Section I: Contracting authority

I.1) Name, addresses and contact point(s)

Internet address(es)

General address of the contracting authority URL: http://www.marine.ie

Address of the buyer profile URL: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA01668

Further information can be obtained from:

Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from:

Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to:

I.2) Type of the contracting authority

National or federal agency/office

I.3) Main activity

Environment

Other: Marine research and development

I.4) Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities

Section II: Object of the contract

II.1) Description

II.1.1) Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority:

Marine strategy framework directive tender.

II.1.2) Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance

Services

Service category No 8: Research and development services

Main place of performance: Galway.

NUTS codeIE013

II.1.3) Information about a public contract, a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system (DPS)

The notice involves the establishment of a framework agreement

II.1.4) Information on framework agreement

Framework agreement with a single operator

Duration of the framework agreement

Duration in years: 3

Estimated total value of purchases for the entire duration of the framework agreement

Estimated value excluding VAT:

Range: between 1 200 000 and 1 500 000 EUR

II.1.5) Short description of the contract or purchase(s)

The Marine Institute, a semi state body, wishes to invite tenders for an Outsourced partner to deliver the following specific primary projects, known collectively as the‘MSFD Projects’:

1. The preparation of a draft Initial Assessment (consistent with Art.8) including proposals for GES (consistent with Art. 9) and proposal for draft Environmental Targets (consistent with Art.10)

2. The collation of relevant information into an Atlas of the Irish Marine Environment

3. The development of an index of environmental and associated indicators

4. The preparation of a summary report (Consistent with Article 19 of the Directive) for use in public consultation

5. The development of a streamlined national reporting system

6. A report outlining proposed recommendations for potential measures and for monitoring status and trends

The Institute wishes to work with the outsourced organization as a partner for a three year period from Q4 2011 to Q4 2014, with the possibility of an extension for a further 1 year giving a total maximum contract duration of 4 years from the date of contract signing. The extension would be at the discretion of the Marine Institute.

The Marine Institute is the national agency responsible for Marine Research, Technology Development and Innovation (RTDI). The Marine Institute seeks to assess and realise the economic potential of Ireland's 220 million acre marine resource; promote the sustainable development of marine industry through strategic funding programmes and essential scientific services; and safeguard our marine environment through research and environmental monitoring.

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) was adopted in June 2008 and transposed into Irish legalisation by the European Communities (Marine Strategy Framework) Regulations 249/2011. The requirements of the MSFD, as set out in the Directive itself and the Good Environmental Status (GES) Decision, are ambitious and will require significant effort on the part of Member States. The basic structure of the MSFD is to determine the current status, in terms of the state of the marine environment and the pressures exerted on it, to compare these to a nationally agreed understanding of GES and, where there is a gap, to put in place the measures to regulate the pressures so that this gap can be closed. The closing of the gap will take time and it is necessary to establish environmental targets to measure and monitor progress towards GES. This process is repeated on a 6 year cycle.

In the first instance the Initial Assessment, the determination of GES for Irish waters and the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators, are required by July 2012. The development of a monitoring programme (due 2014) and the entry into operation of a programme of measures (due 2016) will be informed by the initial assessment and by GES and the environmental targets. Each element should be viewed as part of the overall cyclical process. Additional scientific and technical expertise is required for the initial phase of implementation and to put in place a MSFD facility to allow subsequent monitoring and assessment to be undertaken.

In acknowledgement of this, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, working with the Marine Institute and other government departments and agencies intend to embark on a collaborative programme of work. A national Technical Working Group on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD-TWG) has been established by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to support delivery of the MSFD.

Central to this programme of work is the delivery of defined data, information, assessment and monitoring assets that, in addition to supporting the ongoing implementation of the Directive, will be available for future and ongoing policy developments in the wider Marine sector such as Marine Spatial Planning, sectoral strategic environmental assessments and resource planning.

The relevant Departments and state agencies, following a detailed review, have determined that the appropriate skillsets to deliver the MSFD projects referred to above are not available within the relevant government departments and state agencies and that the delivery of these skillsets through an outsourced partnership will provide best value to the exchequer. This partnership will be expected to deliver the projects in a professional and comprehensive manner, will have minimal reliance on the Marine Institute, with the exception of the provision of specific data and knowledge transfer.

Note: to register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the eTenders Web Site at URL: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=331492
.

