EM 05/26 - Environmental Laboratory and Testing Services

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 Environmental Laboratory and Testing Services for Bord na Móna Energy Limited. The Contracting Entity requires accredited analysis for water, soil, air, and waste to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and licensing. The scope includes specialised accredited testing, such as chemical, microbiological, and nutrient analysis, supported by sampling services and online reporting.

Key activities and requirements include:

• Accredited Analysis: Provision of accredited analysis for water, soil, air, and waste.
• Specialised Testing: Conducting specialised accredited testing, including chemical, microbiological, and nutrient analysis.
• Sampling Services: Providing sampling services for various parameters.
• Online Reporting: Offering online reporting capabilities for test results.
• Logistics Management: Managing the logistics for routine collections.
• Timely Results: Issuing results in a timely manner.
• Detailed Reporting: Generating detailed reports in accordance with EPA standards and guidelines.
• Parameter Sampling: Experience in sampling parameters including:
• Groundwaters (GW)
• Rivers/Streams (SW)
• Odour
• Dust
• Noise
• Sample Management: Experience in the coordination of routine weekly collections and the management of large volumes of samples in accordance with ISO Standards.
• Chain of Custody: Maintaining chain of custody for all samples.
• Accuracy of Results: Ensuring the accuracy of all reported results.
• Data Management: Implementing robust data management practices.
• Technical Report Writing: Producing technical reports for Dust, GW, SW, and Noise analyses.

The successful tenderer will be required to provide the logistics for routine collections, issue results promptly, and generate detailed reports compliant with EPA standards and guidelines.

3. Background & buyer context

Bord na Móna (BnM) is an Irish semi-state climate solutions company focused on transitioning Ireland to a climate-neutral future. Founded in 1934, BnM has evolved from peat harvesting to become a leading renewable energy provider. The company is expanding its renewable energy infrastructure, aiming for a 5GW renewable energy pipeline by 2030 to support Ireland's commitment to generating 80% of its electricity from renewable sources. The Contracting Entity for this procurement is Bord na Móna Energy Limited and its Affiliates. This tender is part of BnM's strategic objective to ensure environmental compliance and support its net-zero transition through reliable environmental testing services. The procurement is governed by Directive 2014/25/EU.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Applicants must demonstrate annual turnover on relevant services of at least €700,000 in one of the past three financial years, or pro-rata if more recently established. Failure to meet this requirement will lead to exclusion.
• Insurance: Applicants must provide details of insurance or a statement from their provider confirming the ability to access cover for:
• Employer's Liability
• Public/Product Liability
• Professional Indemnity
• Motor Insurance (if company vehicles are brought onto BnM sites)
• Certifications:
• INAB Accreditation (or equivalent): Applicants must provide a copy of their INAB Accreditation or equivalent.
• Health & Safety:
• Documented Safety Statement or Manual for Safety Management (including organisation and arrangements for health and safety) must be provided.
• Safety Statement/Manual must have been reviewed within the last 12 months.
• Operate a certified safety management system (e.g., ISO 45001, Safe-T-Cert, or equivalent).
• Environmental Profile:
• Hold a current recognised certification, accreditation, membership, award, or equivalent related to Sustainability/ESG/CSR practices.
• Possess an Environmental Management System accredited to ISO 14001, or equivalent.
• Quality Profile:
• Possess a documented quality management system.
• Quality management system must be current and certified as compliant with ISO 9001:2015 or an equivalent internationally recognised standard.
• Past experience: Applicants must demonstrate sufficient recent and relevant experience by providing details of the three (3) most relevant contracts undertaken in the last five (5) years. Each contract detail must include:
• Name of Contract
• Name of Lead Consultant/Contractor
• Client Name
• Background on the Client
• Applicant’s Role
• Comprehensive Description of Services Delivered (including maintaining chain of custody, ensuring accuracy of results, data management, reporting, sampling various parameters, and managing large volumes of samples)
• How Services Provided are Relevant to Contracting Entity’s Requirements
• % Of Contract Delivered by Main Consultant/Contractor
• Name of Sub-contractor(s) (if applicable)
• % Of Contract Delivered by Sub-contractors(s)
• Contract Start Date
• Contract End Date
• Total Contract Value (euro)
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The selection criteria for the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) phase are outlined as follows:

Note: A "Fail" on any Pass/Fail criterion automatically eliminates an Applicant. For weighted criteria, Applicants must achieve at least 50% of the total weighting for that specific criterion. Failure to meet these minimums will result in exclusion. The overall award criteria for the subsequent Request for Tender (RFT) stage are not detailed in the PQQ.

6. Submission requirements

Applicants are required to complete and return the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) and associated documentation.

