Processing of WFD lake phytoplankton samples for the EPA

Additional information

Interested candidates are advised that the award of contract(s) will be on the basis of the Standard Conditions of Engagement for Consultants issued by the Irish Department of Finance.

1) The contracting authorities will not be responsible for any costs, charges or expenses incurred by candidates or tenderers;

2) Contract award will be subject to the approval of the competent authorities;

3) This is the sole call for competition for these services;

4) The contracting authorities reserve the right to award contracts to two or more tenderers under one or 2 lots;

5) The FOI Act applies to the EPA and to Local Authorities in charge of the River Basin Districts and therefore all candidates should indicate whether any of the information provided by them in the course of this award procedure is to be treated as sensitive commercial information, which should remain confidential;

6) The successful tenderer(s) will be required to furnish a valid tax clearance certificate from the Irish Revenue Commissioners;

7) Contract award may be subject to satisfactory performance at interview;

8) It is the policy of the contracting authorities in accordance with EU procurement rules to publish the value of contracts awarded to successful tenderers in the Official Journal of the EU;

9) The contracting authorities reserve the right not to establish the framework agreement or to award any contract on foot of this procedure. No guarantee regarding the potential volume or value of work under the framework is given. The contracting authorities may elect to cancel this procedure at any time at their sole discretion.

It is intended to establish a framework agreement with multi-party operators for the provision of the required services. Interested parties should download the expression of interest document from www.etenders.gov.ie and return the qualification questionnaire by the stated deadline.

Establishment of the framework agreement:

The framework will be established by means of a competitive tendering process among selected applicants. This will result in the admittance of at least 3 parties to the framework and to the award of an initial contract. Subsequently, only those admitted to the framework will be entitled to tender for future contracts under the framework.

Operation of framework agreement.

Following the evaluation of the applications, a tender list will be drawn up and tenders invited for an initial contract, the results of which will be used to establish the multi-party framework agreement.

— Applicants are reminded that the successful economic operator appointed to the framework will at all times be required to avoid potential conflict of interest throughout the lifetime of the framework,

— Admission to the framework may be subject to successful interview and presentation,

— Admission will also be conditional upon production of a valid tax clearance certificate and prior acceptance by the service provider of the formal terms and conditions of the Awarding Authority,

— Following on from the establishment of the framework agreement, new contracts will be awarded by mini-competition among the framework members or foot of the original tender offer.

(ET Ref:315292).

Objective criteria for selection

Upon receipt of expressions of interest, candidates will be evaluated in respect of financial, economic and technical ability and minimum levels stated. Candidates will be scored and at least the best 5 scoring candidates depending on the quality and number of applications received, will be invited to tender.