Floating Voices - Passenger Boat Design, Manufacture and Supply

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

Street Art Ink DAC seeks tenders for the design, manufacture, testing, commissioning, and delivery of a bespoke narrow boat. The contract encompasses the full lifecycle of the vessel, from initial design concepts through to final handover. The vessel is intended for passenger use and must comply with relevant maritime regulations.

The scope of work includes:

• Design: Development of detailed design plans for a bespoke narrow boat. This includes hull design, internal layout, systems integration, and compliance with safety regulations. Reference is made to specific drawings such as SA-1000-00 (Lines Plan) and SA-2002-00 (Fire & Safety Plan). The principal dimensions are specified as: Length Overall (LOA) 18.00 meters, Beam Overall (BOA) 4.050 meters, Depth 1.98 meters, Station Spacing 0.50 meters, and Deck Camber 0.90 meters.
• Manufacture: Construction of the vessel according to the approved designs. This involves hull fabrication, interior fitting out, and installation of all necessary systems. Specific construction details mentioned include:
• Timber furniture of substantial construction in good modern design.
• Doors of timber construction fitted into aluminium or timber frames, with holdback hooks, rubber bumpers, and nylon or rubber anti-rattle buttons.
• Stairway treads covered in timber with effective non-slip material.
• Cushions made of approved latex foam rubber covered in fabric.
• All painted interior surfaces to be coated with a suitable primer and a minimum of 5 coats overall.
• All plywood in specified areas to be coated with a minimum of 5 coats of paint or varnish.
• Exterior metal works to receive a minimum of four topcoats.
• Testing: Comprehensive testing of the vessel to ensure operational readiness and compliance. This includes speed tests over a measured mile with a minimum of 3 double runs.
• Commissioning: Final checks and adjustments to ensure all systems function correctly prior to handover.
• Delivery: Transportation and handover of the completed vessel to Street Art Ink.
• Safety Equipment: Provision and installation of specified safety equipment, including:
• Fire hose boxes with 18m hoses and spray nozzles.
• Dry powder fire extinguishers (quantity and locations specified).
• Foam fire extinguishers for the engine compartment.
• Engine vents.
• Fire damping systems.
• Emergency power shut-off.
• 15-Pax open reversible life raft with hydrostatic release unit.
• Life buoys with lights and 18m polypropylene lines.
• Distress signals (2 x hand held, 2 x orange smoke).
• Waterproof torch and hand-held fog horn.
• Adult and child life jackets.
• First aid kits.
• Man overboard (MOB) recovery ladder.
• Bilge alarms.
• Fire-Pro system control panel.
• Fire suppression system.
• Smoke and heat detection systems.
• Fire blankets.
• Fire control panel.
• Regulatory Compliance: Adherence to passenger boat regulations as laid down by S.I. No. 273/2002 (Merchant Shipping (Passenger Boat) Regulations 2002) as amended by S.I. No. 648/2003.
• Marking: Permanent marking of the vessel's registration/official number and tonnage by means of bead.
• Electrical Systems: Wiring to include circuit names, numbers, and voltage types.

The contract duration is to be confirmed in the tender documentation.

3. Background & buyer context

Street Art Ink DAC is procuring the design, manufacture, testing, commissioning, and delivery of a bespoke narrow boat. This procurement is undertaken as part of a project supported through the LEADER Programme. The LEADER Programme is a European Union initiative aimed at supporting rural development. Street Art Ink DAC is located at 7 Leamy Street, Waterford. The specific strategic drivers for this procurement relate to the development of services or infrastructure facilitated by the LEADER Programme funding. No incumbent supplier is mentioned in the provided documentation.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for this tender:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum cover of €6.5m.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum cover of €13m.
• Bidders must confirm they have, or will obtain, these insurances prior to appointment. Validated copies must be provided within 7 calendar days of request.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Bidders must demonstrate relevant experience. Specific details on the number, size, or complexity of past projects are not provided in the extract.
• 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 following criteria:

The award is based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principle. Minimum scoring thresholds per criterion or overall are not specified.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit the following:

• Administrative Submission: Not specified in detail.
• Technical Submission: Not specified in detail, but must include details on experience, technical approach, and technical support/resources.
• Commercial Submission: Not specified in detail, but must include pricing.
• Declarations:
• Exclusion grounds (likely via ESPD or similar).
• Bona Fides.
• Tax clearance.
• Conflict of Interest.
• Pricing Schedule: Format and template not specified.
• Case Studies: Number and value range not specified.
• CVs: Page count and named roles not specified.
• Method Statement / Response Document: Named template and page limits not specified.
• Mandatory Site Visit: Not specified.
• Submission Portal: Via eTenders. Specific format rules not detailed.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Duration: To be confirmed in tender documentation.
• Payment Terms: Milestone-based payments.
• Warranty: A minimum 12-month warranty is required.
• Design Responsibility: The successful tenderer is responsible for the detailed design of the vessel.
• Dispute Resolution: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting: Not specified.
• Parent-Company Guarantee/Bond: Not specified.
• Tender Validity: 120 calendar days.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The estimated value of €150,000 for a bespoke 18-meter passenger vessel appears low, potentially indicating a risk of under-bidding or a very basic specification. The award criteria heavily weight experience and technical aspects (60% combined) against price (40%), suggesting a strong preference for quality and proven capability over cost alone. The lack of specified turnover requirements or detailed past experience metrics could allow a wider range of bidders but may also increase the risk of unqualified submissions. The contract duration is to be confirmed, introducing uncertainty for bidders regarding the overall project timeline and potential for follow-on work. The LEADER Programme funding context implies potential for external funding dependencies that could impact contract stability.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with specialised boat-building and design capabilities. A viable bidder would need demonstrable experience in constructing vessels of similar size and complexity, specifically narrow boats or passenger vessels, and possess the technical expertise to meet the detailed design and safety requirements. The combined 60% weighting for experience and technical aspects suggests that firms with a strong portfolio and technical team will be best positioned. Consortium bidding or subcontracting is not explicitly mentioned as disallowed, which could allow smaller firms to partner to meet requirements. The bid preparation effort is likely moderate, focusing on detailing technical capabilities and past project evidence rather than extensive documentation. The Pwin signal is unclear; the LEADER Programme context and the emphasis on technical merit suggest a focus on capability over incumbent advantage, but the low value might attract established players looking for smaller projects.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: [Floating Voices_ITT.pdf]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Via eTenders portal
• Key Attachments:
• [SA-1000-00 (Lines Plan 01-10-2024).pdf]
• [SA-2002-00 (Fire & Safety Plan 21-11-2024).pdf]
• [Vol B_Tender and Schedule.zip]
• [Vol A- Works Requirement.zip]