II.1.6) Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

73000000 , 73110000 , 73111000 , 73112000

II.1.7) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

II.1.8) Lots

This contract is divided into lots: no

II.1.9) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: yes

II.2) Quantity or scope of the contract

II.2.1) Total quantity or scope

The Institute wishes to work with the outsourced organization as a partner for a three year period from Q4 2011 to Q4 2014, with the possibility of an extension for a further 1 year giving a total maximum contract duration of 4 years from the date of contract signing. The extension would be at the discretion of the Marine Institute.

Estimated total value of purchases for the entire duration of the framework agreement

Estimated value excluding VAT:

Range: between 1 200 000 and 1 500 000 EUR

II.2.2) Information about options

Options: yes

Description of these options: There is a possibility of an extension for a further 1 year giving a total maximum contract duration of 4 years from the date of contract signing.

II.2.3) Information about renewals

This contract is subject to renewal: yes

Number of possible renewals: 1

In the case of renewable supplies or service contracts, estimated timeframe for subsequent contracts:

in months: 36 (from the award of the contract)

II.3) Duration of the contract or time limit for completion

Duration in months: 36 (from the award of the contract)

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1) Conditions relating to the contract

III.1.1) Deposits and guarantees required

None.

III.1.2) Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them

Please see attached contract document.

III.1.3) Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded

Not applicable.

III.1.4) Other particular conditions

The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: yes

Description of particular conditions: See attached invitation to tender document.

III.2) Conditions for participation

III.2.1) Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: (1) All candidates will be required to produce a certificate or declaration demonstrating that they are not bankrupt or the subject of an administration order, are not being wound-up, have not granted a trust deed, are not the subject of a petition presented for sequestration of their estate, have not had a receiver, manager or administrator appointed and are not otherwise apparently insolvent.

(2) All candidates will be required to produce a certificate or declaration demonstrating that the candidate, their directors, or any other person who has powers of representation, decision or control of the candidate has not been convicted of conspiracy, corruption, bribery, or money laundering. Failure to provide such a declaration will result in the candidate being declared ineligible and they will not be selected to participate in this procurement process.

(3) All candidates will be required to produce a certificate or declaration demonstrating that they have not been convicted of a criminal offence relating to the conduct of their business or profession.

(4) All candidates will be required to produce a certificate or declaration demonstrating that they have not committed an act of grave misconduct in the course of their business or profession.

(5) All candidates must comply with the requirements of the State in which they are established, regarding registration on the professional or trade register.

(6) Any candidate found to be guilty of serious misrepresentation in providing any information required, may be declared ineligible and not selected to continue with this procurement process.

(7) All candidates will have to demonstrate that they are licensed, or a member of the relevant organisation, in the State where they are established, when the law of that State prohibits the provision of the services, described in this notice, by a person who is not so licensed or who is not a member of the relevant organisation.

(8) All candidates will be required to produce a certificate or declaration demonstrating that they have fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions under the law or of the relevant State in which the candidate is established

(9) All candidates will be required to produce a certificate or declaration demonstrating that they have fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of taxes under the law or of the relevant State in which the economic operator is established.

III.2.2) Economic and financial ability

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: (1) All candidates will be required to provide a reference from their bank.

(2) All candidates will be required to provide evidence of relevant professional risk indemnity insurance.

III.2.3) Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:

See attached invitation to tender section 18.

III.2.4) Information about reserved contracts

III.3) Conditions specific to services contracts

III.3.1) Information about a particular profession

III.3.2) Staff responsible for the execution of the service

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Type of procedure

IV.1.1) Type of procedure

Open

IV.1.2) Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate

IV.1.3) Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue

IV.2) Award criteria

IV.2.1) Award criteria

The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated in the specifications, in the invitation to tender or to negotiate or in the descriptive document

IV.2.2) Information about electronic auction

An electronic auction will be used: no

IV.3) Administrative information

IV.3.1) File reference number attributed by the contracting authority:

ITT-11-30

IV.3.2) Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract

IV.3.3) Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents or descriptive document

IV.3.4) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

9.12.2011 - 16:00

IV.3.5) Date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates

IV.3.6) Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up

English.

IV.3.7) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

IV.3.8) Conditions for opening tenders

Date: 9.12.2011 - 16:00

Place

Marine Institute Offices, Galway.

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1) Information about recurrence

VI.2) Information about European Union funds

VI.3) Additional information

See attached invitation to tender document.

(ET Ref:331492).

VI.4) Procedures for appeal

VI.4.1) Body responsible for appeal procedures

VI.4.2) Lodging of appeals

Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals: As per EU Directive.

VI.4.3) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice:

28.10.2011