Solar PV framework for Galway County Council

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

Galway County Council (GCC) intends to establish a single-supplier framework agreement for the design, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, monitoring, handover, and maintenance of rooftop Solar PV systems across GCC buildings. Call-offs will be awarded during the framework term for projects of varying size and complexity, including grid connection support.

GCC has approximately 65 buildings. The scope of work includes:

• Surveys and Design:
• Site inspection and measured survey.
• Roof suitability review, including access, safety, and site conditions.
• Indicative structural load review and identification of specialist verification needs.
• PV layout design, inverter sizing, and electrical design.
• Generation estimates and export limitation design.
• Monitoring system design.
• Supply and Installation:
• Supply and installation of PV modules, inverters, and mounting systems for various roof types.
• Installation of DC and AC cabling, isolators, protection devices, and switchgear interfaces.
• Penetrations, supports, and making good.
• Monitoring hardware and software access.
• Compliance and Connection Support:
• Review of planning permission status.
• Completion and submission of ESB Networks forms and connection processes (NC6/NC7 and larger systems).
• Provision of type test certification and manufacturer data sheets for inverters.
• Electrical certification and Safe Electric documentation. Inverters must comply with IS EN 50549-1.
• Commissioning and Handover:
• System testing and commissioning.
• Energisation and monitoring setup.
• Provision of as-built information and O&M manuals.
• Training for GCC staff.
• Defects response and warranty support.
• Optional Scope (under call-off):
• Battery readiness or integration.
• Export limitation equipment.
• Roof walkway/safety rail systems.
• Reactive and planned maintenance.
• Fault diagnostics and remote monitoring support.

Tenderers must provide optional, separately identified rates for battery-related works, including "battery-ready" provision and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) priced on a €/kWh usable basis.

The framework is structured into four lots based on system size:

• Item 1: Single-Phase NC6-Range Systems (max 6 kVA single-phase, up to 10 kWp DC PV array).
• Item 2A: NC7 Systems (above NC6 threshold up to 30 kWp/kW class).
• Item 2B: NC7 Systems (above 30 kWp/kW class up to 50 kWp/kW class).
• Item 3: Larger Rooftop PV Systems (above 50 kWp up to 100 kWp).
• Item 4: Very Large Rooftop PV Systems (above 100 kWp).

Pricing is based on €/kWp installed, with specific requirements for roof types and optional optimisers.

3. Background & buyer context

Galway County Council (GCC) is procuring this framework to streamline the procurement of Solar PV installations across its approximately 65 buildings. The Council has established ISO 50001 Energy Management and is committed to its principles. This procurement aligns with a broader objective to improve energy efficiency and sustainability within public buildings. The policy promotes participation by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The framework is intended to appoint a single contractor to manage these installations efficiently.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered eligible. These are assessed on a pass/fail basis.

• Turnover requirement:
• Confirmation that the tendering party turnover exceeded €250,000 during one of the last three years, or pro-rata if more recently established.
• The firm must have been in existence for at least 6 months.
• Confirmation of financial standing to pay debts as they fall due.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Product Liability: €6.5 million
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million
• Certifications:
• Must be a Safe Electric-registered electrical contractor for the Lead Electrical Contractor role.
• Inverters must comply with IS EN 50549-1.
• Past experience:
• Minimum of 3 previous comparable PV contracts.
• At least 2 PV projects with a capacity of ≥100 kWp.
• Projects must include design, installation, grid-connection, testing, commissioning, and handover.
• Personnel:
• Lead Electrical Contractor: 1 no. Safe Electric-registered with experience in grid-connected PV systems.
• PV System Designer: 1 no. competent designer with experience in systems >100 kWp.
• Site Supervisor: 1 no. designated supervisor responsible for H&S and RAMS.
• Installation Operatives: Minimum of 4 no. trained PV installation operatives.
• Commissioning & Testing Personnel: Access to competent personnel for testing, commissioning, and handover.
• Technical Equipment and Resources:
• Safe access systems appropriate to roof type.
• Calibrated electrical test equipment (insulation resistance testers, continuity testers, IV curve tracer, earth fault testing equipment).
• Demonstrated access to trained roofers or equivalent competence.
• PV design and yield assessment software.
• Health & Safety Management System:
• A documented Health & Safety Management System.
• Compliance with relevant Irish Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Acts and Regulations, and Construction Regulations.
• Ability to act as PSCS/PSDP if requested.
• Site-specific Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS).
• Relevant training records (working at height, electrical safety, PV installation).

Tenderers may rely on the resources of other entities to meet these requirements, provided they can prove these resources will be at their disposal.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded on the basis of the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), considering quality and cost.

Quality (3000 marks): Assessed across five sub-criteria:

1. Technical Solution & Methodology (900 marks): Assesses the approach to delivering PV systems across varied building stock, including design, roof variations, grid constraints, battery readiness, component standardisation, and sequencing.
2. Relevant Experience & Track Record (600 marks): Focuses on proven delivery of comparable projects, including multi-site installations and experience with local authorities/public bodies and live operational buildings.
3. Project Management & Resourcing (600 marks): Assesses capacity for concurrent project delivery, including governance structure, named roles, response capacity, scheduling, and supply chain resilience.
4. Quality Assurance, Commissioning & Handover (600 marks): Ensures consistent installation and performance, covering QA procedures, testing methodology, handover packs, and staff training.
5. Aftercare, Monitoring & Maintenance Support (300 marks): Evaluates long-term performance support, including defect response, monitoring platforms, fault diagnostics, and maintenance offerings.

