News Archive – 2011

28 October 2011 – Value for Money and Policy Review of the Construction Procurement Reform Initiative Report – January 2011

The Value for Money and Policy Review of the Construction Procurement Reform Initiative Report, which was published on the Department of Finance’s website on 14 February 2011, is now available here.

28 October 2011 – Suitability Assessment Questionnaires for Works Works Contractor/Specialist (QW1 v 1.3 – 4 October 2010; QW2 v 1.2 – 20 September 2010; and QW3 v1.1 – 1 February 2011)

Greater flexibility has been introduced in Section 3.3a Evidence of Turnover, which allows contracting authorities to decide on whether the turnover should be based on an average minimum or just a minimum.

25 October 2011 – Instructions to Tenderer using the Restricted Procedure for Term Maintenance and Refurbishment Works Contracts (ITT-W6 v 1.0 dated 25 October 2011); Invitation to Tender; and Note to Employer

Following the recent publication of the Term Maintenance and Refurbishment Works Contract, the Invitation to Tender; Instructions to Tenderer using the Restricted Procedure for Term Maintenance and Refurbishment Works Contracts; and Note to Employer, are now being published.

7 October 2011 – Appendix 7 and 8 to PW-CF1 to PW-CF4 (dated 4 November 2009); Schedules to PW-CF 3 and PW-CF4 (dated 28 July 2011); and FTS 3 and FTS4 (v1.4 28 July 2011):

•Appendices 7 and 8 (dated 04/11/2009) for PW-CF1 to PW-CF4 have been removed from the website and are included in the Schedules to PW-CF1 to PW-CF4 and FTS1 to FTS4 (dated 07/10/2011).
•An entry for ‘Plant’ is now included in Appendices 7 in (i) the Schedule to PW-CF3 and PW-CF4; and (ii) the Schedule in Form of Tender to PW-CF 3 and PW-CF4.

7 October 2011 – Instruction to Tenderers using the Open Procedure for Works Contractors using Short Form of Contract (v 1.0 dated 7 October 2011)

A separate Instruction to Tenderers using the Open Procedure for Works Contractors and the Short Form of Contract (ITTW4) has been developed.

3 October 2011 – Revisions to PW-CF7 and PW-CF8 Schedule (dated 25/03/11); and FTS7 and FTS8 (v 1.0 01/06/10)

Minor changes have been made to the Schedules in relation to insurance to reflect what is available in the market following discussions with Insurance Brokers.

3 October 2011 – Term Maintenance and Refurbishment Works Contract (PW-CF11 v1.0 dated 30 September 2011)

The Term Maintenance and Refurbishment Works Contract is a new addition to the suite of public works contracts published as part of the Capital Works Management Framework. While it is different to the other forms of public works contracts (PW-CF1 to PW-CF6) in that it is not a fixed price lump sum contract, it adheres to the key principle on which all the Government contracts are based.

29 September 2011 – Revision to GN 2.2 Planning and Control of Capital Costs v1.0 dated 28 July 2009

A short amendment has been made to Section 2.6 (Page 50) of GN 2.2 v 1.1 (dated 29 September 2011) to incorporate text that had been included in an earlier guidance document (CWMF Guidance Notes 16 and 17 Technical).

06 September 2011 – Revisions to Appendix A to QW1- QW3, QC1 – QC4

A minor amendment has been made to the first signature box.

29 August 2011 – Public Works Contract for Early Collaboration (PW-CF10 v1.0 29/08/2011 and associated Schedules; Employer Note and Form of Tender and Schedules (FTS11 v1.0 29/08/2011)

The Public Works Contract for Early Collaboration is a new contract which is being added to the suite of Public Works Contracts. This contract is intended for use on large projects (e.g. over €100 million), or technically complex projects on which Contractor input is required at an early stage. It can only be used if prior approval has been received from the Government’s Construction Contracts Committee and such approval will be on a contract by contract basis.

10 August 2011 – ITTW1 (v1.4) and ITTW2 (v1.1) dated 19 July 2011:

Changes have been made to reflect new arrangements for Specialists in Schedule in Public Works Contracts PW-CF1 to 5.

8 August 2011 – Public Works Contract for Early Collaboration (PW-CF10 v1.0 8/08/2011)

The Public Works Contract for Early Collaboration is a new contract which is being added to the suite of Public Works Contracts. This contract is intended for use on large projects (e.g. over €100 million), or technically complex projects on which Contractor input is required at an early stage. It can only be used if the Government’s Construction Contracts Committee has given approval to do so which will be on a contract by contract basis.

