Multi-Disciplinary Consultancy Services for EPA Abstraction Licensing Support Services

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1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

This contract requires multi-disciplinary consultancy services to support Waterways Ireland in preparing documentation and data for the abstraction licensing process with the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). The services are mandated by the Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Act 2022 and associated Regulations 2024. Waterways Ireland manages 1,200 km of inland waterways, including the Lower Bann Navigation, Erne System, Shannon-Erne Waterway, Shannon Navigation, Royal Canal, Grand Canal, Barrow Navigation, and Ulster Canal. These operations involve numerous water abstractions and impoundments for navigation, pumping stations, and operational needs.

The scope encompasses the licensing of fourteen existing abstractions exceeding 2,000 m³/day and the assessment of two proposed new/reinstated abstraction sources on the Grand Canal to augment flow. The consultant will review and assess both current and proposed abstraction sites. The licensing framework will focus on data gathering, modelling, and assessing the potential environmental impact of each abstraction. The consultant's work will enable Waterways Ireland to submit necessary information for EPA abstraction application assessments, ensuring compliance with statutory obligations under the Water Framework Directive and supporting strategic water management objectives.

Key activities include:

• Field Work: Conducting necessary on-site investigations.
• Hydrological Assessment: Evaluating water flow, volumes, and patterns.
• Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening: Assessing potential impacts on European sites.
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Consideration: Evaluating the need for and undertaking EIA screening if required.
• Water Framework Directive (WFD) Assessment: Ensuring compliance with WFD requirements.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Collating and analysing existing data from sources such as EPA, OPW, CFRAM, NPWS, Met Éireann, IFI, and others. Waterways Ireland will provide specific data including coordinates, canal water balance studies, and spot flow measurement outputs.
• Licence Application Preparation: Familiarising with the EPA's EDEN portal and preparing documentation for abstraction and impoundment licences, including specific EPA templates.
• Progress Reporting: Holding bi-monthly virtual progress update meetings with Waterways Ireland, with agendas issued three working days prior and minutes circulated within five working days.
• Project Programme and Risk Register: Developing and maintaining a Gantt chart-based project programme and a project risk register, updated at progress meetings.
• Assessment of Existing Abstractions: Reviewing fourteen specific abstraction sites detailed in the tender documents, including Longwood Aqueduct, Whitworth Aqueduct, The Downs, Rye Water Supply, Ballinacarrigy Supply, Richmond Harbour, Morell River, Leinster Aqueduct, The Cush/Derrycooly Abstraction, Shannon Harbour, Annanough Supply, Lough Scur – Summit Abstraction, Back pumping to Lough Scur, and Lough Allen Canal.
• Assessment of Proposed Abstractions: Reviewing two proposed sites: Reinstatement of Tullamore River Supply (5,000 m³/day) and New Abstraction from Silver River (7,500 m³/day). The consultant will recommend abstraction values or tapered regimes based on environmental and hydrological constraints.
• Addressing Requests for Further Information (RFI): Responding to RFIs from the EPA for each abstraction.

The contract duration is 12 months.

3. Background & buyer context

Waterways Ireland is procuring these consultancy services following the enactment of the Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Act 2022 and the commencement of the Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Regulations 2024. This legislation necessitates that Waterways Ireland obtain abstraction licences for its operations. Waterways Ireland manages 1,200 km of navigable inland waterways across Ireland and Northern Ireland, with infrastructure valued at an estimated €809 million. The organisation's strategic priorities include Asset Portfolio Management and Sustainable Development, Climate Action, Environment & Heritage. This procurement directly supports these objectives by ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and sustainable water management practices across its extensive network. The incumbent provider is not specified.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million or £10 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million or £5 million
• Professional Indemnity: €1.5 million or £1 million
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Place of Supply is ROI & NI.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principle, with the following award criteria and weighting:

Criterion