Cost (7000 marks): Based on the pricing schedule provided in the Tender Response Document. The lowest cost tender meeting minimum qualitative requirements receives maximum marks.

Tenders must meet the Selection Criteria and be valid and responsive to be evaluated against the award criteria. A minimum score of 1500 marks is required for the Quality criterion.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit the following information in the Tender Response Document (TRD):

• Declarations:
• Declaration of Bona Fides (as per Art. 57 of Directive 2014/24/EU).
• Declaration regarding compliance with relevant statutory obligations.
• Confirmation of tax compliance in Ireland and country of establishment.
• Financial Information:
• Confirmation of turnover exceeding €250,000 in one of the last three years.
• Confirmation of financial standing.
• Confirmation of required insurance levels.
• Personnel and Skills: Information demonstrating access to the minimum number of skilled personnel as specified.
• Technical Equipment and Resources: Information demonstrating access to required technical resources.
• Previous Contracts / Experience: Details of 3 previous comparable PV contracts and 2 PV projects ≥100 kWp. Client contact details for references.
• Health & Safety Management System: Documentation demonstrating compliance with H&S requirements.
• Quality Assurance: Response to the quality criteria, with specific page limits for each sub-criterion (e.g., Technical Solution & Methodology: 2 x A4 pages).
• Pricing Schedule: Completed pricing schedule appended to the tender documents, including all costs.
• Optional Pricing: Separately identified rates for battery-related works.
• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD): May be used as evidence of compliance with Section 4.3.

Submissions must be made via the eTenders portal.

7. Key dates & process

These dates are estimates and cannot be guaranteed.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Duration: 2 years, with an option for two 12-month extensions (2 x 12 months).
• Rate Review: Rates may be reviewed once at the extension point, by agreement, capped at a 10% increase on original tendered rates.
• Indicative Budget: Maximum of €500,000 over the life of the contract. The framework may cease if this amount is reached before the term ends.
• Termination: GCC reserves the right to terminate if increased costs (e.g., from Customs Union changes) render the arrangement uncompetitive.
• Award to Runner-Up: If the successful tenderer fails to deliver, GCC may award to the next highest scoring tenderer.
• Contract Management: A dedicated contract manager must be nominated, responsible for overall delivery and client relationship. Contract management activities are non-billable.
• Pricing Adjustments: Exceptional movements in core PV equipment costs may, at GCC's discretion, permit adjustment to tendered rates for materials only, indexed to a public index. Labour, preliminaries, and overheads remain fixed.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Indicative Budget Cap: The €500,000 maximum indicative budget over the contract life is a significant constraint. If this limit is reached before the 2-year term, the framework will cease, potentially impacting long-term planning for both the contractor and GCC.
• Single Supplier Framework: While this streamlines procurement, it places all project delivery risk onto one supplier.
• Rate Review Cap: The 10% cap on rate increases at extension points may not fully reflect significant market volatility in component costs over a multi-year period.
• Non-Billable Contract Management: The requirement for a dedicated contract manager whose activities are non-billable represents a cost to the tenderer that must be factored into their overall pricing.
• Optional Pricing for Batteries: The requirement for separate battery pricing, with no guarantee of call-off, means tenderers must accurately estimate the cost of developing this pricing structure.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a single-supplier framework, which typically favours larger, established firms with a proven track record in delivering multiple, complex projects.

• Credible Bidders: Firms with significant experience in designing, installing, and commissioning large-scale PV systems (≥100 kWp), particularly those with experience working with public bodies and managing multi-site programmes, are best positioned. The requirement for a Safe Electric-registered lead contractor and specific personnel (PV designer, site supervisor, installation operatives) indicates a need for a well-resourced team.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: SMEs are explicitly encouraged to form relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises to meet financial, economic, or technical capacity requirements. This suggests that a consortium bid is a viable route for smaller firms to participate, provided they can demonstrate access to the necessary resources and appoint a single point of contact for the contract.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Preparing a compliant bid will require significant effort. This includes gathering detailed information on past projects, personnel qualifications, technical resources, health and safety systems, and developing a comprehensive technical solution and pricing schedule. A conservative estimate would be 15-25 working days for a dedicated bid team.
• Pwin Signal: The single-supplier framework structure and the emphasis on extensive experience (3 comparable PV contracts, 2 projects ≥100 kWp) suggest a competitive process where established players with a strong track record are likely to be favoured. The absence of specific incumbent information means it's difficult to assess incumbent strength directly, but the requirements point towards a need for significant operational capacity.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: GCC- 2A Request_for_Tender_Contract_Open_Procedure(RFT)_2026.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided text.
• Contact: Alan Gibbons (for clarification meetings). Clarification through eTenders portal.
• Key Attachments:
• Tender Response Document (TRD) - contains detailed response templates and requirements.
• Contract Terms and Conditions (Appended at relevant Appendix) - outlines legal obligations.
• Pricing Schedule - required for cost submission.