• Method statement / response document: The PQQ document itself serves as the primary response document.
• CVs: Not specified for this PQQ stage.
• Pricing schedule: Not specified for this PQQ stage.
• Case studies: Details of three (3) most relevant contracts from the last five (5) years are required within the PQQ.
• Declarations:
• Applicant Contact Details and Information (Section 1)
• Professional & Business Standing (Section 2)
• Financial Information (Section 3)
• INAB Accreditation (or equivalent) (Section 4)
• Health & Safety (Section 5)
• Environmental Profile (Section 6)
• Quality Profile (Section 7)
• Previous Experience (Section 8)
• Applicant Declaration (Section 9)
• Confirmation of ability to access required insurance cover.
• Confirmation of valid Tax Clearance Certificate prior to contract award.
• Details of any potential Conflicts of Interest.
• Confirmation regarding convictions for specified offences (criminal organisation, corruption, fraud, terrorist offences, money laundering, child labour/trafficking).
• Confirmation regarding compliance with environmental, social, and labour law, bankruptcy, grave professional misconduct, distortion of competition, prior involvement, deficiencies in prior contracts, tax/social security obligations, or serious misrepresentation.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this PQQ stage.
• Submission portal: Applicants are required to compress all files/documents into one zip folder. All files/documents within the zip folder should be clearly named and reference the criterion they relate to. The PQQ must be returned by the specified deadline.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Award Subject to Conditions: Contract award is contingent upon the production of a current Tax Clearance Certificate from the Revenue Commissioners in Ireland (or equivalent for non-residents) and satisfactory confirmation from insurers that the applicant can comply with the contract's insurance requirements.
• Parent Company Guarantee: If the applicant is a subsidiary, a letter of confirmation from the ultimate parent company is required, confirming its commitment to furnish a Parent Company Guarantee to the satisfaction of the Employer for the completion of any contract obligations.
• Consortium/Joint Venture: If applying as a consortium or joint venture, details of the lead applicant and a description of the proposed execution of the contract, including an organisation chart, are required.
• Sub-contracting: Applicants must declare if they propose to use sub-contractors and specify the activities for which they will be used.
• Irish Law: Irish law is applicable to the Shortlisting Documents, and Irish courts have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes.
• No Legal Obligation: No legal relationship or obligation arises between the applicant and the Contracting Entity until a contract is formally executed in writing by both parties and any conditions precedent are fulfilled.
• Right to Amend/Terminate: The Contracting Entity reserves the right to amend the Shortlisting Documents, its requirements, or terminate discussions at any time. They are not obliged to enter into a contract with any applicant.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Negotiated Procedure: The use of a negotiated procedure suggests Bord na Móna may engage in discussions with shortlisted candidates to refine proposals, which can be resource-intensive for bidders.
• PQQ as Primary Document: The PQQ itself is the main submission for this stage, with a detailed RFT to follow for shortlisted candidates. This means significant effort is required upfront to meet the PQQ's comprehensive requirements.
• Parent Company Guarantee Requirement: For subsidiaries, the mandatory requirement for a Parent Company Guarantee letter upfront indicates a strong emphasis on financial stability and commitment from the ultimate parent entity.
• Turnover Threshold: The €700,000 turnover requirement is a significant hurdle for smaller, specialised firms and may limit the competitive pool.
• INAB Accreditation (or equivalent): This specific accreditation requirement, rather than a general quality standard, signals a need for demonstrable technical competence in laboratory testing.
• No Value Disclosed: The absence of an estimated contract value in the metadata means bidders must assess the potential scale and profitability based on the scope and their own market intelligence.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a negotiated procedure, starting with a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ). The €700,000 turnover requirement in one of the last three financial years is a substantial threshold, indicating that Bord na Móna is seeking established service providers with a proven track record and significant financial capacity. Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may find this turnover requirement challenging unless they operate as part of a larger group or consortium.

Consortium bids are permitted, which could allow SMEs to combine their specialised expertise with that of other firms to meet the eligibility criteria. Sub-contracting is also allowed, meaning SMEs could potentially bid as sub-contractors to a lead applicant that meets the PQQ requirements.

The bid preparation effort for the PQQ stage is considerable, requiring detailed responses across financial standing, health & safety, environmental and quality profiles, and extensive previous experience. This could represent several days of work for a dedicated bid team. The PQQ does not explicitly mention incumbent suppliers, but the detailed requirements and the negotiated procedure suggest Bord na Móna is seeking a high level of assurance and capability. The tender appears genuinely open to established firms with a strong demonstrable history in environmental laboratory and testing services, potentially including those with specific accreditations like INAB.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename(s): Part 2 Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided documents.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Not specified in provided documents.
• Most important attachments:
• Part 2 Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.docx
• BNM IM and PQQ Environmental Services and Testing Services.pdf