8 August 2011 – Revisions to PW-CF6 (v 1.5 4/11/09); Schedule (dated 25/03/11); and FTS6 (v 1.1 01/06/11)

PW-CF6:Employer liability and insurance provisions revised to reflect what is available in the market following discussions with Insurance Brokers; and Additional provision in REA (4 February 2011) included.

FTS6:Minor changes have been made to the Schedule in relation to insurance.

8 August 2011 – PW-CF 5 Schedule for Minor Works Contract; and FTS5 v1.4 both dated 28 July 2011:

A correction has been made to the Compensation Event column for items 18-21 in Part 1K of the Schedule.

28 July 2011 – Revisions to PW-CF1 to PW-CF5 (v1.6) and Schedules (all dated 30 March 2010); FTS1 to FTS4 (v1.3 10 May 2011) and FTS5 (v 1.3 30 March 2010)

PW-CF1 – PW-CF5: A number of minor amendments have been made which include the following:

  • Greater clarity is given to the position regarding background information so as to confirm original intention;
  • The definition of ‘lands made available’ has changed;
  • A requirement for records included;
  • Changes to Programme Contingency;
  • Disputing an ER’s decision has a finite period;
  • Tighter provisions included in regard to time to submit final statement in order to comply with original intention;
  • Employer liability and insurance provisions revised to reflect what is available in the market following discussions with Insurance Brokers;
  • Additional provision in REA (4 February 2011) included.

FTS1 –FTS5:

Apart from a change to text relating to disputes in the Form of Tender; minor changes have been made to the Schedule which include insurance, weather measurement and named specialists in the Schedule.

19 July 2011 – Instructions to Tender for Works, Restricted and Open Procedure (ITTW1 v1.3 10/02/11) and (ITTW2 v1.1 10/02/11)

Minor amendments have been made to the Instructions to Tender to allow the award criteria to be either on: (i) a MEAT basis; or (ii) lowest price only.

20 June 2011 – MF 1.9 Novation Agreement:

‘Section 4 – Employers Representative’ has been amended.

17June 2011 – Appendix E to QW1, QW2, QW3

Footnote 1 has been removed.

1 June 2011 – Form of Tender and Schedule (Works) FTS6 to FTS8

The default for Tender Price in the Form of Tender has been set to ‘excluding all VAT’.

26 May 2011 – GN 2.3 Procurement Process for Works Contractors v 1.1

Page 59 – Section relating to ‘If the budget is exceeded – action post-award’ – the omission of ‘not’ from the last line of the paragraph has been corrected.

10 May 2011 – Minor changes have been made to the following documents:

•Invitation to Tender letters (ITTW1 to ITTW3) – form fields inserted.

•Form of Tender and Schedule (Works) FTS1 to FTS5 – The default for Tender Price in the Form of Tender has set to ‘excluding all VAT’. Schedule Part 1 H ‘is not’ which had been omitted as an option has also been added to the drop-down menu in FTS2 to FTS5.

•GN 2.3 – Procurement Process for Works Contractors – Page 30 – Text correction for ‘Use this Form of Tender …’ for PW-CF 5 to PW-CF8.

•GN 1.4 – Procurement and Contract Strategy for Public Works Contracts – Page 26 – correction to text in ‘Definition of Small Projects’.

29 April 2011 – Revision to Appendix A QC1, QC2, QC3 and QC4

Minor amendment has been made to the signature box: APPENDIX A: QC1; QC2; QC3 and QC4.

12 April 2011 – ARM 4 and Supplement 1

A Supplement to the Agreed Rules of Measurement version 4 (ARM 4) has been issued by the Society of Chartered Surveyors and is effective from 4 April 2011. This Supplement modifies those rules of measurement so as to align them with the new public works contracts. The Introductory Note to this Supplement is attached and is also available at Appendix D3 of Guidance Note 1.5 ‘Public Works Contracts’.

Introductory Note to the Agreed Rules of Measurement version 4 (ARM 4) and Supplement 1.

4 April 2011 – Authorised Bonding Business

A new Information Note in relation to Authorised Bonding Business is now included under Pillar 1. It covers both Banks and Insurance Businesses (Non-Life).

1. Banks: Banks that are authorised to do banking business in Ireland are listed on the Financial Regulator’s database under the banner “Register of Credit Institutions”.

2. Surety Businesses/Insurance Undertakings (i.e. Non-Life Surety Undertakings): A registered list of Insurance Undertakings are listed on the Financial Regulator’s database under the banner “Register of Life and Non Life Insurance Undertakings”.

