Supply of Heavy Haulage Articulated Truck Units and Trailers

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 procurement seeks the supply and delivery of two new heavy haulage double-drive 6x4 articulated truck units and two heavy haulage trailers to the Department of Defence (Defence Forces). The contract will be divided into two lots.

Lot 1 comprises two new heavy haulage, double-drive 6x4 articulated truck units. These vehicles require a 6x4 wheel configuration with a minimum of two driving axles. They must be de-chromed, with model number badges removed. Amber flashing beacons are to be fitted to the cab roof, and the interior must feature non-slip rubber or vinyl flooring. The trucks must have ABS/EBS connection to ISO 7638 (24v 7-Pin) and lighting connection to ISO 12098 (24v 15-Pin).

Lot 2 involves two four-axle semi-low bed trailers. These trailers must have a payload capacity greater than 46,000 Kgs.

Any additional components fitted by the successful bidder must carry a minimum of 24 months warranty. A parts and labour warranty of a minimum of 12 months from the date of issue of the trailers is required. Two days of training courses for maintenance and operation are also specified.

The estimated expenditure for the goods is €820,000 (excluding VAT) over the term of the contract and any possible extensions. The contract term is defined as the warranty period after delivery of the units. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to extend the term for periods up to an unspecified duration, with a maximum of an unspecified number of extensions.

3. Background & buyer context

The Department of Defence (Defence Forces) has identified a requirement for new heavy haulage articulated truck units and trailers. This procurement is being conducted under an open procedure, adhering to the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016. The Contracting Authority aims to encourage participation by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), suggesting they explore forming relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises if the scope exceeds their capacity. Larger enterprises are also encouraged to include SMEs in their proposals. The estimated expenditure of €820,000 (excl. VAT) indicates a significant investment in fleet capability.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €12,700,000
• Public Liability: €6,500,000
• Product Liability: €6,500,000
• Professional Indemnity: Not specified for this tender.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Tenderers must supply a detailed specification for the vehicle/trailers offered and complete the TRD (Technical Requirements Document) attached to the RFT. Supporting documentation for economic and financial standing and technical and professional ability must be provided upon request.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers must also declare via eESPD that they satisfy the economic and financial standing requirements and technical and professional ability requirements. They must be able to provide supporting documentation upon request. Failure to meet these criteria will result in automatic elimination.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the most economically advantageous tender, determined by the following criteria:

Tenders must achieve a minimum score of 2700 for Technical Merit & Functional Characteristics and 600 for Warranty Terms Offered and Delivery Lead Time. The total score is out of 10,000.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the eTenders portal (www.etenders.gov.ie). Key submission requirements include:

• Method statement / response document: Tenderers must follow the format of the RFT and respond to each element in order. The eESPD must be completed and submitted.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: Appendix 2 (Pricing Schedule) must be completed. All prices must be all-inclusive, in Euro, and exclusive of VAT. Prices must remain valid for twelve (12) months from the Tender Deadline.
• Case studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Declarations:
• European Single Procurement Document (eESPD)
• Tenderer’s Statement (Appendix 3), signed and scanned.
• Declaration as to Personal Circumstances of Tenderer (Appendix 4).
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: All submissions must be via the eTenders electronic tenderbox. File size limit is 250MB per file, with a total limit of 500MB. Tenders must be in English and in PDF format.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The Goods Contract will be awarded for a term defined as the warranty period after delivery of the units. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to extend this term for unspecified periods, up to a maximum number of extensions, subject to legal obligations. Payments will be made in accordance with the Goods Contract (Appendix 5). Prices quoted must remain valid for twelve (12) months from the Tender Deadline. Any currency variations over the contract term will be borne by the Tenderer. The successful Tenderer must hold specified insurances for the term of the contract. Compliance with all applicable environmental, social, and labour laws is mandatory. No publicity regarding the competition or contract is permitted without prior written consent.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The estimated value of €820,000 (excl. VAT) is relatively modest for heavy haulage vehicles and trailers, potentially indicating a limited scope or specific operational requirements. The contract term is defined by the warranty period, which is unusual and may lead to uncertainty regarding the actual contract duration. The absence of specific turnover requirements for financial standing, coupled with a pass/fail approach to selection criteria, places significant emphasis on the technical and quality aspects of the bid, as reflected in the high weighting for Technical Merit. The requirement for a minimum score in Technical Merit, Warranty, and Delivery Lead Time means that a tender cannot win solely on price. The "Green Friendly" criterion, though weighted at only 5%, suggests a developing focus on environmental considerations within the Defence Forces.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for specialist vehicle manufacturers or suppliers with established expertise in heavy haulage equipment. Given the specific technical requirements and the need for a robust warranty and delivery schedule, a small Irish business would likely need to partner with a larger, established manufacturer or form a consortium to meet the technical and financial demands. Consortium or subcontracting is permitted, as indicated by the encouragement for SMEs to explore such relationships. The bid preparation effort is likely to be significant, requiring detailed technical specifications, pricing, and warranty proposals. The "Pwin" (Probability of Winning) signal is unclear, as no incumbent is named, and the open procedure suggests a competitive field. However, the emphasis on technical merit and specific vehicle configurations may favour bidders with proven track records in supplying similar equipment.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: RFT ARTICS and trailers (1).docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not surfaced in provided text.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Most important attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 3: Tenderer’s Statement