Conservation Contractor Sligo City Hall, Historic Towns Initiative 2026

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 conservation contractor for repairs and renovations to doors and windows at Sligo City Hall, as part of the Historic Towns Initiative 2026. The contract duration for completion is 260 days.

The scope of work involves detailed conservation and repair of various window and door types across multiple elevations of Sligo City Hall. Specific activities include:

• Timber Windows:

• Inspection, splice repair, re-chording, overhaul, and redecoration of 13 '1 over 1' traditionally constructed vertical sliding sash windows with semi-circular fanlights on the Front/West Elevation (Ground & 1st Floor).

• Maintenance of existing single glazing, renewal of cracked panes with 4mm toughened float glass, and renewal of putty.

• Provision of new sash fasteners, quadrant arm patterns, enclosed back pulley wheels, and weights as needed.

• Repair or renewal of sills with hardwood for two instances.

• Inspection, overhaul, and redecoration of 1 fixed pane sash window with a semi-circular fanlight on the Front/West Elevation (Clock Tower).

• Maintenance of existing single glazing and renewal of putty.

• Similar works for 2 fixed pane sash windows on the Front/West Elevation (Clock Tower).

• Inspection, overhaul, and redecoration of 1 traditionally constructed timber louvre and frame with a fretted semi-circular fanlight gable on the Front/West Elevation (Clock Tower).

• Supply and fit of demountable gale-breaker sheeting to the interior.

• Identical scope for windows on the Side/North Elevation (13 vertical sliding sash windows, 4 fixed pane sash windows, 2 fixed pane sash windows, 1 timber louvre).

• Inspection and work on 18 aluminium frame windows and grilles, including cleaning and inspection, and renewal of seals at the junction with masonry.

• Identical scope for windows on the Side/South Elevation (13 vertical sliding sash windows, 1 fixed pane sash window, 2 fixed pane sash windows, 1 timber louvre).

• Identical scope for windows on the Rear/East Elevation (14 vertical sliding sash windows, 7 semi-circular windows, 2 windows, 1 timber louvre).

• Inspection and work on 7 aluminium frame windows and grilles on the Rear/East Elevation.

• Timber Doors:

• Inspection, splice repair, overhaul, and redecoration of a pair of 3-panel, raised and field timber doors with a semi-circular glazed fanlight at the Front/West Elevation.

• Maintenance of existing single glazing, renewal of cracked panes with 4mm toughened float glass, and renewal of putty.

• Installation of new ball-bearing hinges, deadlock, nightlatch, and locking door holders.

• Fitting of a new hinged hardwood weather board.

• Identical scope for a pair of timber doors on the Side/South Elevation.

• Steel Doors:

• Inspection, overhaul, and redecoration of 3 pairs of flush-faced steel fire escape doors, steel frames, and overpanels on the Side/North Elevation.

• Maintenance and lubrication of existing ironmongery and thresholds.

• Identical scope for 6 pairs of steel fire escape doors on the Rear/East Elevation.

All repaired/renewed doors and windows are to be included in the scope of painting work. General specifications for material and workmanship apply.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is part of the Historic Towns Initiative (HTI) 2026, a programme aimed at conserving and revitalising historic urban areas. Sligo City Hall, a heritage building, requires specific conservation works to its doors and windows. The initiative aligns with broader government objectives for heritage preservation and urban regeneration. The project is managed by Sligo County Council. No incumbent contractor is explicitly mentioned for this specific scope of work. The strategic driver is the preservation of architectural heritage and the enhancement of public buildings within historic town centres.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum yearly turnover of €500,000 arising from General Construction/Civil Engineering work.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €6.5 million for any one accident.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €13 million for any one accident.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €1 million. The maximum permissible excess on Professional Indemnity Insurance is the greater of 2% of the Tenderer's annual turnover or €5,000.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Bidders must provide a list of completed projects similar in nature and complexity to the works required. The specific number, value, or timeframe for these projects is not detailed in the provided extract, but they must be supported by certificates of satisfactory execution.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criterion is the lowest price. The tender documents state that the Contracting Authority will assess which Tender is the lowest price. There is no explicit mention of a quality component or a price/quality split in the provided extracts. Minimum scoring thresholds are not specified.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted in accordance with the Instructions to Tenderers. Key submission requirements include:

• Form of Tender and Schedule (Volume B): Fully completed.
• Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): Completed in the format stated in the Particulars.
• Pricing Document (Volume C): Completed, likely in the form of a Schedule of Rates or Bill of Quantities.
• Additional Information: As specified in Appendix 2 to the Instructions.
• Declarations:
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Confirmation of consent for processing personal data.
• Disclosure of any conflicts of interest.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Electronic submission to the eTenders platform is indicated. Tenderers must allow sufficient time for upload and ensure documents are not corrupt.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Type: PW-CF6 Short Public Works Contract.
• Time for Completion: 260 days, commencing on the contract start date.
• Payment Terms: Not specified in the provided extract.
• SLAs/KPIs: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Liquidated Damages: A rate of €200 per day is mentioned in the "DO-NOT-USE-AS-BINDING" section, but its applicability to this specific contract is not confirmed.
• Termination Clauses: Not specified in the provided extract.
• IP Ownership: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Sub-contracting Rules: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Performance Bond: May be required from the successful tenderer.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Value Undisclosed: The estimated contract value is not disclosed, making it difficult for bidders to gauge the scale and potential profitability.
• Lowest Price Award: The award criterion being solely the lowest price can lead to a focus on cost reduction over quality or long-term value, potentially impacting the conservation aspect of the work.
• Short Completion Time: A 260-day completion period for detailed conservation work on a historic building may present a risk if not adequately resourced or if unforeseen issues arise.
• Limited Detail on Experience Criteria: While past experience is required, the specific number, value, or timeframe of comparable projects is not explicitly defined, leaving some ambiguity in the assessment.
• No Explicit Quality Criteria: The absence of defined quality assessment criteria beyond the lowest price could be a concern for a conservation project where craftsmanship and material integrity are paramount.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with specialised experience in historic building conservation, particularly in timber window and door restoration.

• Credible Bidders: Firms with a proven track record in heritage joinery, conservation repair, and working with traditional materials would be well-positioned. Experience with public sector projects and adherence to conservation standards would be advantageous.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The documents do not explicitly prohibit or encourage consortium bids or sub-contracting. However, the requirement for a single tender per tenderer suggests a primary entity must be responsible.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing a compliant tender, including detailing past projects and pricing a complex conservation schedule, could require 5-10 days of dedicated effort for an experienced firm.
• Pwin Signal: The "lowest price" award criterion suggests that competitive pricing is critical. The absence of specific incumbent information or a framework suggests a relatively open competition, but strong technical capability in conservation will be essential to avoid disqualification or being perceived as too high-risk.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s):
• [1 ITT-W4-Instructions to Tenderers.docx]
• [6 Sligo HTI Door & Window Schedule 30 06 26.pdf]
• [QW Appendix-B1-List-of-Previous-Works-Projects-which-is-CEE.docx]
• [QW Appendix-C-Bankers-Letter.docx]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not surfaced in provided text.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Queries must be raised in writing using the means of communication stated in the Particulars.
• Most Important Attachments:
• [1 ITT-W4-Instructions to Tenderers.docx] (Overall process and requirements)
• [6 Sligo HTI Door & Window Schedule 30 06 26.pdf] (Detailed scope of works)
• [QW Appendix-B1-List-of-Previous-Works-Projects-which-is-CEE.docx] (Past experience documentation)