31 March 2011 – Revisions to MF1.4 – Letter of Acceptance, Employer Instructions (dated 26/11/2010) & GN1.5 Public Works Contract (28 January 2011 v1.1)

Minor amendments have been made to the Employer Instructions associated with MF1.4.

Amendments have been made to the following Sections in GN1.5 (see change note in archives for further details):

  • Section 2.1 Suitability Assessment of Contractors – Substitution
  • Section 2.1.1 Procurement of Specialists – Procurement Options
  • Section 2.1.2 Procurement of Specialists – Contractor Input Only: 1. Specialists named by the Contractor.
  • Section 2.4.1 Insurance Requirements – Paragraph ‘Exclusions’ repeated, one paragraph deleted
  • Section 2.6.2 Completing the Schedule – Schedule Part 1 of PW-CF1 to PW-CF5
  • Section 2.7.5 Tender Evaluation Example – Sample calculations
  • Appendix D
  • Appendices D3 – G

31 March 2011 – MF2.2 – Letter of Acceptance & Client Instructions

Pricing Schedule and Service Requirement have been included in the list of documents that the contract will consist of. Client Instructions can be located under the plus [+] sign at MF2.2.

30 March 2011 – MF2.3 Collateral Warranty for Sub-Consultants

A standard Model Form MF 2.3 Collateral Warranty for Sub-Consultants is now available on the website and can be found under Model Forms under Standard Conditions of Engagement.

28 March 2011 – MF2.2 – Letter of Acceptance for Consultants

A standard Model Form MF 2.2 Letter of Acceptance for Consultants is now available on the website and can be found under Model Forms under Standard Conditions of Engagement.

25 March 2011 – Schedules for PW-CF 6: Public Works Short Form of Contract; PW-CF 7: Public Works Investigation Contract; and PW-CF 8: Public Works Short Form of Investigation Contract

To be consistent with the other forms of contract separate Schedules are now available for PW-CF 6; PW-CF 7; and PW-CF 8. Note: The Schedules continue to be available as part of the ‘Tender and Schedule’ documents.

23 March 2011 – Revisions to GN 1.6 Procurement Process for Consultancy Services (Technical) (v1.1); GN 1.6.1 Suitability Assessment of Service Providers, Restricted Procedure (v1.0); and GN 1.6.2 Suitability Assessment of Service Providers, Open Procedure (v1.0) all dated 28 January 2011

References to ITTS1 and ITTS2 in the three guidance notes have been updated to align with the separate ITTS1 (a) and (b) documents that were published on 20 April 2010; and the ITTS2 (a) and (b) documents that were published on the website on 12 July 2010.

A minor typo has been corrected on P.94 of GN 1.6.1.

Amendments have been made to GN 1.6.2 Section 2.2 (page 23) Step-by-Step Open Procedure. Mainly the minimum period for submission of questionnaires has been amended and the reference to PIN’s has been included under Step 3.

22 March 2011 – Revisions to COE1, COE2, FTS9 & FTS10

Schedules A & B have been separated from the COE1 & COE2. Text & text fields have been added to Schedule A (1)(7) of FTS9 & FTS10.

10 Feb 2011 – Revisions to ITTW1, ITTW2 & ITTW3

Text relating to additional information in Appendix 2 has been changed to fixed text.

03 Feb 2011 – Revisions to Guidance Notes

References to EU thresholds have been updated to align with current EU thresholds which came into effect from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2011.

2 February 2011 – Revisions to QW3 (version 1.1 dated 27 September 2010)

Minor revisions have been made to QW3 to alter choices.

2 February 2011 – Revisions to Supplements 3.4.1 and 3.4.2 to Suitability Assessment Questionnaires

All references to third party certification of safety management systems have been removed from Sections 3.4.1a and 3.4.1b of Supplement 3.4.1 and 3.4.2 to QW1, QW2 and QW3.

2 February 2011 – GN 2.3.1.2 ‘Suitability Criteria for Contractors’: (dated 30 November 2010)

(i) All references to third party certification of safety management systems have been removed from criterion 1 and 2 for Roles 1 (H&S Competence of Works Contractor) and 2 (Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (H&S)) as such systems do not apply to these criteria.

(ii) Tables have been re-organised to give greater clarity.

13 January 2011 – Revisions to ITTS1 (a) and ITTS1 (b) (version 1.2. dated 22 April 2010)

Minor text changes have been made to Section 9.5 ‘Assessment Methodology’.