• Pwin Signal: There is no explicit indication of an incumbent provider. The emphasis on using existing data suggests that a firm with prior engagement or deep knowledge of Limerick's housing landscape might have an advantage, but the open procedure and encouragement of consortia suggest a competitive process.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: RFT_Housing Strategy and Advisory Services MFB.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Key Attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 3: Tenderer’s Statement
• Appendix 5: Services Contract