Supply and Delivery of a New Flatbed Truck with Crane for Offaly County Fire and Rescue Service

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 the supply and delivery of a new flatbed truck equipped with a hydraulic retractable telescopic crane for the Offaly County Fire and Rescue Service. The vehicle must be a new diesel truck, designed for emergency response, with a focus on reliability and immediate operational readiness under various temperature conditions. The primary function is the transportation of equipment and materials.

The scope encompasses the provision of a complete, compliant vehicle, including chassis, bodywork, and crane. Key components and requirements include:

• Chassis: A standard production model, right-hand drive, 4x2 rear axle, with power-assisted steering. It must be Euro 6 compliant, with an engine output of not less than 230 BHP and a minimum top road speed of 89 kph. An automatic gearbox with PTO function (minimum 400Nm torque) is required. The chassis must have an automatic handbrake, ABS, ESP, and traction control.
• Crane: A hydraulic retractable telescopic crane with a minimum lift capacity of 6.0 tonnes (1.5 tonne at 10m reach, 6.0 tonne at 2m reach). It must be stowed behind the cab, not exceeding the vehicle's body width. Requirements include hydraulic rigger booms, a cast iron rotation unit, radio multifunction control with emergency stop, and a 3-year warranty on structural items and 1-year on hydraulic components.
• Flatbed Body: A lift drop-side body, convertible to a flatbed, with a minimum length of 7315mm (24ft). It requires internal tie-down points (minimum 12), removable side panels operable by one person, and a reinforced headboard. The deck must be heavy-duty anti-slip flooring with a 3mm steel chequer overlay. A permanently mounted access ladder with handrails is mandatory.
• Safety and Compliance: The vehicle must comply with EN 1846 (or equivalent) for emergency vehicles, Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, S.I. No. 248/2014 (Road Traffic Regulations), and EU Directive 2003/20/EEC (safety belts). Construction materials must meet fire-retardant standards (BS 476 Part 1: Class 2).
• Ancillary Equipment: Includes electric heated and adjustable mirrors, a nearside kerb mirror, wide-angled mirror, external temperature gauge with audible alarm, breakdown kit, first aid kit, and a 2-litre AFFF/AR fire extinguisher.
• Documentation and Training: Requires comprehensive operator and maintenance manuals (hard and soft copy), test certificates, and 1 day of comprehensive end-user training.
• Warranty: Minimum 10 years warranty on bodywork, 2 years on chassis systems and driveline, and 2 years on the crane (excluding standard serviceable items). Spare parts and technical assistance must be available for a minimum of 15 years.
• Delivery: The vehicle is to be delivered to Offaly County Fire and Rescue Service HQ, Sragh, Tullamore, County Offaly.

3. Background & buyer context

Offaly County Council is procuring this new flatbed truck with a crane for its County Fire and Rescue Service. The procurement addresses the need for specialized equipment to enhance the service's operational capabilities in responding to emergency situations and transporting essential equipment and materials. The specification emphasizes reliability and compliance with relevant national and EU regulations for emergency vehicles. There is no mention of an incumbent supplier or a specific programme this procurement directly aligns with beyond the operational needs of the fire service.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: A minimum average annual financial turnover of €300,000.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Product Liability: €2 million
• Certifications: Compliance with relevant elements of EN 1846 (or equivalent) for emergency vehicles is required.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender, beyond the delivery location.

Bidders may rely on the resources of other entities to meet these requirements, provided they can demonstrate these resources will be at their disposal.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) using a combination of price and quality criteria.

The lowest cost tender that meets all minimum qualitative award criteria will receive the maximum score for the cost criterion.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the etenders.gov.ie portal. The submission must include:

• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD): To be completed by all bidders.
• Pricing Schedule: Detailing all costs associated with the supply and delivery of the vehicle.
• Technical Compliance Statement: Demonstrating how the proposed vehicle meets all specification requirements.
• Warranty Information: Details of all available warranties, including their duration.
• Declarations: Including Bona Fides, Tax Clearance, and Conflict of Interest declarations.
• CVs: For key personnel involved in the project, if specified in the full RFT.
• Case Studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Method Statement / Response Document: Not specified for this tender.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: The contract duration is not explicitly stated, but a tender validity period of 12 months from the submission deadline is required.
• Extension: Not specified.
• Payment terms: Not specified.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified, beyond the requirement for spare parts availability within 24 hours of breakdown for the first 6 months.
• Liquidated damages: Not specified.
• Termination clauses: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to terminate if increased costs render the arrangement uncompetitive, or if the successful tenderer fails to deliver.
• IP ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting rules: Bidders may rely on the resources of other entities, but if successful, a grouping must establish legal personality.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond: Not specified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Strict Compliance: The specification is highly detailed, with a strong emphasis on meeting minimum requirements. Deviations require justification and are subject to the Chief Fire Officer's final decision.
• Warranty and Support: The requirement for a minimum of 15 years of spare parts and technical assistance availability is a significant long-term commitment for a supplier.
• Indicative Budget vs. Value: The stated indicative budget of €167,000 (excl. VAT) appears to align with the tender value, but the detailed specifications for a specialized vehicle with a crane suggest potential for higher costs.
• "Equivalent" Clause: While equivalents are permitted, the Chief Fire Officer has the final say on suitability, creating a degree of subjective assessment.
• No Incumbent Mention: The absence of information about an incumbent supplier or previous contracts for this specific vehicle type makes it difficult to gauge historical performance or pricing benchmarks.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely best suited for established vehicle manufacturers or specialist vehicle converters with proven experience in supplying emergency service vehicles.

• Credible Bidders: Companies with a strong track record in supplying heavy-duty trucks, specialized crane installations, and compliance with stringent safety and technical standards for fire services would be well-positioned. The required turnover of €300,000 suggests a business of moderate size, but the technical complexity and warranty demands may favour larger, more established entities.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: Bidders are permitted to rely on the resources of other entities. This allows for SMEs to potentially participate by partnering with larger firms or by specializing in specific components (e.g., crane supply, body fabrication) as subcontractors. A consortium would need to appoint a single point of contact and potentially establish legal personality if successful.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing a compliant bid for such a technically detailed specification, including detailed technical responses, warranty documentation, and pricing, would likely require significant effort, potentially ranging from 10-20 days for a dedicated bid team.
• Pwin Signal: The highly specific technical requirements and the emphasis on long-term support (15 years for parts) suggest that established suppliers with existing infrastructure and proven reliability in the emergency vehicle sector may have an advantage. The "equivalent" clause, with the final decision resting with the Chief Fire Officer, could introduce some uncertainty for bidders proposing non-standard solutions.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT: Request for Tender (RFT) - New Flatbed Truck with Crane Vehicle for Offaly County Fire Service.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided text.
• Contact: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Key Attachments:
• Detailed Specification of Requirements (Section 3)
• Selection Criteria (Section 4)
• Award Criteria (Section 5)
• Instructions for Tenderers (Section 6)