Cork City Council Consultancy Services for Cork City Fire Brigade Service Delivery Centre - PHASE 1

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

Buyer Title CPV / category Estimated value Per-year Procedure type Lots Location Contract length Submission deadline Go-live / start | :------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------- | :-------------- | :------- | :------------- | :--- | :------- | :-------------- | :------------------ | :-------------- | Cork City Council Consultancy Services for Cork City Fire Brigade Service Delivery Centre - PHASE 1 Not specified Not disclosed Not specified Not specified Not specified Cork City Not specified 2026-08-04T15:00:00 Not specified

2. Scope of Work

This tender seeks consultancy services for Phase 1 of the Cork City Fire Brigade Service Delivery Centre in Ballincollig, Cork. The contract encompasses the appointment of a design team. This team will be responsible for providing a comprehensive suite of design and project management services.

The scope of work includes, but is not limited to:

• Structural and Civil Engineering: Design and specification of all structural and civil engineering aspects of the project.
• Building Services Engineering: Design and specification of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems.
• Fire Engineering Services: Provision of specialist fire engineering design and consultancy.
• Assigned Certifier: Undertaking the role of Assigned Certifier, ensuring compliance with Building Control Regulations.
• Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP): Fulfilling the responsibilities of the PSDP, ensuring health and safety during the design phase.
• Ancillary Certifier: Providing ancillary certifications as prescribed by Building Control Regulations.
• Development of Tender Documents: Preparation of all necessary documentation for subsequent construction tenders.
• Site Investigations: Conducting necessary site investigations to inform the design process.
• Compliance with Regulations: Ensuring all designs and specifications adhere to relevant Irish and EU legislation, including the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and associated regulations, and Eurocode standards.
• Project Management: Overseeing the design process, managing consultants, and coordinating with the client.
• Quality Assurance: Implementing quality assurance measures throughout the design and pre-construction phases.
• Liaison and Reporting: Maintaining regular communication with Cork City Council and providing progress reports.

The contract is for Phase 1 of the project, indicating potential for future phases. The location for the service delivery centre is Link Road, Ballincollig, P31 VK11, Cork City.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is initiated by Cork City Council for the development of a new Service Delivery Centre for the Cork City Fire Brigade. The project is designated as Phase 1, suggesting a phased approach to the overall development. The need for this centre is driven by the operational requirements of the Cork City Fire Brigade. The tender documents reference the Public Works Contract for Minor Works, indicating the project's scale and the standard contracting framework being employed. The contract date is established as the date the Employer issued the Letter of Acceptance. The Designated Date is defined as 10 days before the last day for receipt of the Contractor’s tender.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability: €6,500,000 per claim, with a maximum excess of €10,000 for property damage.
• Employer's Liability: €13,000,000 per claim.
• Professional Indemnity: €1,250,000 on an Each and Every claim basis and €1,500,000 on an Annual Aggregate basis. This applies to Specialist Skill Providers (C&S, M&E, PSDP).
• Certifications:
• ISO 45001 is queried.
• Compliance with Eurocode 7 Geotechnical Design (ISEN 1997) is cited.
• Past experience: Bidders must provide evidence of satisfactory execution of previous projects. Appendix B1 lists a table for 21 instances of previous projects. Appendix B3 requires details of the main service provided, value of commission, and dates of commencement and completion.
• Personnel:
• Minimum of 15 years post-graduate experience with a minimum of 8 years in a senior management role.
• Minimum of 10 years post-graduate experience with a minimum of 7 years in a Project Engineer role.
• Minimum of 10 years post-graduate experience with a minimum of 5 years in a lead Fire Safety Engineer role.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria and scoring mechanism are not explicitly detailed in the provided tender documents. However, the tender is for consultancy services, which typically involves a balance between technical quality and price. Public Works Contracts in Ireland generally follow a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) approach, where quality aspects are evaluated against price. Specific scoring weights and sub-criteria would be detailed in the full tender package.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit the following:

