Operator of the National Emergency Call Answering Service
Department of the Environment Climate and Communications
In advance of the expiration of the current contract for the operation of the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) on 24 November 2025, the Department is undertaking this Procurement for the appointment of a new entity or entities to operate the ECAS. Although the Current Contract is due to expire on 24 November 2025, there are provisions in the Current Contract to allow for the Minister to extend the contract for a further two (2) years. The ECAS is responsible for answering all emergency communications, providing a vital link between the individual contacting the ECAS and the Emergency Services which include Garda, Fire, Ambulance and the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) or, in emergencies involving aircraft, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). Emergency communication is defined in the S.I. No. 444/2022 as communication by means of interpersonal communications services between an end-user and the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) with the goal to request and receive emergency relief from emergency services. The role of ECAS is to establish which Emergency Service is being requested and the location of where the Emergency Services are required to attend for the purpose of routing the call to the most appropriate Emergency Services Control centre. Bidders should note that it is anticipated that, during the currency of the within procurement competition, the responsibility for Communications will transfer to another nominated Government Minister in accordance with the Programme for Government 2025. All references to the Contracting Authority shall be deemed to include reference to the relevant minister with responsibility for Communications at the relevant time as the context so requires and admits.
DeadlineThe time limit for receipt of tenders was 2025-03-24. The procurement was published on 2025-02-19.
Who? What?- โข Telecommunications cable and equipment โบ Telecommunications equipment
- โข Telecommunications cable and equipment โบ Telecommunications facilities
- โข Public-telephone services โบ Local telephone services
- โข Public-telephone services โบ Long distance telephone services
- โข Mobile-telephone services โบ Short Message Service (SMS) services
- โข Mobile-telephone services โบ Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS) services
- โข Mobile-telephone services โบ Multimedia Message Service (MMS) services
- โข Telephone and data transmission services โบ Shared-business telephone network services
- โข Dedicated-business telephone network services โบ Telephone switchboard services
- โข Telephone and data transmission services โบ IP telephone services
- โข Electronic message and information services โบ Electronic message services
- โข Electronic information services โบ Value-added information services
- โข Telecommunication services except telephone and data transmission services โบ Interconnection services
- โข Telecommunication services except telephone and data transmission services โบ Teleconferencing services
- โข Information systems or technology strategic review and planning services โบ Information technology services
- โข Telephone-answering services โบ Telephone operator services
- โข Telephone-answering services โบ Call centre
- โข Aฯฯฮนฮบฮฎ โบ ฮฯฯฮตฮนฮฟฯ ฮคฮฟฮผฮญฮฑฯ ฮฮธฮทฮฝฯฮฝ
- โข Eastern and Midland โบ Dublin
Procurement history
| Date | Document |
|---|---|
| 2025-02-19 | Contract notice |
Contract notice (2025-02-19)
Object
Scope of the procurement
Title: Operator of the National Emergency Call Answering Service
Short description:
โIn advance of the expiration of the current contract for the operation of the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) on 24 November 2025, the Department is...โ
Show more
Type of contract: Services
Products/services: Telecommunications services ๐ฆ
Estimated value excluding VAT: 60 500 000 EUR ๐ฐ
Description
Internal identifier: 0
Estimated value excluding VAT: 60 500 000 EUR ๐ฐ
Description of the procurement:
โIn advance of the expiration of the current contract for the operation of the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) on 24 November 2025, the Department is...โ
Show more
Type of contract: Services
Products/services: Telecommunications services ๐ฆ
Additional products/services: Teleconferencing services ๐ฆ
Telephone and data transmission services ๐ฆ
Telecommunications equipment ๐ฆ
Telecommunications facilities ๐ฆ
Information technology services ๐ฆ
Telephone-answering services ๐ฆ
Telephone operator services ๐ฆ
Call centre ๐ฆ
Public-telephone services ๐ฆ
Local telephone services ๐ฆ
Dedicated-business telephone network services ๐ฆ
Long distance telephone services ๐ฆ
