DS3 System Services — Volume Uncapped – Gate 1

Ireland

Gate 1 covers all 12 services as outlined in this qualification system briefing document.

There is:

— a separate DS3 System Services Agreement for services in Ireland, which is to be entered into with EirGrid, and

— a separate DS3 System Services Agreement for services in Northern Ireland, which is to be entered into with SONI.

The services are split into a number of lots for each of the TSOs as follows:

— lots 1IE – 12IE relate to the System Services required by EirGrid,

— lots 1NI – 12NI relate to the System Services required by SONI.

It is intended that the start date of each of the contracts awarded under Gate 1 is 1.9.2019.

It is intended that the term of each contract will last until 30.4.2023, but with an option for each TSO to extend the term of its contract in respect of any or all of its applicable lots in certain defined cases for two additional time periods of up to eighteen (18) months each, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity.

Option for each TSO to extend the term of its contract in respect of any or all of its applicable lots in certain defined cases for two additional time periods of up to eighteen (18) months each, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

See draft contract included in the tender pack for performance conditions, available to download from http://www.etenders.gov.ie/.

1) interested parties must register their interest on the eTenders website (http://www.etenders.gov.ie/) in order to be included on the mailing list for clarifications. All information relating to attachments, including clarifications and changes, will be published on the Irish Government Procurement Opportunities Portal (http://www.etenders.gov.ie/);

Only registration is free of charge. The Contracting Authority will not accept responsibility for information relayed (or not relayed) via third parties.

2) the qualification system covers 14 services in total which will be awarded across 14 lots for EirGrid and 14 lots for SONI. The first 12 services will be procured as Gate 1 in accordance with this tender pack. The remaining 2 services will be procured in accordance with a separate call for competition.

While the qualification system is of indefinite duration, there is a closing date relevant to the award of the Gate 1 contracts. Tenderers may apply for inclusion on the qualification system at any time. It is intended that specific contracts will be awarded every 6 months hereinafter referred to as gate dates. The exact gate dates will be at EirGrid’s sole discretion and all information will be provided to the market in advance of these Gate Dates, primarily via the EirGrid Group website;

3) the Contracting Authority will not be responsible for any costs, charges or expenses incurred by candidates or tenderers;

4) contract award will be subject to the approval of the competent authorities;

5) it will be a condition that the award of contracts will be subject to a requirement that all tenderers are appropriately tax compliant and are in a position to produce a valid tax clearance certificate from the revenue commissioners when requested;

6) at its absolute discretion, the Contracting Entity may elect to terminate this procurement process or any contract awarded;

7) please note in relation to all documents, that where reference is made to a particular standard, make, source, process, trademark, type or patent, that this is not to be regarded as a de facto requirement. In all such cases, it should be understood that such indications are to be treated strictly and solely for reference purposes only, to which the words ‘or equivalent’ will always be appended;

8) without prejudice to the principle of equal treatment, the Contracting Entity is not obliged to engage in a clarification process in respect of questionnaires with missing or incomplete information. Therefore, tenderers are advised to ensure that they return fully completed questionnaires in order to avoid the risk of elimination from the competition;

9) should new services be required, such additional services may be added to this qualification system via a new call for competition published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

For full details please see the full tender pack attached to the etenders notice for this contract.

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:

The Contracting Entity will not conclude this contract to which a standstill period applies in accordance with Council Directive 2014/25/EU, until after the expiry of the standstill period which commences on the day following the date of notification on concerned candidates and tenderers. The duration of the standstill period will be 14 calendar days where notifications are sent electronically or by fax and 16 calendar days where these are sent by any other means. The Statutory Instrument mentioned above provides that review procedures are available in the High Court to a person who has or has had an interest in obtaining the reviewable public contract and alleges that he or she has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed by an infringement of the law in relation in this contract.