Framework Agreement for the Surveying and Mapping of Underground Utility Services and Structures Using Ground Penetrating Radar

Quantity or scope

— The scope of the Framework Agreement will cover the detection, verification, surveying and mapping of underground utility services and structures (e.g. cellars) and the production of corresponding drawings and reports as more particularly described in Volume 4.1 of the Invitation to Tender documents.— The framework will be established on foot of an initial contract for the detection, verification, surveying and mapping of underground utility services & structures and the production of corresponding drawings & reports for a number of heavily-congested streets within the Grafton Street Quarter and as more particularly described in Volume 4.2 of the Invitation to Tender documents.1 000 0002 000 000

Additional information

1. Dublin City Council is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 1997, 2003. If you consider that any of the information supplied by you is either commercially sensitive or confidential in nature, this should be highlighted and the reasons for the sensitivity specified. In such cases, the relevant material, will in response to the FOI request; be examined in the light of the exemptions provided for in the Acts.

2. It will be a condition for the establishment of the Framework Agreement and award of any call-off contract that the successful Tenderer and all sub-contractors (if applicable) produce a valid Tax Clearance Certificate from the Revenue Commissioners in compliance with Circular (43) 2006 (as amended) and that the certificate will be maintained for the duration of the Framework Agreement and/or call-off contract.

3. Please note in relation to all documents, that where reference is made to a particular standard, make, source, process, trademark, type or patent, that this is not to be regarded as a de facto requirement. In all such cases it should be understood that such indications are to be treated strictly and solely for reference purposes only, to which the words "or equivalent" will always be appended.

4. Please note also that all information relating to attachments, including clarifications and changes, will be published on the etenders website only (www.etenders.gov.ie). Registration is free of charge. Dublin City Council will not accept responsibility for information relayed (or not relayed) via third parties. Tenderers must register their interest on the etenders website (www.etenders.gov.ie) in order to be included on the mailing list for clarifications.

5. Dublin City Council is acting as a lead buyer on behalf of the Dublin Region local authorities for the establishment of this Framework Agreement. The Dublin region local authorities are: Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council. These local authorities will be named Framework purchasers and any contracts entered into pursuant to the Framework Agreement will be strictly between the local authority and the successful Framework member.

6. Emailed/faxed/late tenders will not be accepted. Tenderers are asked to include a return address on the packaging.

7. Tenders may be submitted in English or in the Irish language.

8. Please note that OJEU contracts are covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).

9. Appeals procedure: The body to whom appeals should be addressed is – The High Court, Four Courts, Inns Quay, Dublin 7.

10. All queries regarding this tender must be emailed to etenders.traffic@dublincity.ie for the attention of Peter Leonard. Queries must be in question format and must be submitted by email. Responses will be circulated to those candidates/tenderers that have registered an interest in this notice on the Irish Government procurement opportunities portal www.etenders.gov.ie. The details of the party making the query will not be disclosed when circulating the response. All queries must be submitted by the deadline stated in the Invitation to Tender documents.

11. Neither Dublin City Council nor the Dublin Region local authorities will be responsible for any costs, charges or expenses incurred by tenderers in response to this competition.

12. The establishment of the Framework Agreement will be subject to the approval of the competent authorities.

13. If for any reason it is not possible to conclude the Framework Agreement with one or more of the tenderers invited or if, having concluded the Framework Agreement, Dublin City Council decides to terminate the agreement with one or more of the framework operators, Dublin City Council reserves the right to admit the next highest scoring tenderer(s) to the framework agreement on the basis of the same terms and as tendered by that party(ies), at any time during the tender validity period. This shall be without prejudice to the right of Dublin City Council to cancel this competitive process and/or initiate a new contract award procedure at its sole discretion.

14. If for any reason it is not possible to award the initial contract to the top scoring tenderer admitted to the framework agreement or if, having awarded the initial contract, Dublin City Council decides to terminate that contract, Dublin City Council reserves the right to award the initial contract to the next highest scoring framework member on the basis of the same terms and as tendered by that party, at any time during the tender validity period. This shall be without prejudice to the right of Dublin City Council to cancel that competitive process and/or initiate a new contract award procedure at its sole discretion.

15. At its absolute discretion, the contracting authority may elect to terminate this procurement process or the framework agreement at any time.

Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them

In accordance with the Terms and Conditions of Contract included in Volume 7 of the Invitation to Tender document and available to download free of charge from www.etenders.gov.ie