• Declarations:
• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD).
• Bona Fides declarations.
• Tax clearance certificates.
• Conflict of Interest declarations.
• Past Performance Evidence:
• Appendix B1: List of Previous Projects/Certificate of Satisfactory Execution. Bidders must list up to 21 previous projects.
• Appendix B3: Certificate of Satisfactory Delivery of Services, detailing the applicant's activity, main service, value, dates, and referee contact information.
• Personnel Information: Details of key personnel, including their qualifications and experience, are required, with specific minimum experience levels outlined in the eligibility section.
• Insurance Details: Documentary evidence of insurance cover will be required.
• Pricing Schedule: A pricing schedule, likely in a specified format, will be required.
• Method Statement/Response Document: A detailed response outlining how the bidder will meet the tender requirements. Specific templates and page limits are not detailed here.
• Submission Portal: Submissions are to be made via the eTenders platform.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Type: The contract will be based on the Public Works Contract for Minor Works (PW-CF5 v2.10).
• Payment Terms: Interim payments will be made, with retention applied. Full payment is made after the Final Statement. Interest is payable on late payments.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not explicitly detailed in the provided extracts, but implied through quality, safety, and timely delivery requirements.
• Liquidated Damages: Clause 9.8 details provisions for Liquidated Damages for failure to complete on time.
• Termination: The contract allows for termination by the Employer due to contractor default (Clause 12.1) or at the Employer's election (Clause 12.5). Termination by the Contractor is also possible under specific circumstances (Clause 12.4).
• IP Ownership: Rights in Contractor's Documents are addressed in Clause 6.4.
• Sub-contracting: Clause 5.4 addresses Subcontractors and Specialists, requiring approval.
• Performance Bond: Clause 1.5 requires a Performance Bond.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Phase 1 Designation: The tender is for "Phase 1," indicating that this is part of a larger project. Bidders should ascertain the scope and potential for future phases and their implications.
• Public Works Contract: The use of the standard Public Works Contract for Minor Works (PW-CF5 v2.10) means bidders must be familiar with its detailed clauses, including those on time, payment, defects, and dispute resolution.
• Assigned Certifier & PSDP Roles: The requirement for the contractor to fulfil both Assigned Certifier and PSDP roles simultaneously requires careful consideration of potential conflicts of interest and workload management.
• Insurance Requirements: The Professional Indemnity insurance levels are specific to different specialist roles (C&S, M&E, PSDP), requiring bidders to ensure their cover meets all applicable minimums.
• Tender Deadline: The submission deadline is in August 2026, which is a considerable time in the future, suggesting a long lead time for this procurement.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured for experienced design team consultancies capable of managing complex projects. A small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) could potentially bid, particularly if they specialise in one or more of the required disciplines (structural, civil, building services, fire engineering) and can form a consortium or subcontract for other elements.

• Credible Bidders: Firms with a proven track record in public sector projects, particularly in building design and project management, are well-suited. Experience as an Assigned Certifier and PSDP is essential.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The tender documents do not explicitly prohibit consortia or sub-contracting. However, the requirement for specific personnel experience (e.g., 15 years in senior management) suggests a lead organisation must meet these criteria. Sub-contracting would be permissible for specific technical roles, provided it is declared and approved.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing a bid for this type of consultancy service, involving detailed technical proposals, personnel CVs, and past performance evidence (up to 21 projects), would likely require significant effort, potentially 20-40 person-days for a lead firm, depending on their existing documentation and the complexity of their proposed approach.
• Pwin Signal: The tender is for a public sector client (Cork City Council) using a standard public works contract. There is no immediate indication of an incumbent supplier for these specific consultancy services. The "Phase 1" designation suggests a potential for follow-on work, which could be attractive. The long lead time to the deadline might indicate a complex procurement process or a project with a distant start date.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename(s): [Ballincollig_Invitation to Tender .pdf], [Appendix-B1.docx], [Appendix-B3.docx], [Appendix-A.docx], [Minor Works Contract_PW-CF5_v2.10_16-06-2026.pdf]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided documents.
• Contact Email/Clarification Portal: Not specified in provided documents.
• Most Important Attachments:
• Ballincollig_Invitation to Tender .pdf
• Appendix B1: LIST OF PREVIOUS PROJECTS/CERTIFICATE OF SATISFACTORY EXECUTION
• Appendix B3: CERTIFICATE OF SATISFACTORY DELIVERY OF SERVICES
• Minor Works Contract_PW-CF5_v2.10_16-06-2026.pdf