Professional Services for Capital and other works at St. Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH)

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 to establish five single-provider Framework Agreements for the provision of professional consultancy services for capital and other works at St. Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH). The Consultant will be appointed to perform services as defined in Schedule B of the Standard Conditions of Engagement for Consultancy Services (Technical). These services are to be performed at the Consultant's own expense, unless otherwise stated in the contract, and require the Consultant to exercise the skill, care, diligence, efficiency, and professional conduct expected of a consultant with suitable qualifications and experience.

The scope encompasses a range of technical consultancy services related to capital projects within an acute hospital setting. While specific services are detailed in Schedule B (not provided in the extract), the general framework implies involvement in project stages from initial design through to completion. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Project Management and Design Services: Performing services identified in Schedule B, which may include design development, technical specifications, and project oversight.
• Compliance and Standards: Adhering to standards such as ISO 9000 or equivalent for quality management and ISO 14000 or equivalent for environmental management.
• Coordination and Cooperation: Coordinating services with other team members where related in content and timing, resolving conflicts, and supporting reciprocal cooperation with the Client and other parties involved in the project.
• Client Liaison: Providing client briefs, output specifications, site access, and other necessary information, access, or facilities as required by the Client.
• Budgetary Control: Having regard to the importance of accurate estimating and managing the fee in relation to project costs and any "Excess Percentage" above or below the last approved estimate.
• Intellectual Property Management: Granting the Client royalty-free, perpetual, non-exclusive, irrevocable, assignable licenses to reproduce and use consultant's documents, or in some cases, an absolute assignment of rights.
• Data Protection: Processing Personal Data in accordance with the Contract and Data Protection Law, implementing appropriate security measures, and cooperating with the Client on audits and reporting.
• Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP) Services: The Consultant may also be appointed as PSDP, with specific termination clauses applicable to this role.

The services are structured into Stages, with the Client granting permission to start each Stage. The Consultant must meet Milestones within each Stage and complete Services within the Scheduled Performance Period.

3. Background & buyer context

St. Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH) is procuring these consultancy services through a competitive process to establish Framework Agreements. The tender is part of SVUH's ongoing capital and works programme. The establishment of five single-provider Framework Agreements indicates a strategic approach to securing a pool of qualified consultants for future projects. The use of the Office of Government Procurement's Standard Conditions of Engagement for Consultancy Services (Technical) signifies adherence to national public procurement standards. The Framework Agreement itself is dated 2026, suggesting a forward-looking procurement strategy. The context implies a need for consistent, high-quality technical consultancy to support the hospital's infrastructure development and maintenance.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement:
• For Lot 1-5: An annual general turnover equal to or in excess of €1,000,000 (Ex VAT) for each of the last three financial years, or pro-rata if more recent.
• For specific works in an acute hospital: An annual general turnover equal to or in excess of €600,000.00 (Ex VAT) for each of the last three financial years, or pro-rata if more recent.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability for death, personal injury, loss of, and damage to property: €6,500,000.
• Employer's Liability for sickness, injury, and death of employees: €12,700,000.
• Product Liability for any Goods: €6,500,000.
• Professional Indemnity and associated expenses: €6,500.
• Motor Insurance: Third Party Property Damage - €2.6m.
• All Risks basis Full replacement value and associated expenses: €6,500.
• Certifications:
• Compliance with ISO 9000 or equivalent standard.
• Compliance with ISO 14000 or equivalent standard.
• Past experience:
• Demonstrate experience on at least two (2) works in an acute hospital with a construction capital value (excluding equipment) of not less than €1,500,000.00 (exclusive of VAT).
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria are not explicitly detailed in the provided text. However, the Framework Agreement states that the Consultant's Tender was "finally adjudged the most economically advantageous tender." This implies a combination of quality and price will be assessed, with a focus on the overall economic benefit to the Employer. The specific weighting and scoring methodology for technical and financial proposals would typically be detailed in the full Request for Tender (RFT) documentation.

