MetroLink, Dublin – M120 Heavy Civils Enabling Works Framework Agreement

Transport Infrastructure Ireland is procuring a comprehensive heavy civil engineering programme to enable the construction of the MetroLink network in Dublin. The framework covers the full spectrum of civil works required for major infrastructure elements, including site preparation, hoarding, logistics and welfare arrangements, and extensive utilities diversions. It also encompasses detailed surveys, ground investigations, bulk earth and rock excavation, as well as the design, construction and fit‑out of viaducts, overbridges, underbridges, walkways, retaining and guide walls, diaphragm and secant piling, rock bolts, anchors, capping beams, shotcrete, mesh, and fissure sealing. Supplementary activities include the erection of reinforcement works, monitoring of settlement and ground movement with remedial work where necessary, de‑watering and water treatment, site waste management, mechanical, electrical and plumbing provisions, and the complete structural, civil and engineering design package.

The procurement is structured as a two‑lot Design‑and‑Build framework under the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract, with LTCs and MEP works to be awarded through subsequent call‑off contracts. The first lot covers complex or high‑value engagements of €50 million or more, including elements such as station boxes and major viaducts, while the second lot addresses lower‑value envelopes under €50 million, such as retaining walls and support works. The framework is intended to facilitate integration with the wider MetroLink M401 and M402 packages, the DBFOM M500 contract, and other related works, and it may also be employed to procure heavy civil works adjacent to Irish Rail’s Glasnevin station where alignment interfaces are required.

All call‑off contracts will be governed by NEC4 ECC and must incorporate a structured carbon‑performance framework to promote low‑carbon construction methods.

