Barrack Accountant Building at Sarsfield Barracks

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 construction of a new Barrack Accountant Building at Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick. The contract will be executed under the PW-CF6 Short Public Works Contract. The scope encompasses all works necessary for the construction of this new facility.

Key activities and components include:

• Construction of a new building: This involves all aspects of new build construction, adhering to specified standards and drawings.
• Compliance with standards: All materials and workmanship must comply with relevant Irish and European standards, including:
• Blinding layer to IS EN 13242 & SR21 ANNEX E.
• Rebar to comply with BS EN 10080 & B.
• Concrete Strength to IS EN 206-1.
• Blockwork strength to be 13 MPa to IS EN 772-1.
• Structural Steel to EXC 2 Standard in accordance with IS EN 1090-2.
• Structural steel elements must show CE Marking to IS EN 1090-1.
• Safety management system in accordance with ISO 45001:2018 or equivalent.
• Site preparation and enabling works: This may include excavation, foundation work, and preparation of the site for construction.
• Substructure works: Including concrete blocks below DPC level with a minimum compressive strength of 13 MPa.
• Superstructure works: Encompassing walls, floors, and roof construction.
• Finishes: Internal and external finishes to meet the building's functional and aesthetic requirements.
• Services integration: Installation and connection of all necessary building services.
• Health and Safety: The contractor will be appointed as Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS) if stated in the Schedule. Compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 is mandatory.
• Quality Control: Adherence to specified quality standards and inspection regimes.

The contract will be awarded based on the lowest price, with the specific pricing document format (Schedule of Rates or Bill of Quantities) to be detailed in the Particulars.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is for the construction of a new Barrack Accountant Building at Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick. The Department of Defence is the contracting authority. The project falls under general public works procurement procedures. The tender documents are issued under an Open Procedure, indicating that it is open to all eligible contractors. The contract will utilise the PW-CF6 Short Public Works Contract, a standard form for construction projects in Ireland. No specific programme or policy drivers beyond the need for new accommodation for the Barrack Accountant function are stated.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement:
• Average annual turnover of €1.5 million arising from General Construction work.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum €6,500,000 in place for any one event.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum €13,000,000 in place for any one event, with no excess permitted.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Not specified for this tender, but any excess must not exceed the greater of 2% of annual turnover or €5,000. Cover is on an annual aggregate basis.
• Certifications:
• Safety management system in accordance with ISO 45001:2018 or equivalent.
• Past experience:
• Satisfactorily completed at least 3 individual separate new build projects of similar nature and complexity costing in excess of €500,000 each, within a specified period (period not explicitly stated but implied by the need for recent experience).
• Personnel:
• Contracts Manager: Minimum 10 years' experience in the Building Trade, including at least 5 years in a management role. If no formal qualifications, 10 years' experience is required.
• Health and Safety Manager: Minimum 3 years' experience acting in this capacity on building construction projects, or equivalent H&S training.
• Foreman (Site Manager): Minimum 10 years' experience in the Building Trade, including at least 5 years as a Foreman. If no formal qualifications, 10 years' experience is required.
• Site Safety Officer: Minimum 3 years' experience acting in this capacity on building construction projects, or equivalent H&S training.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criterion is the lowest price. The tender documents do not specify a quality component or a price/quality split. Evaluation will focus on the submitted pricing document.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted in accordance with the instructions and by the deadline. Key submission components include:

• Form of Tender and Schedule (Volume B): Completed and signed.
• Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): Completed in the specified format.
• Pricing Document (Volume C): Completed, either as a Schedule of Rates or Bill of Quantities, as specified in the Particulars. This document must be submitted as a read-only PDF.
• Additional Information: As specified in Appendix 2 to the Instructions.
• Declarations: Tenderers must ensure they meet all legal and tax compliance requirements. Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number will be required for online verification.
• Electronic Submission: Tenders are to be submitted electronically via the eTenders platform. Sufficient time must be allowed for upload.
• Language: Tenders and all accompanying information must be in English. Any original documents in other languages must include an accurate translation.
• No Qualifications: Tenders must not be qualified in any way.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Form: PW-CF6 Short Public Works Contract.
• Contract Length: Not specified.
• Payment Terms: Not specified, but standard prompt payment legislation applies.
• Performance Bond: May be required upon award.
• Sub-contracting: Not specified.
• Parent Company Guarantee: Not specified.
• Termination: Standard clauses within the Short Public Works Contract will apply.
• IP Ownership: Not specified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Late Submission Deadline: The submission deadline of September 4, 2026, is unusually far in the future for a standard construction tender. This may indicate a long lead-in period or potential for project scope changes.
• No Budget Disclosed: The estimated value is not disclosed, making it difficult for bidders to gauge the project's scale and complexity relative to their capacity.
• Lowest Price Award: The sole award criterion being lowest price can lead to a focus on cost reduction, potentially impacting quality or contractor viability if not carefully managed.
• Short Public Works Contract: This contract form is typically used for projects below certain EU thresholds, suggesting the project value may be below €5 million for works.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a proven track record in general construction.

• Viable Bidders: Firms with an annual turnover of at least €1.5 million in general construction, possessing the required insurance levels, and having successfully completed at least three similar projects over €500,000 each, are well-positioned. Experience in military or secure environments would be advantageous but is not explicitly required.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The tender documents do not explicitly prohibit consortia or sub-contracting, but the SAQ and Form of Tender require a single legal entity to sign. SMEs may consider forming consortia to meet experience requirements.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing a compliant tender, including the SAQ, pricing document, and supporting documentation, could require 10-20 days of effort for an experienced SME.
• Pwin Signal: The award criterion of lowest price suggests a competitive bidding environment. The long lead time to the deadline might indicate the project is not immediately urgent, or there is a long planning phase. The absence of a disclosed budget is a significant unknown.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: [Bk Acc Bldg_Sarsfield ITT v2.pdf]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact Email / Clarification Portal: Communications must be in writing via the means stated in the Particulars (not provided in extract).
• Most Important Attachments:
• Instruction to Tenderers (ITT-W4 v2.0)
• Form of Tender and Schedule (Volume B)
• Pricing Document (Volume C)