6. Submission requirements

The provided documents do not detail specific submission requirements such as method statements, CV page limits, or pricing schedule formats. However, based on standard procurement practices and the nature of the contract, bidders would typically be required to submit:

• A comprehensive response addressing the technical and qualitative aspects of the tender.
• Detailed pricing information, likely in a specified format.
• Evidence of compliance with eligibility and selection criteria, including financial statements, insurance certificates, and details of past experience.
• Declarations, such as Bona Fides, Tax Clearance, and Conflict of Interest statements.
• Curricula Vitae (CVs) for key personnel proposed for the framework.
• Details of proposed sub-consultants, if any.

The tender is submitted via eTenders.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: The Framework Agreement has an initial term of 2 years, with the right for the Employer to extend it for up to two additional periods of 12 months each.
• Payment: Payment is due within 30 days of the Consultant supplying a valid invoice, provided a current tax clearance certificate is held. Fees are based on Scheduled Stage Fees for duly completing Services, plus any additional payments or sanctioned disbursements. Percentage fees are applied to the Client-approved estimate of project costs.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not explicitly detailed in the provided text, but performance is expected to meet the skill, care, diligence, efficiency, and professional conduct standards.
• Liquidated damages: Not specified in the provided text.
• Termination: The contract can be terminated by either party for substantial breach, or by the Client for consultant insolvency, winding-up, or other specified events. The Client can also terminate "at will" with 14 to 28 days' notice.
• IP Ownership: The Consultant grants the Client a royalty-free, perpetual, non-exclusive, irrevocable, assignable license to use consultant's documents, or in some cases, an absolute assignment of rights.
• Sub-contracting: Sub-contracting is not permitted unless agreed or requested by the Client. The Consultant remains responsible for sub-consultant actions and must procure collateral warranties in favour of the Client.
• Parent-company guarantee/bond: Not specified in the provided text.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Framework Agreement Structure: The procurement establishes five single-provider Framework Agreements, not a single contract for a specific project. This means successful bidders will be on a list from which SVUH will draw specific consultancy services via Call-Off Contracts. The actual value of €1,000,000.00 is an indicative value for the framework, not a guaranteed turnover.
• Late Tender Deadline: The submission deadline is in September 2026, which is unusually far in advance for a tender of this nature. This may indicate a long lead time for the procurement process or a placeholder date.
• Limited Detail on Services: The specific scope of "Services" is deferred to Schedule B, which is not provided. Bidders must carefully review Schedule B in the full RFT to understand the precise nature of the consultancy work.
• Insurance Requirements: The insurance requirements, particularly the €12.7 million Employer's Liability, are substantial and may pose a challenge for smaller firms.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as five single-provider Framework Agreements, suggesting SVUH aims to secure specialist expertise across different areas or for various projects. A credible bidder would likely be a medium-sized consultancy firm with a proven track record in providing technical consultancy services for capital projects, specifically within the acute hospital sector.

• Viable Bidder Profile: A firm with demonstrated experience in hospital capital works, possessing the required ISO certifications, and capable of meeting the significant insurance thresholds (€6.5m Public Liability, €12.7m Employer's Liability) would be well-positioned. The turnover requirement of €1 million annually suggests a business of a certain scale.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: While sub-contracting is permitted with client agreement, the framework is for "single-provider" agreements. This implies the lead consultant must hold the primary responsibility and meet the core criteria. Consortium bids may be permissible if structured correctly to meet the single-provider requirement.
• Indicative Bid-Prep Effort: Given the need to demonstrate experience in acute hospitals, meet substantial insurance requirements, and adhere to the Standard Conditions of Engagement, bid preparation could require 10-20 days of effort for a focused team.
• Pwin Signal: The tender is for a Framework Agreement, which is a strategic procurement method. SVUH is establishing a panel of providers. The "most economically advantageous tender" criterion suggests a competitive process where both price and quality are key. There is no explicit indication of an incumbent provider in the provided text.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename(s):
• [SVUH-26015 Appendix 6 - COE1_v2.j_Consultancy_Technical_30-09-2024.docx]
• [SVUH-26015 Appendix 5 - Model Framework Agreement and Statement of Works (SOW).docx]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Not specified in the provided text.
• Most important attachments:
• Standard Conditions of Engagement for Consultancy Services (Technical)
• Model Framework Agreement and Statement of Works (SOW)