Provision of Services for Preparation of Integrated Source Protection Plan for Churchill/Oram GWS

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 | :------------------------------------------ | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | :------------- | :-------------- | :------- | :------------- | :--- | :------- | :-------------- | :------------------ | :-------------- | Churchill Oram Group Water Scheme Society Ltd Provision of Services for Preparation of Integrated Source Protection Plan for Churchill/Oram GWS 71313000-8 €22,000 Not stated Not stated 1 Ireland Not stated 2026-07-23 14:00 Not stated

2. Scope of Work

The contractor will provide services to develop an Integrated Source Protection Plan (ISPP) for the Churchill Oram Group Water Scheme (GWS). The ISPP aims to protect the water source from contamination. The services encompass the entire process from initial assessment to the final plan delivery.

The core activities include:

• Assessment and Data Gathering:
• Conducting a minimum of eight weeks of data collection and analysis.
• Gathering and reviewing existing data related to the water source and its catchment area.
• For surface water sources, a minimum of one year's data will generally be needed.
• Catchment Characterisation:
• Identifying and mapping the catchment area of the water source.
• Assessing potential pollution sources within the catchment, including agricultural activities, land use, and infrastructure.
• Evaluating the hydrogeology and hydrology of the catchment.
• Risk Assessment:
• Performing a risk assessment to identify and prioritise potential threats to water quality.
• This includes assessing the proximity of potential contamination sources to the water intake.
• Plan Development:
• Developing a comprehensive Integrated Source Protection Plan.
• The plan will outline measures to prevent or mitigate contamination risks.
• This may involve recommendations for land management practices, infrastructure improvements, and monitoring strategies.
• Reporting and Delivery:
• Producing a final ISPP document.
• The final ISPP must be completed within 6 months of the award of the contract.
• The final ISPP must be completed within 12 months of the award of the contract.
• The contractor will be responsible for the provision of the Services as described in Appendix 1 of the RFT.

The contractor is expected to act with due care, skill, and diligence, and to comply with all applicable laws and industry best practices.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is for the Churchill Oram Group Water Scheme Society Limited. The objective is to develop an Integrated Source Protection Plan (ISPP) to safeguard the water supply for the scheme's users. The need for such a plan arises from the ongoing requirement to ensure the quality and safety of drinking water. The documentation indicates that the RFT was issued by the Contracting Authority, which is the Churchill Oram GWS. The contract is being awarded under a Request for Tenders (RFT) process. The specific policy drivers or programme this fits into are not explicitly stated, but it aligns with general public health and environmental protection objectives for water services.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employers Liability: €13,000,000
• Public Liability: €6,500,000
• Professional Indemnity: €1,500,000 Bidders must confirm they have these insurances in place or can upgrade to these levels if successful.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience:
• A minimum of 5 years' practical expertise in catchment science, in addition to a relevant degree.
• A minimum of 10 years' demonstrated expertise in catchment science, in addition to a relevant degree.
• Personnel:
• Key personnel assigned to provide the Services must be available for the Term of the Agreement.
• Replacement personnel must be of equivalent experience and expertise.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria and scoring mechanism are not explicitly detailed in the provided text. However, the contract will be awarded based on the RFT and the contractor's submission. The evaluation will consider the contractor's ability to provide the Services in accordance with the Specification, the RFT, and the Client's directions. The pricing schedule will be a component of the overall evaluation. The contract will be awarded to the tenderer who submits the most economically advantageous tender, taking into account price and quality.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit a response to the Request for Tenders (RFT). This submission will form part of the final agreement. Key submission elements include:

• Response Document: The contractor submitted a response to the RFT dated [date not specified]. This submission, including any clarifications issued in writing, is incorporated by reference into the agreement.
• Pricing Schedule: Charges are stipulated in Schedule C.
• Declarations:
• Declaration as to Personal Circumstances of Tenderer (dated 04/06/21), confirming no exclusion grounds apply.
• Confirmation of insurance levels.
• Key Personnel: The contractor must ensure key personnel are available and provide details of any replacement personnel.
• Tax Clearance Certificate: A current Tax Clearance Certificate is required.
• Confidentiality Agreement: Compliance with the confidentiality agreement exhibited at Appendix 6 to the RFT.

7. Key dates & process

The final ISPP must be completed within 6 months of the award of the contract. The final ISPP must be completed within 12 months of the award of the contract.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: The agreement commences on the Effective Date and expires on [date not specified], unless terminated or extended. The Client may extend the Term for periods of up to one month, with a maximum of six such extensions.
• Payment Terms: Charges are payable subject to contractor compliance with the agreement, submission of valid invoices with supporting documentation, and the Client being in possession of the contractor's Tax Clearance Certificate. Invoices are deemed accepted if no queries are raised within 14 calendar days. The European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations, 2012 apply.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Compliance with service levels and performance indicators set out in Schedule D.
• Liquidated Damages: Not explicitly detailed in the provided text, but clause 5H mentions potential deduction for late delivery.
• Termination: Either party may terminate with one month's written notice. Immediate termination is possible for serious breach, insolvency, conflict of interest, or if exclusion grounds apply. Force Majeure events continuing for 14 days allow termination with 14 days' notice.
• IP Ownership: All Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in reports, data, manuals, and other materials produced for the agreement vest in the Client. The Client grants the contractor a royalty-free licence to use the Client's Pre-existing IPR for the Term.
• Sub-contracting: The contractor assumes full responsibility for its subcontractors and must ensure their compliance with the agreement.
• Parent-Company Guarantee/Bond: Not specified for this tender.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Conflicting Completion Times: The RFT states the ISPP must be completed within 6 months of award, while the contract document also states it must be completed within 12 months. This ambiguity requires clarification.
• Insurance Confirmation: While required insurance levels are stated, the "Levels in Place" column is blank, with a confirmation to upgrade if successful. This implies bidders may not currently hold the full required amounts but must be able to secure them.
• Limited Contract Value: The estimated value of €22,000 is relatively low for a project involving extensive data collection and plan development, potentially impacting the scope or depth of services expected.
• Unspecified Procedure Type: The tender procedure type is not stated, which is unusual for a public sector procurement.
• Unspecified Contract Length: The contract length is not specified, making it difficult to assess the full duration of the engagement beyond the ISPP completion timeline.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with specialised expertise in environmental consultancy, specifically in catchment science and water resource management.

• Credible Bidders: A viable bidder would be a consultancy firm with a proven track record in developing Integrated Source Protection Plans or similar environmental assessments for water bodies. They would need to demonstrate strong technical capabilities in hydrogeology, hydrology, and risk assessment. The requirement for a minimum of 5-10 years' expertise in catchment science suggests a need for experienced professionals.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The contract documents do not explicitly prohibit sub-contracting, and the contractor is responsible for its subcontractors. A consortium approach could be viable for firms lacking all required expertise internally.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Given the specialised nature of the work and the need to gather and analyse data, bid preparation could require 10-20 days of effort for a small firm, involving technical writing, pricing, and assembling supporting documentation.
• Pwin Signal: The low estimated value and the specific nature of the service suggest it may not be a high-volume framework. The absence of stated incumbent information or past winners makes it difficult to assess Pwin. However, the clear technical requirements and insurance levels indicate a need for a well-resourced and experienced bidder.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: [Blank_GWS_ISPP_Contract_for_Services.docx]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: www.etenders.gov.ie (for RFT clarifications).
• Key Attachments:
• Appendix 1 to the RFT (describing the Services).
• Schedule B (detailing the Specification).
• Schedule C (detailing the Charges).
• Appendix 6 to the RFT (Confidentiality Agreement).