TEN2600148 - CfT for Creation of a Biodiversity Garden within Con Smith Park in Cavan Town, Co. Cavan

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 a contractor to create a biodiversity garden within Con Smith Park in Cavan Town. The project aims to enhance the park's amenity value, visual appeal, and biodiversity through landscape, ecological, and public realm improvements. The works combine new pathways, seating, paving, signage, and boundary treatments with extensive planting, seeding, and habitat creation.

Key activities and components include:

• Vegetation Clearance: Removal of existing vegetation where required to facilitate construction, including strimming, cutting grass and weeds, removal of scrub and invasive growth, grubbing out roots, and lawful disposal of arisings off-site. Protection of existing trees and habitats for retention is mandatory.
• Biodiversity Planting: Sourcing and installation of native Irish provenance seed, bulbs, and plants. Specific requirements include the use of native Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and prohibition of Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) and its hybrids.
• Hard Landscaping:
• Gravel Pathways: Installation of Ballylusk self-binding gravel footpaths, generally 2.0m wide, on a prepared sub-base with geotextile separation membrane. Total area: 1000 m².
• V-Mesh Fencing: Installation of 1.20m high PVC coated green safe-top V-Mesh fencing with galvanised steel posts set in concrete foundations. Total length: 310 m.
• Limestone Paving: Supply and installation of natural limestone paving slabs (mid-grey to silver-grey, minimum 40mm thick) on a full mortar bed in entrance plaza areas. Total area: 48 m².
• Corten Steel Planters: Provision of two feature raised Corten steel island planting beds, 450mm high, filled with topsoil and pollinator planting. Total length: 11 lm.
• Street Furniture: Supply and installation of 4 No. Phoenix Park Seats (8ft length) with composite timber slats and cast iron supports, securely fixed to foundations.
• Pedestrian Gates: Supply and installation of 5 No. single leaf pedestrian access gates (1.20m high, 1060mm clear opening width) with RHS steel sections, matching V-Mesh infill, and industrial locks.
• Biodiversity Finger Posts: Supply and installation of 3 No. bespoke biodiversity habitat finger posts, incorporating wayfinding signs and integrated solitary bee habitat features. Posts are 120mm x 120mm, 3.0m long, set a minimum of 500mm into concrete foundations.
• Planting and Seeding:
• Boundary Hedge Planting: Approximately 300 linear metres of mixed native species (Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Hazel, Holly, Wild Cherry, Guelder Rose, Crab Apple, Spindle) in staggered double rows, mulched with bark.
• Native Tree Planting: Supply and planting of Oak (Quercus robur), Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), and Downy Birch (Betula pubescens).
• Feature Trees: Supply and planting of 2 No. Prunus avium 'Plena' multistem Wild Cherry feature trees at the park entrance.
• Wildflower Seed: Sowing of native Irish provenance wildflower seed mixtures (Code EC05 Wetland Wild Flora) over 880 m².
• Woodland Understorey Planting: Naturalistic woodland understorey and biodiversity planting mix over 460 m², comprising native ferns, sedges, woodland grasses, fruit-bearing shrubs, and nectar-rich flowering perennials. Planting density approximately 3 plants/m².
• Woodland Bulbs: Native Bluebell, Wood Anemone, and Snowdrop planting in woodland areas.
• Spring/Autumn Bulbs: Crocus, Daffodil, Tulips, Camassia, Allium, and Hyacinth planting.
• General Requirements: All materials must be new and fit for purpose. The contractor must maintain installed works and leave the site clean, safe, and operational at completion. Compliance with wildlife and ecological protection requirements is mandatory.

3. Background & buyer context

This project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027. Cavan County Council is procuring these works to enhance Con Smith Park. The strategic drivers for the project include increasing biodiversity, creating a more resilient and ecologically diverse landscape, supporting decarbonisation and climate action objectives through increased vegetation cover, improving air quality, and enhancing the overall environmental quality of the park. The aim is to create a welcoming, accessible, and environmentally rich public space that promotes recreation and biodiversity awareness.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum average annual turnover of €500,000 arising from Building/Construction work over the past five years.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €6,500,000 for any one accident. Maximum excess: €6,500.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €13,000,000 for any one accident. Maximum excess: €6,500.
• Insurance of the Works and goods/materials: Maximum excess of €10,000 for property only.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Not specified for this tender.
• Certifications: ISO 45001 or similar is mentioned in relation to employee skills and understanding, but not as a mandatory certification for the company.
• Past experience: Tenderers must provide details for a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 comparable projects carried out and delivered over the past 5 years. Projects must be similar in nature and complexity to the works required. Experience of project delivery through a public works contract where the value exceeded €0.75m ex VAT is required.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria will be based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). The specific weighting and scoring mechanism are not detailed in the provided extract. However, the tender documents indicate that bidders who do not achieve minimum requirements in certain sections will be deemed to have failed and eliminated from the process.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit the following:

