Multi-Party Framework for SEA/AA Consultancy 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 procurement seeks to establish a multi-party framework agreement for consultancy services to conduct Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) and Appropriate Assessments (AA) for Limerick City and County Council's plans and strategies. The framework will initially support Variation No. 4 to the Limerick City and County Development Plan 2022-2028.

The scope of services under the framework agreement includes:

• Initial Contract Scope:

• SEA screening and full SEA, if necessary, for Proposed Variation No. 4 to the Limerick City and County Development Plan 2022-2028. This variation incorporates up to 8 Local Area Plans (LAPs) into the Development Plan.

• AA screening and Natura Impact Report (NIR), if necessary, for Proposed Variation No. 4 to the Limerick City and County Development Plan 2022-2028.

• SEA services include:

• Screening in accordance with Directive 2001/42/EC and Irish Regulations.

• Preparation of an SEA Scoping Report, if required, in consultation with prescribed environmental authorities.

• Preparation of an Environmental Report (including Non-Technical Summary) if screening determines a full SEA is required.

• Assessment of reasonable alternatives, cumulative impacts, and mitigation measures.

• Review and assessment of submissions during statutory public consultation periods.

• Preparation of SEA Statements.

• AA services include:

• Screening in accordance with the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).

• Identification and assessment of potential impacts on Natura 2000 sites.

• Preparation of a Natura Impact Report (NIR) if Stage 2 AA is required.

• Review and response to submissions relating to AA matters.

• Finalisation of AA documentation.

• All work must adhere to relevant EU Directives, national legislation, guidelines, and best practice.

• The successful tenderer must commence work immediately after appointment and provide outputs promptly.

• Additional Call-Off Contracts under the Framework:

• SEA (including screening and full assessment if necessary) for further planned variations to the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 (expected to be up to 2 further variations).

• AA (including screening and NIR if necessary) for further planned variations to the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028.

• SEA and AA (including screening) for the extension of the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028.

• SEA and AA (including screening) for Masterplans/Public Realm Plans.

• Contract Management:

• Nomination of a dedicated contract manager responsible for the overall working relationship, performance reporting, dispute resolution, and suggesting service improvements. Contract management activities are non-billable.

3. Background & buyer context

Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) is the local government authority for the City and County of Limerick, established on 1 June 2014 following the Local Government Reform Act 2014. The council serves a population of 209,536 across an area of 2755 sq.m. This procurement is part of LCCC's ongoing planning services delivery. The current tender aims to establish a multi-party framework to provide essential environmental assessment consultancy services for its development plans. The initial contract focuses on Variation No. 4 to the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028, which involves integrating existing Local Area Plans.

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's turnover exceeded €1,000,000 during each of the last three years, or pro-rata if the firm is more recently established (must have been in existence for at least 6 months).
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €13,000,000
• Public Liability: €6,500,000 (Note: The "VERIFIED PHRASES" section lists €2,600,000 for Public Liability, but the "Insurance Confirmation" phrase states €6.5 million. The higher figure is assumed for this brief.)
• Professional Indemnity: €1,000,000
• Certifications:
• Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience:
• Tenderers must provide details of reference contracts in the Tender Response Document (TRD). The number of reference contracts required is specified within the TRD. Where more are provided than required, only the first listed will be considered. At least one reference must include relevant experience.
• Personnel:
• Minimum numbers of skilled personnel are stated in the Technical Specification Document (TRD). Specific roles and minimum years of experience are not detailed in the provided extract but are expected to be in the TRD.
• Geographic / facility constraints:
• Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers may rely on the resources of other entities (e.g., subcontractors, consortium members) to meet these criteria, provided they can prove these resources will be at their disposal. The Lead Tenderer must identify and provide information for all third parties upon whom they rely.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The framework agreement will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), which considers both price and quality. The specific weighting and scoring mechanism are not detailed in the provided extract but will be outlined in the Tender Response Document (TRD). The minimum requirement for remaining eligible is to meet all specified criteria. The lowest cost tender that also meets all minimum qualitative requirements will be considered.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit their responses via www.etenders.gov.ie. The submission must adhere to the following:

