Construction BUSINESS

A tender has been issued by the Government of Ireland for a framework agreement for the provision of prefabricated modular volumetric residential accommodation.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (‘DCEDIY’) is the ‘Contracting Authority’ for the purposes of the establishment of this framework agreement for the provision of turnkey pre-fabricated modular residential units. Limerick Twenty Thirty DAC (LTT) will act as an agent to DCEDIY for the purposes of this procurement competition and the establishment of the framework agreement.

The Framework Agreement when established will operate for a term of four years and may be used by other public sector contracting authorities that provide state residential accommodation. The scope of works is generally outlined in the notional design intent tender drawings and the notional pricing document or as per the Works Requirements. These tender documents will be issued to the shortlisted Applicants at Stage 2 Tender.

The number of beds to be delivered will depend on each individual site size and infrastructure. It is envisaged that sites to be developed will be able to accommodate a minimum of 150 beds. This may equate to between 25-35 individual modular building units. Applicants who demonstrate that they have the capacity to manufacture and deliver at this scale will score higher marks at pre-qualification stage.

Modular units must be manufactured to comply with the latest Irish National Building Regulations in force at the time of erection on site. Prefabricated Modular Accommodation must be designed to meet Part A-M (or as amended) of the Building Regulations and to NZEB standards and be in compliance with the National Standards for Accommodation offered to people in the protection process.

The Applicant will have full design responsibility for the modular units including completion of the detailed design and internal layouts, mechanical & electrical services, fittings & finishes from the design intent drawings, performance specification and room specification schedules. The Applicant must employ its own suitably qualified design team (if not available in-house) and will act at Lead Designer Certifier for the purposes of certifying compliance with BCAR.

It is envisaged that LTT on behalf of the Contracting Authority will employ a Technical Advisory (TA) Design Team who will monitor and supervise the project delivery on its behalf. The TA team may also be tasked with the detailed design of site layout, site infrastructure and site development works to facilitate the installation of modular units on the sites.

The maximum number of Applicants that may enter the framework as framework participants is eight. LTT on behalf of the Contracting Authority may engage other third-party contractors, sub-contractors or professional services consultants to assist with the delivery of the residential accommodation.

The closing date for receipt of expressions of interest is 23rd August 2024 with a shortlist of applicants expected in September.

Meanwhile, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan, today welcomed the publication from the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) on the skills needed to support the transition to Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in the coming decade.

The report, entitled Skills for Modern Methods of Construction – An Assessment of the Current and Future Skills Requirements for the Transition to Modern Methods of Construction was carried out by EY for the EGFSN. The study was overseen and guided by an expert Steering Group, chaired by Sarah-Jane Pisciotti from MMC Ireland.

Twenty-eight recommendations have been set out in the report. The EGFSN will work with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science as they lead on the development of an Action Plan which will take the report’s recommendations and detail how they can be delivered. The EGFSN Secretariat will oversee the implementation of these actions over the next two years.

The report is available here: https://skillsireland.ie/expert-group-on-future-skill-group/all-publications/2024/skills-for-modern-methods-of-construction.html.

The National Construction Summit 2025 will take place in Blanchardstown on 2nd – 3rd April.

For partnership opportunities for the National Construction Summit and the European Infrastructure Conference 2024 taking place in Ballsbridge on November 14^th, contact Colin Murphy at Premier Publishing: https://www.europeaninfrastructureconference.com/contact/.