National Roads Resurfacing Scheme

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 contractors for a National Roads Resurfacing Scheme. The contract will involve the resurfacing of national roads. Specific activities and requirements include:

• Road Resurfacing: The primary activity is the resurfacing of national roads. This implies the removal of existing road surfaces and the application of new materials to achieve a specified finish and durability.
• Traffic Management: A minimum of one-way traffic must be maintained at all times during the works. Road closures will only be granted for a combined maximum of 2 weeks. Advance notice of at least 2 weeks is required for commencement of works, and for businesses affected by traffic restrictions. Applications for road closures must be submitted a minimum of 5 weeks in advance.
• Site Operations: The duration of the works is anticipated to be in the order of 8 weeks.
• Quality and Standards: Compliance with IS EN 206, EN 14488, BS 6319 Part 2, EN1463 2006, IS EN 12697-49, IS EN 13108-21, IS EN 13036-1, EN 13108-4, and EN 1436:2018 is required.
• Health and Safety: Compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 is mandatory. This includes having appropriate qualifications, training, and resources for management and personnel. A H&S Prequalification (SF069) must be passed prior to award.
• Materials and Testing: Materials must comply with relevant standards. Testing regimes are specified, including IS EN 13108-21 for Factory Production Control.
• Site Management: The contractor is responsible for all site operations, including security, safety, and nuisance control.
• Reporting: Progress reports are required.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is for a National Roads Resurfacing Scheme, managed by Louth County Council. The tender falls under the remit of the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, as indicated by the use of their Public Works Contract for Minor Works (PW-CF5 v2.9). The scheme is part of ongoing national road maintenance and improvement programmes aimed at ensuring the safety and efficiency of the road network. The specific timing of this procurement suggests a need to address current road conditions and planned maintenance cycles.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: A minimum average annual turnover of €2.50 million (excluding VAT) in the Civil Engineering category for the last 3 years.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €6,500,000 for any one event. Maximum excess for property damage only is €10,000.
• Employer's Liability Insurance: Minimum indemnity limit of €13,000,000 for any one event.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Minimum cover is not specified, with a note to state minimum cover proportionate to project size (default €1.5m). Maximum permissible excess is the greater of 2% of annual turnover or €5,000.
• Certifications: Compliance with relevant IS EN and BS standards is required. Membership of Safe-T-Cert may be deemed equivalent for quality management systems.
• Past experience: Bidders must provide a list of completed projects over the past 5 years (or 7 years where necessary for competition) that are similar in nature and complexity to the works required. Certificates of Satisfactory Execution are required for these projects.
• Personnel: Management staff and personnel must have appropriate educational/professional qualifications and experience, including relevant Health and Safety qualifications, training, and experience. Specific roles and minimum years of experience are not detailed in the provided extract.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are not explicitly detailed with scoring percentages in the provided extract. However, the tender documents indicate that Health and Safety selection criteria are pass/fail. The overall award will likely follow a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) approach, balancing price and quality. Specific quality aspects will be assessed through technical capability, health and safety competence, and past performance.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit the following:

• Method statement / response document: Specific sections of the Health and Safety Supplement (3.4.1a, 3.4.1b, 3.4.1c, 3.4.1d, 3.4.1e) must be completed, providing evidence of technical capability and H&S competence.
• CVs: Curricula Vitae for management staff and personnel, detailing relevant qualifications, training, experience, and roles on similar projects.
• Pricing schedule: Not explicitly detailed, but a Pricing Document is referenced.
• Case studies: Appendix B1 (List of Previous Works Projects) and Appendix B2 (Certificate of Satisfactory Execution) are mandatory for demonstrating past experience.
• Declarations: Declarations regarding Health and Safety policy, organisation, arrangements, training, risk assessments, and compliance with relevant legislation are required (Appendix 1 to HS Supplement). A Banker's Letter (Appendix C) and a Letter of Undertaking/Bond (Appendix D2) are also required.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Bids are to be submitted via eTenders. Specific format rules are not detailed in the extract.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Type: Public Works Contract for Minor Works (PW-CF5 v2.9).
• Term: Not specified, but the contract duration is anticipated to be around 8 weeks for the works.
• Payment Terms: Interim payments are made, with retention applicable. Full payment follows the final statement. Time for payment and interest are detailed.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not explicitly detailed, but maintenance of one-way traffic and adherence to programme timelines are implied.
• Liquidated Damages: Clause 9.8 details provisions for Liquidated Damages for failure to complete on time.
• Termination: Clauses 12.1-12.9 outline termination on contractor default, suspension by the contractor, termination by the contractor, and termination at the employer's election, with associated consequences.
• IP Ownership: Rights in Contractor's Documents are addressed in Clause 6.4.
• Sub-contracting: Clause 5.4 addresses subcontractors and specialists.
• Performance Bond: A Letter of Undertaking/Bond (Appendix D2) is required, with the amount not exceeding a specified limit (indicated by a placeholder).

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Health and Safety Prequalification: The requirement to pass the Council's H&S Prequalification (SF069) prior to award is a critical gate. Failure here, even with a competitive tender, will result in disqualification.
• Turnover vs. Contract Value: The turnover requirement of €2.50 million per year is a significant figure for a "Minor Works" contract, potentially indicating a larger scope or higher risk profile than the title suggests.
• Insurance Excess: The specific wording around the Professional Indemnity insurance excess (greater of 2% of turnover or €5,000) could be a point of negotiation or require careful structuring for smaller bidders.
• Lack of Detail: Key contract details such as contract length, estimated value, and specific award criteria weighting are not provided in the extract, requiring bidders to seek clarification or infer from the contract type.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely best suited for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a strong track record in civil engineering and road construction, particularly those with robust health and safety management systems.

• Credible Bidders: Firms with demonstrated experience in delivering road resurfacing projects of a significant scale, evidenced by successful completion certificates. They must meet the €2.50 million annual turnover requirement and possess the necessary insurance cover. A strong emphasis on health and safety compliance, evidenced by qualified personnel and documented systems (potentially ISO 45001 or Safe-T-Cert), is essential.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: The contract documents do not explicitly prohibit consortia or sub-contracting. Clause 5.4 addresses subcontractors, suggesting they may be permitted, but this would need confirmation.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing the detailed H&S documentation, past project evidence (Appendices B1/B2), Banker's Letter, and Letter of Undertaking will require significant effort, likely several days to a week for an experienced team.
• Pwin Signal: The "Minor Works" classification, coupled with the substantial turnover requirement and the mandatory H&S prequalification, suggests a competitive but structured process. The absence of a stated incumbent or specific project value makes it difficult to assess incumbent strength. The requirement for a bond also indicates a level of risk management by the buyer.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename(s): PW-CF5_Contract_v2.9_25-11-2025.pdf, 3.4.1-HS-Works-Contractor_v3.1-25-11-2025.docx, Appendix_C_Bankers_Letter.docx, Appendix_B1_List_of_Previous_Works_Projects_which_is_CEE.docx, Appendix_D2_QW2_Letter_of_Undertaking_Bond.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not surfaced in the provided metadata.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Not surfaced in the provided metadata.
• Most important attachments:
• PW-CF5_Contract_v2.9_25-11-2025.pdf (Public Works Contract for Minor Works)
• 3.4.1-HS-Works-Contractor_v3.1-25-11-2025.docx (Health and Safety Supplement)
• Appendix_B1_List_of_Previous_Works_Projects_which_is_CEE.docx (List of Previous Works Projects)