• Method statement / response document:
• Use the provided Tender Response Document (TRD) exclusively.
• Personalisation of the TRD, including adding branding/colours, is not allowed.
• The TRD must be completed for all relevant third parties upon whom the Lead Tenderer relies.
• CVs:
• Not specified for this tender, but likely detailed within the TRD.
• Pricing schedule:
• To be completed within the TRD.
• Case studies:
• Reference contracts must be provided as specified in the TRD.
• Declarations:
• Declaration of Bona Fides (Art. 57 of Directive 2014/24/EU).
• Declaration regarding compliance with relevant statutory obligations (or equivalent legislation if operating outside Ireland).
• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) - electronic via eESPD or separate attachment.
• Declaration regarding the International Procurement Instrument (2022/1031) and Article 5K of Regulation 2022/576 (restrictive measures).
• Confirmation of tax compliance with Irish Revenue Commissioners.
• Confirmation of financial standing (statement of assets and liabilities).
• Mandatory site visit:
• Not applicable for this tender.
• Submission portal:
• Via www.etenders.gov.ie only.
• Responses should be uploaded as a Zip file to protect file integrity.
• It is mandatory to associate your company with the competition using the eTenders login.

7. Key dates & process

These dates are estimates and cannot be guaranteed.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: The framework agreement will have a maximum duration of four years. Contracts awarded under the framework may extend beyond the expiry date of the framework agreement.
• Payment terms: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified in the provided extract, but performance will be reviewed against an agreed Service Level Agreement and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Termination clauses: The Contracting Authority may terminate the appointment of a Framework Member if they commit a material breach, fail to perform an obligation, convene a meeting for insolvency, or if insolvency proceedings are initiated.
• IP ownership: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Sub-contracting rules: Tenderers may rely on the resources of other entities. If a subcontractor's value exceeds 10% of the Services Contract, they must meet all relevant requirements, including absence of exclusion grounds.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified in the provided extract.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Estimated Value vs. Turnover: The estimated maximum spend under the framework is €221,000 excluding VAT over 4 years. The minimum turnover requirement is €1,000,000 per year for the last three years. This significant disparity suggests the turnover requirement is a standard financial capacity gate rather than directly tied to the anticipated spend, potentially favouring larger, established firms.
• Multi-Party Framework with Limited Spend: Establishing a framework for 5 economic operators with a total estimated spend of €221,000 means individual call-off contracts are likely to be small. The initial call-off contract is estimated between €25,000 and €80,000. This structure might lead to limited work for each framework member.
• Cascade Method for Small Contracts: Contracts valued at less than €25,000 will be awarded using a cascade method, approaching the first-ranked firm and moving down the list if they cannot deliver. This could mean that firms ranked lower on the framework may not receive any work if higher-ranked firms are available.
• No Guaranteed Expenditure: The document explicitly states there is no guaranteed expenditure under the framework agreement, meaning successful bidders may not receive any work.
• Tight Award Timeline: The period between the tender deadline (02 September 2026) and the award decision (04 September 2026) is very short (2 days), indicating a highly streamlined evaluation process.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a multi-party framework for consultancy services.

• Who can credibly bid: The tender is open to firms with demonstrated financial capacity (annual turnover exceeding €1,000,000) and technical expertise in Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA). This includes established environmental consultancies, engineering firms with environmental divisions, or specialist planning consultancies.
• Consortium or sub-contracting: Consortiums, joint ventures, and subcontracting are explicitly allowed and encouraged, particularly for SMEs. SMEs can rely on the resources of other entities to meet financial, economic, or technical capacity requirements. A lead tenderer must be appointed to manage communications and contractual arrangements.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Preparing a compliant bid will require significant effort. This includes completing the Tender Response Document (TRD), gathering financial and insurance evidence, detailing past experience with reference contracts, and potentially compiling information for consortium members or subcontractors. An estimate of 5-10 days of dedicated effort for a lead tenderer, plus input from any partners, is reasonable.
• Pwin signal: The tender is for a multi-party framework, suggesting the contracting authority wishes to maintain a pool of suppliers. The cascade method for smaller contracts and the potential for limited work per member indicate that incumbent advantage is not a primary driver for this structure. The tight award timeline suggests a well-defined evaluation process.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: 4A Request for Tender Multi-Party Framework Open Procedure.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: 8764629
• Contact for Queries: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Most Important Attachments:
• Appendix 1 – Framework Agreement Terms and Conditions
• Tender Response Document (TRD)