Replacement of a Landing Pontoon, Western Foreshore, Foynes

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 requires the design, delivery, and installation of a new landing pontoon and access walkway at the Western Foreshore in Foynes, Co. Limerick. The contractor will also act as the Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP) and Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS).

The scope of work includes:

• Removal and Disposal: The existing pontoon and its access walkway will be removed and disposed of.
• Design and Installation: A new pontoon and access walkway will be designed, delivered, and fitted. Existing piles will be utilised for the new installation.
• Pontoon Specifications:
• The seaward-facing berth must be a minimum of 18 meters in length.
• All steelwork must be hot-dip galvanised to BSEN ISO 1461.
• The pontoon must be designed for a live load and have a reserve flotation capacity of 4.0 k/m².
• Heavy-duty DD fenders are to be fitted.
• Access Gangway Specifications:
• The gangway will be 1.5 meters wide between handrails.
• It will be complete with handrails and decked with non-slip GRP flooring.
• It must accommodate a live loading of 4kN/m².
• Ancillary Equipment:
• Provision for one life buoy with a protective housing.
• Provision for two safety ladders.
• Bank Seat: Existing bank seat will be utilised, with engineering options to accommodate the gangway design to be considered.
• Contractor Responsibilities: The tenderer must include provision for all design, preliminaries, plant, labour, materials, safe access, temporary works, and welfare facilities for the duration of the works. This includes mobilisation and demobilisation from site. A breakdown of costs is required.
• PSDP and PSCS Roles: The contractor must fulfil the roles of PSDP and PSCS due to the risks associated with working near or over water, potential for falls from height or drowning, and the assembly/dismantling of heavy prefabricated components.
• Environmental Management: The contractor must implement a waste management strategy to minimise waste, maximise reuse and recycling, and ensure proper disposal. Measures to prevent pollution of air, water, and soil are required. Prioritisation of materials with reduced environmental impact is expected.

The tenderer is recommended to view the site to fully quantify the work and associated risks.

3. Background & buyer context

Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) is a commercial semi-state company and Ireland's deepest sheltered commercial harbour. It holds estuary jurisdiction over a 500km² area on the Shannon Estuary. SFPC is a Tier 1 designated port nationally and a core port on the EU TEN-T network.

In line with the National Ports Policy, SFPC has developed a long-term vision, outlined in the "Shannon Foynes Port Company Vision 2041" document, to develop its facilities to meet customer demands and drive growth.

To ensure continued safe operations at quay side, SFPC is undertaking this procurement to replace an existing landing pontoon on the Western Foreshore at Foynes, Co. Limerick. The procurement follows the open procedure as per public procurement guidelines for goods and services.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover Requirement:
• Minimum average annual turnover of €650,000 in marine/bridge construction for the three preceding financial years.
• Evidence of a minimum overall average annual turnover of €650,000 for the three preceding financial years.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Employers Liability: €13 million
• Contractors All Risk: €400,000
• Professional Indemnity: €200,000 to be maintained for 6 years after completion.
• Bidders must confirm they can place required insurance levels if successful.
• Certifications:
• Quality Management System: Evidence of a 3rd party certified system (e.g., ISO 9001:2015) or an equivalent in-house quality control system.
• Health, Safety and Welfare: Evidence of a 3rd party certified system (e.g., OHSAS, Safe-T-cert).
• Past Experience:
• Evidence of providing PSDP and PSCS services for at least three comparable projects within the preceding five years.
• Comparable projects must have involved marine construction or quayside work in a live environment.
• If relying on others for PSDP/PSCS, at least two comparable projects are required for each service.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / Facility Constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). The award criteria are not explicitly detailed with weightings in the provided extract. However, the tender states that tenders will be assessed against selection and award criteria to identify the MEAT.

The extract indicates a "Pass/Fail" weighting for Quality Management System and Health, Safety and Welfare criteria, suggesting these are essential prerequisites.

