Large Scale Development Plan for Camden Fort Meagher

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

Cork County Council seeks a multidisciplinary consultant team to prepare a comprehensive Large Scale Development Plan (LSDP) for Camden Fort Meagher, Crosshaven, Co. Cork. This commission is part of the Camden Fort Meagher Regeneration Programme and is funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) Category 2 Programme. The primary objective is to establish a clear, evidence-based, and deliverable long-term vision for the Fort. The output will be a publication-quality LSDP intended to guide future conservation, enhancement, management, visitor development, investment, and sustainable regeneration.

The consultant's responsibilities include:

• Development of a Long-Term Vision: Creating a strategic vision for Camden Fort Meagher's future.
• Evidence-Based Planning: Undertaking research and data collection to inform the plan.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Consulting with relevant parties to gather input and build consensus.
• Conservation and Enhancement Strategy: Developing plans for the preservation and improvement of the historic asset.
• Visitor Development: Proposing strategies for enhancing the visitor experience.
• Sustainable Regeneration: Identifying opportunities for sustainable development and investment.
• Publication-Quality Plan: Producing a final LSDP document suitable for public dissemination and use by the Council.
• Project Management: Managing the consultancy project to ensure timely and budget-compliant delivery.
• Reporting: Providing regular performance reports to Cork County Council.
• Contract Management: Nominate a dedicated contract manager responsible for overall delivery and liaison.

The contract duration is specified as 7 months. The indicative budget for this contract is approximately €150,000 inclusive of VAT.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is driven by Cork County Council's objective to regenerate Camden Fort Meagher. The commission is a component of the broader Camden Fort Meagher Regeneration Programme. Funding for this initiative is secured under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) Category 2 Programme. The current procurement aims to establish a strategic framework for the Fort's future development, conservation, and enhancement. The contract is anticipated to commence in December 2026, following an award decision estimated for November 2026.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered eligible:

• Turnover requirement: The tendering party's turnover must have exceeded €200,000 during one of the last three years. For firms established more recently, this requirement is pro-rata, provided the firm has been in existence for at least 6 months.
• Insurance: Confirmation of the following insurances being in place is required:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million
• Certifications: Tenderers should provide information on measures to ensure quality service delivery, for example, through an externally certified system.
• Past experience: Tenderers must demonstrate successful delivery of three comparable projects within the last five years. These projects should involve features defined in the Tender Response Document (TRD).
• Personnel: The lead team members for specific skillsets must possess a minimum Level 8 qualification and a minimum of 10 years of post-graduate experience in their specialised field. This applies to Conservation Architect, Civil & Structural Engineer, and Tourism Specialist roles.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.
• Health & Safety: Tenderers must demonstrate compliance with all relevant Health & Safety legislation and operate health & safety systems and procedures in line with legislation.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the most economically advantageous compliant tender, using a MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender) approach. Qualitative criteria will be assessed first. The total maximum marks available are 10,000.

The lowest cost tender meeting all qualitative minimum requirements receives maximum cost marks. Other tenders are scored proportionally. Qualitative criteria are scored using a band system from 1 (excellent) to 6 (no response).

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit their response using the provided Tender Response Document (TRD) and adhere to the following:

• Tender Response Document (TRD): This mandatory document must be used without personalization or branding.
• Pricing Document: A separate pricing document is provided and must be used.
• CVs: CVs demonstrating the required qualifications and experience for lead team members must be appended.
• Declarations:
• Declaration of Bona Fides.
• Declaration regarding compliance with relevant statutory obligations.
• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD).
• Declaration regarding the International Procurement Instrument and restrictive measures in the context of Russian actions in Ukraine.
• Organogram: An organogram of the proposed team structure, including qualifications and experience of lead team members.
• Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM): Submitted in both PDF and Microsoft Excel formats, detailing team member time allocation and costs.
• Work Programme: A detailed work programme for the project.
• Green Public Procurement & Carbon Footprint Response: A statement addressing sustainability and carbon reduction.
• Submission Portal: Tenders must be submitted via the eTenders platform (www.etenders.gov.ie).
• File Format: Responses should ideally be uploaded as a Zip file to protect file names.

7. Key dates & process

These dates are estimates and not guaranteed.

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract will be for a period of 7 months, with a potential for extension subject to performance, budget, and business needs. Tenderers must accept the appended Contract Terms and Conditions. Any reservations must be submitted as a query. The indicative budget for the contract is approximately €150,000 inclusive of VAT. A dedicated contract manager must be nominated, responsible for overall delivery and liaison. Contract management activities are non-billable. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to terminate the contract under specific circumstances, including increased costs outside its control. In cases where the successful tenderer fails to deliver, the contract may be awarded to the next highest-scoring tenderer.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The indicative budget of €150,000 for a 7-month contract requiring a multidisciplinary team and a publication-quality plan is notably low, potentially impacting the quality or scope of services achievable. The award decision is scheduled for November 2026, with a contract commencement in December 2026, leaving a tight window for tender assessment and potential appeals. The requirement for three comparable projects within the last five years, with specific emphasis on heritage assets, tourism, and publicly funded programmes, may limit the pool of eligible SMEs. The qualitative assessment is weighted heavily (60%) against cost (40%), indicating a strong preference for technical merit and approach.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as an Open Procedure, encouraging participation from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are permitted to form relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises to meet financial, economic, or technical capacity requirements. Consortiums are allowed, but a successful grouping must establish legal personality to enter the contract. The bid preparation effort is likely to be moderate to high, given the detailed technical and qualitative requirements, including specific response formats and page limits for criteria B, C, and D. The indicative budget of €150,000 suggests that the tender is likely aimed at smaller consultancies or specialist teams rather than large, multi-disciplinary firms, although the €200,000 turnover requirement is a moderate threshold. The absence of a stated incumbent or specific past winner suggests the competition is open.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT: 2A Request for Tender (RFT) _LSDP for Camden Fort Meagher.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact for Queries: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Key Attachments:
• Appendix A - Consultancy Services Brief _LSDP
• Tender Response Document (TRD)
• Appendix 1 – Contract Terms and Conditions