Mobile-telephone services ๐ฆ
Short Message Service (SMS) services ๐ฆ
Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS) services ๐ฆ
Multimedia Message Service (MMS) services ๐ฆ
Shared-business telephone network services ๐ฆ
Telephone switchboard services ๐ฆ
IP telephone services ๐ฆ
Electronic message and information services ๐ฆ
Electronic message services ๐ฆ
Electronic information services ๐ฆ
Value-added information services ๐ฆ
Telecommunication services except telephone and data transmission services ๐ฆ
Interconnection services ๐ฆ
Country: Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช
Place of performance: Dublin ๐๏ธ
Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged minimum number: 3
Maximum number: 5
Title
Lot Identification Number: LOT-0001
Scope of the procurement
Additional products/services: Teleconferencing services ๐ฆ
Telephone and data transmission services ๐ฆ
Telecommunications equipment ๐ฆ
Telecommunications facilities ๐ฆ
Information technology services ๐ฆ
Telephone-answering services ๐ฆ
Telephone operator services ๐ฆ
Call centre ๐ฆ
Public-telephone services ๐ฆ
Local telephone services ๐ฆ
Dedicated-business telephone network services ๐ฆ
Long distance telephone services ๐ฆ
Mobile-telephone services ๐ฆ
Short Message Service (SMS) services ๐ฆ
Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS) services ๐ฆ
Multimedia Message Service (MMS) services ๐ฆ
Shared-business telephone network services ๐ฆ
Telephone switchboard services ๐ฆ
IP telephone services ๐ฆ
Electronic message and information services ๐ฆ
Electronic message services ๐ฆ
Electronic information services ๐ฆ
Value-added information services ๐ฆ
Telecommunication services except telephone and data transmission services ๐ฆ
Interconnection services ๐ฆ
Procedure
Type of procedure
Competitive dialogue โ
Legal basis: Directive 2014/24/EU
Administrative information
Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 2025-03-24 17:00:00 ๐
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English ๐ฃ๏ธ
Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated โ
Tendering terms
Tenderers may submit more than one tender
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English ๐ฃ๏ธ
Electronic invoicing: Required
Contracting authority
Name and addresses
Name: Department of the Environment Climate and Communications
National registration number: 4002073W
Postal address: Tom Johnson House, Haddington Road
Postal code: D04K7X4
Postal town: Dublin
Region: Dublin ๐๏ธ
Country: Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช
E-mail: susan.fleming@decc.gov.ie ๐ง
Phone: 01 678 2000 ๐
URL: http://www.decc.gov.ie ๐
Address of the buyer profile: http://www.decc.gov.ie ๐
Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
Main activity
General public services
Communication
Documents URL: https://www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/cft/listContractDocuments.do?resourceId=5153131 ๐
Participation URL: https://www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/cft/viewTenders.do?resourceId=5153131 ๐
There is a maximum number of candidates to be invited for the second stage of the procedure โ
The criteria will be used to select the candidates to be invited for the second stage of the procedure โ
Electronic submission: Required
Complementary information
Review body
Name: The High Court of Ireland
National registration number: The High Court of Ireland
Department: The High Court of Ireland
Postal address: Four Courts, Inns Quay, Dublin 7
Postal code: D07 WDX8
Postal town: Dublin
Region: Dublin ๐๏ธ
Country: Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช
E-mail: highcourtcentraloffice@courts.ie ๐ง
Phone: +353 1 8886000 ๐
Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Name: Department of the Environment Climate and Communications
National registration number: 4002073W
Postal address: Tom Johnson House, Haddington Road
Postal code: D04K7X4
Postal town: Dublin
Region: Dublin ๐๏ธ
Country: Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช
E-mail: susan.fleming@decc.gov.ie ๐ง
Phone: 01 678 2000 ๐
URL: http://www.decc.gov.ie ๐
Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Source: OJS 2025/S 037-116620 (2025-02-19)
Object
Scope of the procurement
Title: Operator of the National Emergency Call Answering Service
Short description:
โIn advance of the expiration of the current contract for the operation of the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) on 24 November 2025, the Department is...โ
Type of contract: Services
Products/services: Telecommunications services ๐ฆ
Estimated value excluding VAT: 60 500 000 EUR ๐ฐ
Description
Internal identifier: 0
Estimated value excluding VAT: 60 500 000 EUR ๐ฐ
Description of the procurement:
โIn advance of the expiration of the current contract for the operation of the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) on 24 November 2025, the Department is...โ