The M120 Heavy Civils Enabling Works Framework Agreement (the M120 Framework) will provide civil engineering works for the MetroLink programme. The scope of works for the M120 Framework will comprise a combination of the following: Site set up and hoarding installation; Logistics and welfare management; Utilities diversions and works; Site clearance and removal of materials; Surveys and/or ground investigations; Bulk earth and rock excavation works; Construction and outfitting works; Building construction and fit-out; Construction of single or multi-span viaducts, overbridges, under bridges and walkways over or under live carriageways and waterways, retaining walls and guide walls, diaphragm walls, secant piling and contiguous piling, rock bolts, anchors, capping beams, shotcrete works, mesh works, sealing of fissures etc., underground and above ground reinforced concrete structures and associated temporary works/propping/other reinforcement works; Monitoring of settlement and ground movement and associated remedial works; De-watering and water treatment/disposal management; Site waste management; Mechanical , electrical and plumbing works as required, perform the roles of PSDP and PSCS; Structural, civil, and engineering design; Any other related works. The procurement of the M120 Framework (the Competition) will be conducted under the European Union (Award of Contracts by Utility Undertakings) Regulations 2016 (as amended) (SI 286/2016), and will be managed by TII, acting as the contracting authority, who will be the sole point of contact for applicants. The M120 Framework will be a multi-party Framework Agreement (per Regulation 50 of the Utilities Regulations) consisting of two (2) value based lots. The competition will be structured as a two-stage process with Stage 1 the Selection Stage and Stage 2 the Tender Stage. A maximum of three (3) tenderers will be appointed to each lot. Applicants may apply for one (1) lot only. A tenderer appointed to either lot under the M120 Framework is not precluded from participating in other MetroLink projects or contract packages. The lots are as follows: Lot 1 - Heavy Civils Enabling Works for Call-off Contracts with an estimated value of €50 million or more (excluding VAT) and those determined by the Contracting Authority to be complex call-off contracts of any value which may require specific technical or specialist resources. Lot 1 will consist of call-off contracts for large elements of civils works, which may include station boxes, tunnel portals, single or multi span viaducts, and other contract packages. Lot 2 - Heavy Civils Enabling Works for Call-off contracts with an estimated value less than €50 million (excluding VAT) except those to be included in Lot 1. Lot 2 will consist of call-off contracts for elements of civils works, which may include retaining walls, other foundation/support works. Conduct of the Competition Stage 1: The Selection Stage will commence with the publication of a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) by TII. This will assess applicants based on defined selection criteria for each lot, such as their financial and economic standing, technical capability, and relevant experience. Provided that there is a sufficient number of applicants for each lot, five (5) applicants for each of the two (2) lots will be shortlisted. If less than five (5) applicants meet the minimum requirements for a lot, TII reserves the right to proceed with those applicants to the second stage of the procurement for that lot. The PQQ process to establish both lots will run concurrently. Stage 2: The Tender Stage for the award of the framework and first call-off contracts will commence with TII issuing the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) to each tenderer for that lot. Following the submission and evaluation of ITN tenders, TII reserves the right to engage in further negotiations with tenderers. Following the negotiation phase, TII may request the submission of Best and Final Offers (BAFOs). The three (3) highest ranked tenderers under each lot will be appointed to the M120 Framework and will be eligible to compete for future call-off contracts. The 4th and 5th ranked tenderers under each lot will be reserve tenderers. If during the term of the M120 Framework a framework contractor no longer meets the financial and economic standing requirements in the PQQ or does not submit a tender in response to a call-off tender for three or more call-off contracts in a row then TII reserves the right to terminate the framework agreement with that contractor and appoint one of the reserve tenderers to the M120 Framework. Furthermore, the highest ranked tenderer under each lot will be awarded the first call-off contracts under each lot: Lot 1 award of the contract for the Dublin Airport station box (see 5.1 Lot: LOT0001); Lot 2 award of the contract for the Glasnevin station retaining wall (see 5.1 LOT 0002). Future call off contracts will be awarded by way of mini-competition following the issue of the call-off tender document to the framework members. Detailed information regarding the award criteria for the future / subsequent call-off contracts after the first call-off contracts will be communicated to tenderers appointed to each lot of the M120 Framework as they arise based on TII’s requirements. The M120 Framework may also be used by Iarnród Eireann - Irish Rail to procure call-off contracts for heavy civil engineering works at or adjacent to Glasnevin station (including, without limitation, retaining wall construction, ground stabilisation, utility diversions, interface works with the MetroLink alignment, and preparatory or enabling works necessary to facilitate the integration of MetroLink with the existing Irish Rail network at that location), provided that the works in question fall within one or more of the categories of work set out in the scope of works for the M120 Framework. Refer to the PQQ documents for further information.
Additional information: This contract notice relates to the M120 Framework which is sub-divided into two separate lots. Applicants may participate in One (1) lot ONLY under the M120 Framework. The M120 Framework will be used for the award of heavy civils enabling works using Design and Build contracts for elements of work which would otherwise be delivered under the M401, M402 contracts or other contract packages of the wider MetroLink programme. The M120 Framework will be awarded in accordance with the provisions of the European Union (Award of Contracts by Utility Undertakings) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 286/2016).   As the total estimated value of the lots under this Framework Agreement is equal to or greater than EUR 250 million and the value of each lot is above EUR 125 million, applicants invited to participate in the Tender Stage will be required as part of their tender submission to notify all foreign financial contributions as defined in Article 28(1), point (b) of Regulation (EU) 2022/2560 on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market. If no such financial contributions have been received, the economic operator will instead be required to submit a declaration confirming that it has not received such financial contributions from countries outside the EU. TII may, if appropriate and necessary, adopt the procedure detailed in Regulation 49(1)(f) of the European Union (Award of Contracts by Utility Undertakings) Regulations 2016 to award new services consisting of the repetition of similar services entrusted to the successful tenderers under this competition. More information on the MetroLink project and scope of the M120 Framework is available at www.metrolink.ie and in the PQQ documents. The works under the M120 Framework will each have a number of interfaces with the MetroLink M401 and M402 contracts and with the design, build, finance, operate and maintain (DBFOM) contract (the M500 Contract), the advance and enabling works contracts (the M100 Contracts) and other contracts. Most of the heavy civil engineering works will be delivered under the larger M401/M402 packages. The NEC4 engineering and construction contract (‘ECC’) framework contract will be the form of contract used for the M120 framework agreement. Call-off contracts awarded under Lot 1 and under Lot 2 will use the NEC4 ECC Option C form of contract, with TII reserving the right to use the NEC4 Option A or Option E forms of contract for call-offs under the M120 Framework. Option C will be the contract form used for the first call-offs under each Lot. TII reserves the right to novate or assign call-off contracts awarded under the M120 framework to the M401 contractor, M402 contractor, M500 contractor, or another State/State-owned entity following the award of the call-off contracts. TII reserves the right at its absolute discretion to omit, vary, reduce, extend or repackage its requirements and/or amend contracts post award or to do a combination of these to enable the delivery of its requirements under the M120 Framework in a timely manner. This includes, without limitation, the right to procure directly from individual or groups of members from pre-qualified consortia, reducing or extending the duration of repackaged contracts and permitting changes to pre-qualified consortia and to take such steps as it considers appropriate in respect of the Competition subject to applicable law. TII has the right at any time and without notice to (i) terminate the Competition (or part of it), (ii) change the Competition’s basis or procedures, (iii) procure the works by other means, (iv) negotiate or engage with one or more parties at any time, or (v) to do any combination of the foregoing or anything else deemed appropriate. In line with the Irish Government’s climate action legislation and MetroLink’s sustainability and carbon management commitments outlined in the Railway Order, each of the M120 call-off contracts will include a structured framework for managing carbon performance to ensure alignment with carbon. This approach aims to encourage innovation in low carbon construction methods, materials, and logistics, and will form part of the overall contract performance assessment. Refer to the PQQ documents for further information. The Framework value stated in section 2.1.3 represents TII’s best estimate of the anticipated total value of contracts that may be procured under the framework including risk and inflation and for works required by TII and/or Irish Rail and should not be taken as a definitive indication or guarantee of the volume of heavy civils engineering works that may be required by TII due to the variable demand for these works, and therefore the value may be significantly lower, or indeed higher than this estimate.
Place of performance: IE061

Lot: LOT-0001
Title: Lot 1 Heavy Civils Enabling Works for Call-off Contracts with an estimated value of €50 million or more (excluding VAT) and those determined by the Contracting Authority to be complex call-off contracts of any value which may require specific technical or specialist resources.

Lot: LOT-0002
Title: Lot 2 Heavy Civils Enabling Works for Call-off contracts with an estimated value less than €50 million (excluding VAT) except those to be included in Lot 1.

Procurement documents
Address of the procurement documents: https://metrolink.app.jaggaer.com/