Engineering Consultancy Services for Knocknageragh Bridge Expansion

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 engineering consultancy services for the expansion of Knocknageragh Bridge. The scope encompasses the provision of professional engineering expertise to support Tipperary County Council in this infrastructure project. The services will involve detailed design, technical advice, and project management support throughout the project lifecycle.

Key activities and deliverables include:

• Feasibility Studies: Preparation of feasibility reports for the structure within 4 weeks of appointment.
• Design Development:
• Development of detailed engineering designs for the bridge expansion.
• Ensuring designs comply with relevant Irish and European standards, including the Irish Annexe to EN206 and EN 15978.
• Consideration of whole life-cycle analysis in accordance with EN 15978, where appropriate.
• Updating technical standards for concrete (National Annex to EN 206) to enable specific performance requirements.
• Incorporating sustainability considerations, potentially including carbon reduction targets (e.g., a minimum of 25% by 2030).
• Technical Support:
• Providing technical advice to the County Council.
• Reviewing and responding to comments from the County Council within specified timeframes (e.g., 2 weeks for TCC review, 5 weeks for receiving TCC comments).
• Project Management:
• Assisting the County Council in managing the project.
• Attending a minimum of 10 site meetings or consultations.
• Documentation:
• Preparation of detailed reports and documentation.
• Within 2 months of substantial completion, the Consultant shall prepare a detailed report.
• Data Protection Compliance: The appointed consultant will act as a Data Processor for Tipperary County Council, adhering to the terms of the Data Processing Agreement. This includes complying with GDPR and other Data Protection Requirements, implementing security measures, and assisting the County Council with its data protection obligations.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is initiated by Tipperary County Council to address the need for engineering consultancy services related to the expansion of Knocknageragh Bridge. The project aligns with the Council's infrastructure development objectives. While specific policy drivers are not detailed, such projects typically fall under broader national or regional strategies for transport and infrastructure improvement. The tender documents do not mention an incumbent service provider for these specific consultancy services. The procurement is being conducted to secure the necessary expertise for the design and planning phases of the bridge expansion.

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: €12.7m any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Public Liability: €6.5m any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Product Liability: €6.5m any one occurrence and in the aggregate.
• Professional Indemnity: €1,250,000 on each and every claim basis, and €1,500,000 on an annual aggregate basis.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: The service provider must give a minimum of three examples of previous bridge projects. Appendix B1 requires listing up to 28 previous projects with corresponding Certificates of Satisfactory Execution.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria and scoring mechanism are not detailed in the provided extract. Typically, public sector tenders in Ireland follow a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) approach, balancing price and quality. Specific weightings for technical merit, experience, and price would be detailed in the full tender documentation.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit the following:

• Method statement / response document: Not specified for this tender.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: Not specified for this tender.
• Case studies: A minimum of three examples of previous bridge projects must be provided. Appendix B1 requires the submission of Certificates of Satisfactory Execution for up to 28 previous projects.
• Declarations:
• ESPD (European Single Procurement Document)
• Bona Fides declarations
• Tax clearance
• Conflict of Interest declarations
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Bids must be submitted via the eTenders platform.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: The agreement continues until the Processor ceases to process personal data on behalf of the County Council or by mutual written agreement.
• Payment terms: Not specified for this tender.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified for this tender.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified for this tender.
• Termination clauses: The County Council may terminate the agreement by giving a minimum of 30 days' prior written notice if a valid data transfer mechanism outside the EEA ceases to be valid.
• IP ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting rules: The Processor shall not assign, sublicense, subcontract, mortgage, or otherwise transfer any part of the agreement without the prior written consent of the County Council. The Processor remains liable for sub-processor actions.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified for this tender.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Data Processing Agreement: A significant portion of the tender documentation relates to a Data Processing Agreement, indicating that the consultancy services will involve the processing of personal data on behalf of Tipperary County Council. This requires bidders to have robust data protection policies and procedures in place.
• Extensive Past Performance Documentation: Appendix B1 requires a detailed list of up to 28 previous projects with Certificates of Satisfactory Execution. This level of detail suggests a strong emphasis on proven experience and may favour larger, more established firms with extensive project histories.
• Lack of Specific Value: The estimated value of the contract is not disclosed, making it difficult to gauge the scale of the project and the expected financial commitment.
• Ambiguous Contract Length: The contract length is not specified, which can create uncertainty for bidders regarding the long-term commitment.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely to be most suitable for engineering consultancy firms with demonstrated experience in bridge design and expansion projects. The requirement for a minimum of three, and potentially up to 28, detailed project references with certificates of satisfactory execution suggests a strong preference for established firms with a significant track record.

• Who can credibly bid: Firms with a proven history in civil engineering, specifically bridge infrastructure, and a capacity to provide detailed documentation of past performance. The insurance requirements, particularly Professional Indemnity, are substantial and would need to be met.
• Consortium/sub-contracting: The Data Processing Agreement explicitly states that the Processor shall not assign, sublicense, subcontract, mortgage, or otherwise transfer any part of the agreement without prior written consent. This suggests that sub-contracting for the core engineering services may be restricted, although specific clauses within the main tender document would need to be reviewed.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Given the detailed project history requirement and the Data Processing Agreement, bid preparation could be substantial, potentially requiring 10-20 days of effort for a well-prepared firm to gather documentation and draft responses.
• Pwin signal: The extensive documentation requirements for past performance may indicate a preference for larger, established firms. The lack of a disclosed value and specific award criteria makes it difficult to assess incumbent strength or other Pwin signals.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename(s): Not specified in provided text.
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided text.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Not specified in provided text.
• Most important attachments:
• [Appendix_B1_QC1_and_QC2_09-02-2022.docx] APPENDIX B1: LIST OF PREVIOUS PROJECTS/CERTIFICATE OF SATISFACTORY EXECUTION
• [Tipperary County Council Data Processing Agreement.docx] TIPPERARY COUNTY COUNCIL DATA PROCESSING AGREEMENT