Eddy Covariance Greenhouse Gas Monitoring System

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 the supply and delivery of specialised equipment for greenhouse gas monitoring. The contract will encompass Eddy Covariance compatible Carbon Dioxide Analysers, Eddy Covariance compatible Methane Analyser, and Automated Soil Flux Chambers.

The Automated Soil Flux Chamber system must meet specific technical requirements:

• A minimum of eight soil chambers.
• Capability for automatic opening and closing onto a gas-tight collar.
• Collars must be pre-inserted into the soil to a minimum depth of 5cm.
• An option for a larger number of chambers is available.

The contracting authority, Teagasc, reserves the right to purchase additional equipment of the same or similar nature during the contract term. These additional purchases, at Teagasc's sole discretion and subject to funding and operational requirements, may include:

• Up to 3 additional Carbon Dioxide Analysers.
• Up to 2 additional Methane Analysers.
• Up to 8 additional Automated Soil Flux Chambers.
• Associated sensors, accessories, and replacement components.

The contract is for an initial term of 24 months, with the possibility of extensions for maintenance for up to 12 months in periods of up to 12 months, with a maximum of nine such extensions. Following this, maintenance requirements may be extended indefinitely.

3. Background & buyer context

Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, is procuring this equipment as part of its ongoing research and development activities in environmental monitoring. The acquisition of these greenhouse gas monitoring systems aligns with national and international efforts to understand and mitigate climate change impacts within the agricultural and food sectors. While no specific programme is named, the procurement supports Teagasc's mandate for agricultural innovation and sustainability. No incumbent supplier is mentioned. The strategic driver is to enhance Teagasc's capacity for precise environmental data collection and analysis.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Average Annual Turnover for the last 3 Years must exceed €500,000. Evidence must be provided via an accountant's or auditor's statement for the last two financial years.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million limit for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Public Liability: €6.5 million limit for any one claim or series of claims.
• Product Liability: €6.5 million limit for any one claim or series of claims. Tenderers must confirm they will hold these insurances from the contract's effective date and that their policies include Ireland within their territorial limits.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Applicants must provide evidence of successfully carrying out at least 2 previous contracts of a similar nature and scale over the past 5 years, in either the public or private sectors. Descriptions of these contracts are required.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award of the contract will be based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). The specific scoring mechanism and weighting are not detailed in the provided extract. However, the tender documents indicate that Tenderers will be evaluated against award criteria after passing the selection criteria. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to reject any tender that does not meet the minimum requirements or is deemed non-compliant.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must adhere to the following submission requirements:

• Method statement / response document: Tenderers must follow the format of the RFT and respond to each element in the order presented. The entire tender must be submitted in English.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: All Tenderers must complete the Pricing Schedule at Appendix 2. Prices must be all-inclusive (excluding VAT), expressed in Euro, and remain valid for 180 days from the Tender Deadline.
• Case studies: Evidence of at least 2 previous contracts of similar nature and scale over the past 5 years must be provided.
• Declarations:
• European Single Procurement Document (eESPD) or equivalent declaration.
• Tenderer's Statement (Appendix 3), signed and scanned, confirming acceptance of contract terms.
• Declaration as to Personal Circumstances of Tenderer (Appendix 4).
• Tax Clearance Certificate or equivalent from the relevant taxation authority.
• Declaration regarding compliance with Regulations (EU) 2022/1031 (International Procurement Instrument) and (EU) 2022/2560 (Foreign Subsidies).
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via the electronic tenderbox on www.etenders.gov.ie. File size limits apply: 250MB per single file, with a maximum total of 2GB for all documentation.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: The Goods Contract will be for an initial term of 24 months.
• Extension: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to extend the term for maintenance for periods up to 12 months, with a maximum of nine such extensions. Maintenance may be extended indefinitely thereafter.
• Additional Purchases: Teagasc may purchase additional equipment during the term, subject to funding and operational requirements.
• Payment terms: Payments will be made in accordance with the Goods Contract at Appendix 5. Invoices are deemed accepted if no queries are raised within 14 days.
• Price Validity: Quoted prices must remain valid for 180 days from the Tender Deadline.
• Currency Risk: Any currency variations over the contract term are borne by the Tenderer.
• Termination: Not specified in detail, beyond standard clauses for breach.
• IP Ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting: Tenderers must designate a single Prime Contractor responsible for the contract, irrespective of sub-contracting. Sub-contractors may need to submit their own eESPD.
• Bond requirements: Not specified for this tender.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Estimated Value Omission: The absence of an estimated contract value is unusual for a tender of this nature and may indicate a broad range of potential expenditure or a reliance on future funding.
• Open-Ended Maintenance: The potential for indefinite extension of maintenance requirements post-contract term could represent a long-term commitment not fully defined at the outset.
• Additional Purchase Uncertainty: While additional purchases are possible, there is no guarantee they will be placed, creating uncertainty for bidders regarding potential future business volume.
• No Site Visit Specified: The absence of a mandatory site visit, coupled with detailed technical specifications, places a higher burden on bidders to fully understand the operational context and requirements.
• Foreign Subsidies Regulation: Tenderers must be aware of and comply with Regulation (EU) 2022/2560 on Foreign Subsidies, requiring declarations for contributions exceeding certain thresholds.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as an open procedure, theoretically accessible to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). However, the technical specifications for the Eddy Covariance equipment and the requirement for at least two similar contracts over the past five years suggest a need for specialised expertise and established track record.

• Credible Bidders: Viable bidders would likely be established suppliers of scientific or environmental monitoring equipment with a proven history in supplying and supporting complex analytical instruments. They would need to demonstrate technical competence in Eddy Covariance systems and soil flux chambers.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The RFT encourages SMEs to form relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises. Sub-contracting is permitted, and bidders relying on sub-contractors for technical capacity must ensure those entities also meet selection criteria.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing a compliant bid, including the eESPD, technical responses, pricing schedule, and evidence of past performance, would likely require 10-20 days of focused effort for a specialist firm.
• Pwin Signal: The absence of a stated incumbent or previous tender winners makes it difficult to assess the Pwin. The open procedure suggests a competitive process, but the technical nature of the goods may favour established players in this niche market.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: [C4634 - Eddy Covariance Greenhouse Gas Monitoring System. RFT.docx]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Key Attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 3: Tenderer’s Statement
• Appendix 5: Goods Contract