Type of contract: Services
Products/services: Telecommunications services ๐ฆ
Additional products/services: Teleconferencing services ๐ฆ
Telephone and data transmission services ๐ฆ
Telecommunications equipment ๐ฆ
Telecommunications facilities ๐ฆ
Information technology services ๐ฆ
Telephone-answering services ๐ฆ
Telephone operator services ๐ฆ
Call centre ๐ฆ
Public-telephone services ๐ฆ
Local telephone services ๐ฆ
Dedicated-business telephone network services ๐ฆ
Long distance telephone services ๐ฆ
Mobile-telephone services ๐ฆ
Short Message Service (SMS) services ๐ฆ
Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS) services ๐ฆ
Multimedia Message Service (MMS) services ๐ฆ
Shared-business telephone network services ๐ฆ
Telephone switchboard services ๐ฆ
IP telephone services ๐ฆ
Electronic message and information services ๐ฆ
Electronic message services ๐ฆ
Electronic information services ๐ฆ
Value-added information services ๐ฆ
Telecommunication services except telephone and data transmission services ๐ฆ
Interconnection services ๐ฆ
Country: Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช
Place of performance: Dublin ๐๏ธ
Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged minimum number: 3
Maximum number: 5
Title
Lot Identification Number: LOT-0001
Scope of the procurement
Additional products/services: Teleconferencing services ๐ฆ
Telephone and data transmission services ๐ฆ
Telecommunications equipment ๐ฆ
Telecommunications facilities ๐ฆ
Information technology services ๐ฆ
Telephone-answering services ๐ฆ
Telephone operator services ๐ฆ
Call centre ๐ฆ
Public-telephone services ๐ฆ
Local telephone services ๐ฆ
Dedicated-business telephone network services ๐ฆ
Long distance telephone services ๐ฆ
Mobile-telephone services ๐ฆ
Short Message Service (SMS) services ๐ฆ
Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS) services ๐ฆ
Multimedia Message Service (MMS) services ๐ฆ
Shared-business telephone network services ๐ฆ
Telephone switchboard services ๐ฆ
IP telephone services ๐ฆ
Electronic message and information services ๐ฆ
Electronic message services ๐ฆ
Electronic information services ๐ฆ
Value-added information services ๐ฆ
Telecommunication services except telephone and data transmission services ๐ฆ
Interconnection services ๐ฆ
Procedure
Type of procedure
Competitive dialogue โ
Legal basis: Directive 2014/24/EU
Administrative information
Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 2025-03-24 17:00:00 ๐
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English ๐ฃ๏ธ
Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated โ
Tendering terms
Tenderers may submit more than one tender
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English ๐ฃ๏ธ
Electronic invoicing: Required
Contracting authority
Name and addresses
Name: Department of the Environment Climate and Communications
National registration number: 4002073W
Postal address: Tom Johnson House, Haddington Road
Postal code: D04K7X4
Postal town: Dublin
Region: Dublin ๐๏ธ
Country: Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช
E-mail: susan.fleming@decc.gov.ie ๐ง
Phone: 01 678 2000 ๐
URL: http://www.decc.gov.ie ๐
Address of the buyer profile: http://www.decc.gov.ie ๐
Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
Main activity
General public services
Communication
Documents URL: https://www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/cft/listContractDocuments.do?resourceId=5153131 ๐
Participation URL: https://www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/cft/viewTenders.do?resourceId=5153131 ๐
There is a maximum number of candidates to be invited for the second stage of the procedure โ
The criteria will be used to select the candidates to be invited for the second stage of the procedure โ
Electronic submission: Required
Complementary information
Review body
Name: The High Court of Ireland
National registration number: The High Court of Ireland
Department: The High Court of Ireland
Postal address: Four Courts, Inns Quay, Dublin 7
Postal code: D07 WDX8
Postal town: Dublin
Region: Dublin ๐๏ธ
Country: Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช
E-mail: highcourtcentraloffice@courts.ie ๐ง
Phone: +353 1 8886000 ๐
Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Name: Department of the Environment Climate and Communications
National registration number: 4002073W
Postal address: Tom Johnson House, Haddington Road
Postal code: D04K7X4
Postal town: Dublin
Region: Dublin ๐๏ธ
Country: Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช
E-mail: susan.fleming@decc.gov.ie ๐ง
Phone: 01 678 2000 ๐
URL: http://www.decc.gov.ie ๐
Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Source: OJS 2025/S 037-116620 (2025-02-19)
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