Provision of Regulatory Services for Phase 2 of BnM’s Peatland Rehabilitation Scheme

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

Buyer Title CPV / category Estimated value Per-year Procedure type Lots Location Contract length Submission deadline Go-live / start | :------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------- | :-------------- | :------- | :--------------- | :--- | :------- | :-------------- | :------------------ | :-------------- | Department of Climate Energy and the Environment The provision of Regulatory services for Phase 2 of BnM’s Peatland Rehabilitation Scheme Not stated €2,025,000 Not stated Open procedure Not stated Ireland 18 months + 2x18m 2026-08-22 12:00 2026-09-01

2. Scope of Work

The contract requires the provision of regulatory services to support Phase 2 of the BnM’s Peatland Rehabilitation Scheme. This phase targets the rehabilitation and associated decommissioning of approximately 8,300 hectares of BnM peatlands. The services encompass the continuation of existing regulatory functions and administration.

The core activities include:

• Ecology: Providing regulatory oversight and services related to ecological assessments and rehabilitation outcomes.
• Hydrology: Delivering regulatory services concerning hydrological impacts and management within the peatland rehabilitation areas.
• GIS (Geographic Information System): Maintaining and utilising GIS for mapping, data management, and reporting on peatland rehabilitation progress. A GIS register of all rehabilitated areas will be maintained.
• Remote Sensing: Employing remote sensing techniques for monitoring and assessing the status and progress of peatland rehabilitation.
• Associated Administration: Undertaking all necessary administrative tasks to support the regulatory functions, including reporting, documentation, and communication with stakeholders.

The initial contract duration is 18 months, with potential for two extensions of up to 18 months each. The estimated expenditure over the full potential term is €2,025,000 (excluding VAT). The services are expected to commence on 1 September 2026. The work is phased, with the initial 18-month period targeting completion of rehabilitation and GIS register updates.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement supports Phase 2 of the BnM’s Peatland Rehabilitation Scheme, a government initiative focused on restoring degraded peatlands. The scheme is part of a broader strategy to enhance environmental sustainability and address climate change impacts through land management. The Department of Climate Energy and the Environment is the contracting authority. The scheme aims for enhanced rehabilitation, restoration, and decommissioning of circa 33,000 hectares of previously used BnM peatland. Approximately 24,500 hectares have already been rehabilitated in previous phases. This tender specifically addresses the regulatory framework for the next phase, targeting up to circa 8,300 hectares. The overall target for improvements across the entire programme is 65,900 hectares.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: A minimum average annual turnover of €1,000,000 for each of the last three financial years. Tenderers established more recently must provide turnover figures pro rata. Evidence must be certified by an auditor or accountant.
• Insurance: The successful Tenderer must hold the following insurances for the term of the contract:
• Employer’s Liability: €13m for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence. (Not required if self-employed).
• Public Liability: €6.5m limit for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Product Liability: €6.5m limit for any one occurrence and in the aggregate per insurance year.
• Professional Indemnity: €1m limit in the aggregate per insurance year.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified as a distinct criterion, but implied through the need to demonstrate capability to deliver the scope.
• Personnel: Not specified as a distinct criterion.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers must also declare via the eESPD that no mandatory grounds for exclusion apply, or if they do, that sufficient measures demonstrate their reliability. They must also satisfy the selection criteria outlined in Part 3.2.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The tender documents do not explicitly state the weighting for price versus quality, nor do they detail specific sub-criteria or pass/fail thresholds for the award criteria. The evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the Award Criteria at Part 3.3. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to reject any tender not compliant with the requirements.

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document: Tenderers must complete and submit the electronic version of the European Single Procurement Document (eESPD). They must follow the RFT format and respond to each element in the order presented.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: All Tenderers must complete the Pricing Schedule at Appendix 2. Prices must be all-inclusive (excluding VAT), expressed in Euro, and remain valid for 6 months from the Tender Deadline.
• Case studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Declarations:
• eESPD (European Single Procurement Document).
• Tenderer’s Statement (Appendix 3), signed and scanned.
• Declaration as to Personal Circumstances of Tenderer (Appendix 4).
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Declaration of independent preparation of the tender.
• Declaration regarding foreign financial contributions (Appendix 3A) if applicable.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via the electronic tenderbox on www.etenders.gov.ie. File size limits apply (250MB per file, 2GB total). Tenders must be submitted in English and compiled as PDFs.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: Initial period of 18 months, with two possible extensions of up to 18 months each.
• Payment terms: Subject to the Services Contract at Appendix 5. Invoices are deemed accepted after 14 days if not rejected.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Termination clauses: The Contracting Authority may terminate at 14 days' notice without liability for compensation or damages. Termination can also occur with 1 month's notice.
• IP ownership: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Sub-contracting rules: Subcontractors must submit a separate eESPD if the subcontract value exceeds 10% of the Services Contract value. The Prime Contractor is responsible for all services, regardless of subcontracting.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified in the provided extract.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Estimated value vs. contract term: The estimated value of €2,025,000 over a potential 4.5-year term (18 months initial + 2x18 months extensions) suggests an average annual spend of approximately €450,000. This is lower than the €1,000,000 annual turnover requirement, indicating a potential mismatch or a focus on specific project phases within the overall scheme.
• Open procedure with specific scope: While an open procedure is used, the detailed scope for regulatory services on a specific peatland rehabilitation phase might favour incumbent or specialist providers with established knowledge of the BnM scheme.
• Foreign Subsidies Regulation: Tenderers are explicitly referred to Regulation (EU) 2022/2560 on Foreign Subsidies, requiring notification or declaration of foreign financial contributions above certain thresholds. This adds a compliance layer for non-EU bidders or those with significant foreign investment.
• Data Protection: Tenderers must confirm that all personal data provided has been consented to by data subjects for processing by the Tenderer, Contracting Authority, Evaluation Team, and the eTenders platform.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as an open procedure, theoretically accessible to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). However, the requirement for a minimum annual turnover of €1,000,000 for the last three years presents a significant barrier for many smaller businesses. This turnover threshold is substantial and suggests the contracting authority anticipates bids from established firms or consortia.

• Credible bidders: Viable bidders are likely to be consultancies or firms specialising in environmental regulation, ecology, hydrology, and GIS, with a proven track record in large-scale environmental projects. They must demonstrate a robust financial standing to meet the turnover requirement.
• Consortium/sub-contracting: Consortia and subcontracting are permitted. SMEs that cannot meet the turnover requirement independently are encouraged to form relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises. This is a key pathway for SME participation.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Preparing a compliant bid, including the eESPD, detailed responses, and financial schedules, would likely require several days of effort for a firm with relevant experience. The complexity of demonstrating compliance with the turnover and insurance requirements, alongside the specific scope, necessitates careful preparation.
• Pwin signal: The turnover requirement of €1m annually suggests that the incumbent or firms with a similar financial scale are likely to be strong contenders. The open procedure, however, does not inherently favour an incumbent. The emphasis on specific technical areas (ecology, hydrology, GIS) means specialist firms will be competitive.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: EDRRS P2 Reg Services RFT 2026.07.21 CLEAN.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not surfaced in provided documents.
• Contact / Clarification portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie.
• Key attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 5: Services Contract