Quantity Surveying Consultancy Services for Commercial Assessment

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

The contract involves providing commercial assessment services for Part V proposals, turnkey acquisitions, and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) development applications in County Clare. The successful contractor will act as a trusted advisor to Clare County Council, delivering independent, evidence-based assessments.

• Financial Viability Assessments: Conduct detailed reviews of developer-submitted financial viability assessments, examining the structure and integrity of appraisal models and evaluating underlying assumptions.
• Cost Analysis: Assess construction costs, benchmark against market rates, and review allowances for professional fees, finance costs, and marketing expenditure.
• Land and Acquisition Costs: Examine land values and acquisition costs, considering market evidence and site-specific factors.
• Part V Proposal Evaluation: Evaluate compliance with statutory requirements and alignment with housing objectives, including unit suitability and proposed transfer values.
• Negotiation Support: Provide advisory support during negotiations with developers, including strategy formulation and real-time commercial advice.
• Alternative Approaches: Advise on alternative delivery mechanisms for improved outcomes.
• Documentation: Produce structured reports with findings, analysis, and recommendations, including executive summaries for senior management.
• Turnkey and AHB Applications: Conduct commercial appraisals of proposals, reviewing capital costs, value for money, and associated risks.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is driven by Clare County Council’s need to ensure compliance with Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, which mandates up to 20% of residential developments for social and affordable housing. The council requires commercial expertise to evaluate developer proposals, ensuring value for money and alignment with housing policy. The framework aims to enhance housing supply through Part V, turnkey, and AHB models, supporting the council's broader housing delivery strategy.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Professional Indemnity: €1,250,000 each claim, €1,500,000 annual aggregate.
• Public Liability: €6,500,000 per accident.
• Employer’s Liability: €13,000,000 per accident.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The evaluation follows the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principle, with details on scoring and weightings provided in the Instructions to Tenderers.

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document: Named template, page limits not specified.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: Fixed rates for assessments, format as per provided template.
• Case studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Declarations: ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, Conflict of Interest.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: eTenders, specific format rules not specified.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract is structured as a framework agreement for six months, with options for two additional six-month extensions. Payment terms are not specified. Key performance indicators include timeliness, quality of analysis, and responsiveness. Termination clauses allow for 30 days' notice. Intellectual property ownership and sub-contracting rules are not specified. No parent-company guarantee or bond requirements are mentioned.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The tender specifies a high level of insurance coverage, which may limit the pool of eligible bidders. The framework agreement does not guarantee a volume or value of work, introducing uncertainty for bidders. The contract's dependency on external funding or policy changes is not explicitly stated but could impact continuity.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for small to medium-sized firms with expertise in quantity surveying and commercial assessments, particularly those familiar with housing policy and Part V requirements. Consortiums or sub-contracting are not explicitly mentioned, suggesting a preference for single-entity bids. Bid preparation effort is moderate, requiring detailed financial analysis and reporting capabilities. The presence of an incumbent is not mentioned, indicating an open field for new entrants.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: FTS9_Consultancy_v1.10_16-09-2024.docx
• Clarification portal: eTenders
• Important attachments:
• "Part V, Turnkey and AHB Application Consultancy Services Scope of Services.pdf"
• "Instructions to Tenderers (ITT)"
• "Pricing Document"