• Pricing Schedule: Format not specified.
• Case Studies: Tenderer is to provide details for a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 comparable projects.
• Declarations:
• ESPD (European Single Procurement Document).
• Bona Fides (likely covered by ESPD).
• Tax clearance: Tenderer must supply Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification.
• Conflict of Interest declaration.
• Appendix B1 - List of Previous Works Projects: Details of completed projects, organised by precedence, with corresponding Certificates of Satisfactory Execution. A minimum of 3 projects must be listed.
• Appendix B2 - Certificate of Satisfactory Execution: To be completed for previous projects.
• Mandatory Site Visit: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Submission Portal: Tenders must be submitted via eTenders. Specific format rules for electronic copies are not detailed, but the RFT mentions "Number and type of Electronic Copies of Tender: Type: N/A No", suggesting electronic submission is standard.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract will be based on the PW-CF6 v1.15 25-11-2025 Short Public Works Contract. Key terms include:

• Term + extension: Not specified.
• Payment terms: Not specified, but standard public sector payment terms (within 30 days) are implied by the contract structure.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified.
• Liquidated damages: Applicable if the contractor fails to substantially complete the works within the Time for Completion, at a rate specified in the Schedule.
• Termination clauses: Standard termination provisions are likely included within the PW-CF6 contract.
• IP ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting rules: Contractor may engage sub-processors for data processing with prior notice to the Employer. Assignment of the contract requires Employer's consent.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond: A performance bond may be required if stated in the Schedule, to be provided within 7 days of tender acceptance.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Value Undisclosed: The estimated value is not disclosed, which can make bid preparation and resource allocation challenging for potential bidders.
• Short Timeframe for Contract: The submission deadline is 09 September 2026. If the contract is awarded shortly after, this leaves a very tight window for mobilisation and commencement, especially given the potential need for performance bonds (within 7 days of acceptance).
• Co-funding Complexity: Co-funding by the EU (ERDF) may introduce specific reporting or compliance requirements not fully detailed in the RFT extract.
• Short Public Works Contract: The use of the PW-CF6 contract implies a project value likely below the EU thresholds for full procurement procedures, but specific value bands are not provided.
• Detailed Technical Specifications: The scope includes highly specific planting and hard landscaping requirements, demanding precise execution and material sourcing.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with demonstrable experience in landscaping, hard landscaping, and ecological enhancement projects.

• Who can credibly bid: A firm with a proven track record in public realm works, park enhancements, or similar landscape construction projects. Experience with native planting and biodiversity features is essential. The turnover requirement of €500,000 average annual turnover suggests that very small businesses may struggle to meet this threshold.
• Consortium or sub-contracting: The tender documents do not explicitly prohibit consortia or sub-contracting. However, the emphasis on the Applicant or Lead Member completing Section 2 of the qualification criteria suggests a lead entity is expected.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Bid preparation would likely require 10-20 days of effort for a firm with existing templates and experience in public tenders. This includes compiling past project details, developing method statements (if required), and pricing the detailed Bill of Quantities/Schedule of Works.
• Pwin signal: The tender is open to competition. The absence of an incumbent mention and the clear, detailed specifications suggest a standard procurement process. The primary challenge for SMEs will be meeting the insurance and past experience requirements.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename(s): TEN2600148 - CfT for Creation of a Biodiversity Garden within Con Smith Park in Cavan Town, Co. Cavan
• eTenders CFT ID: Not surfaced in provided data.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Not surfaced in provided data.
• Most important attachments:
• Appendix 1 - Technical Specification (Con Smith Park Biodiversity.docx)
• PW-CF6_Contract_v1.15_25-11-2025.pdf (Short Public Works Contract Conditions)
• Appendix B1 - List of Previous Works Projects (Appendix-B1-List-of-Previous-Works-Projects-which-is-CEE.docx)