The pricing criterion is described as: "The lowest ultimate cost tender that also meets all of the minimum requirements of the qualitative award criteria will receive the maximum score achievable under the cost criterion." This implies a price-quality trade-off where price is a significant factor, particularly for the lowest cost compliant bid.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following:

• Form of Tender: Completed, signed, and returned as per Appendix A.
• Self-Declarations:
• Tax Compliance (A2, A5)
• Insurance details (A3, A5)
• Financial Standing (A4, A5)
• Declaration of Bona Fides (A6)
• Quality Management System: Information on measures in place, e.g., a copy of a 3rd party certified system or details of an in-house system (A7).
• Health, Safety and Welfare: Information on a 3rd party certified system (e.g., OHSAS, Safe-T-Cert) and evidence of PSDP/PSCS experience (A8).
• PSDP/PSCS Declarations: Appendices C and D for H&S compliance by PSDP/PSCS.
• Professional Body Membership: Evidence of membership to relevant professional bodies (e.g., CIOB, CIF) (A9).
• Pricing Schedule: A breakdown of costs is required to accompany the submission.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Case Studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission Portal: Tenders must be submitted via the electronic post box on the eTenders portal.
• File Size Limit: Maximum combined file size of 100MB.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Tender Validity: 6 months from the tender deadline.
• Language and Currency: All correspondence and pricing must be in English. Prices and payments will be in Euros (€), exclusive of VAT.
• Payment Terms: A schedule of payments will be agreed with the successful tenderer. The Contracting Entity operates under the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012. Electronic Funds Transfer is the usual payment method.
• Sub-contracting: The Contracting Entity will deal with a nominated Prime Contractor. Sub-contractors are permitted, but the Prime Contractor holds overall responsibility.
• Governing Law: The contract will be governed by Irish law.
• Termination: The Contracting Entity reserves the right to terminate the tender process at any time without liability.
• Confidentiality: Tender documents and information are confidential.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Combined Roles: The requirement for the contractor to act as Designer, PSDP, and PSCS is a significant responsibility, requiring demonstrated expertise across all three. The competency assessment for PSDP/PSCS post-tender for the highest-ranking bidder is a critical gate.
• Turnover Requirement: The €650,000 average annual turnover in marine/bridge construction is a specific requirement that may limit the pool of eligible bidders.
• Site Visit Recommendation: While not mandatory, the strong recommendation to view the site suggests potential complexities or site-specific conditions that bidders must fully understand.
• No Budget Disclosure: The estimated value is not disclosed, making it difficult for bidders to gauge the scale of the project relative to their capacity without further analysis.
• Open Procedure: While an open procedure is used, the specific selection criteria and the combined role requirement may effectively narrow the field.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured to attract experienced marine construction contractors capable of managing complex design, safety, and construction roles.

• Credible Bidders: A small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) with a strong track record in marine construction, specifically pontoon or jetty works, and proven experience in fulfilling both PSDP and PSCS roles would be a credible bidder. They must also possess or be able to quickly secure the required insurance levels and demonstrate a robust quality management system.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The tender explicitly encourages larger enterprises and SMEs to form relationships. This suggests that consortia or sub-contracting arrangements are permissible and potentially encouraged, allowing SMEs to participate by partnering with other firms to meet the full scope of requirements.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Bid preparation will likely require significant effort, estimated at 15-25 days, due to the need to detail design approaches, safety plans, cost breakdowns, and provide evidence of past performance for the combined PSDP/PSCS roles.
• Pwin Signal: The tender does not explicitly name an incumbent. However, the specific nature of marine works and the combined PSDP/PSCS requirement suggest that firms with established expertise in these niche areas will have a higher probability of winning. The competency assessment for PSDP/PSCS post-award is a key differentiator.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: Part 1 RFT for Pontoon replacement at Western Foreshore Foynes.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: 8728992
• Contact / Clarification Portal: eTenders portal (queries via email with subject line: ‘Query: Landing Pontoon replacement’)
• Key Attachments:
• Appendix A – Form of Tender
• Appendix B – Insurance
• Appendix C – PSDP Declaration
• Appendix D – H&S Declaration by PSCS
• Appendix E – Competency Assessment for PSDP & PSCS