Dublin MetroLink Project Market Update: October 2023

Dublin MetroLink Project Market Update October 2023

1. Periodic Indicative Notice published for the M500 PPP Contract and Market Consultation

A Periodic Indicative Notice (PIN) has been published in the OJEU by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (“TII”) on 12 September (eTenders ID 2395245 and TED Reference: TED 2023/S 178-557522) in relation to the M500 PPP Contract for the Dublin MetroLink project (“MetroLink”), being one of the four major contracts that will be used to deliver the Project. The M500 PPP Contract will be a public services contract that will include provision of the integrated operation and maintenance of MetroLink as a public passenger transport service.

TII with NTA is publishing this PIN in accordance with the procedural requirements for the competitive tendering of a public services contract under EU Regulation 1370/2007. The NTA is the Competent Authority under Regulation 1370/2007 and TII will be the procuring authority responsible for managing the tender procedure for the M500 PPP Contract.

This PIN follows previous advertisements of the proposed M500 PPP Contract, most recently under a Periodic Indicative Notice published in the OJEU on 19 April 2022 (TED Reference: 2022/S 076-208843).

M500 Market Consultation

As outlined in the 12 September PIN, TII will be conducting a further round of market consultation from October in relation to the M500 PPP Contract. The purpose of this consultation is to inform the market of updates to the anticipated commercial approach proposed by TII for the M500 PPP Contract and to seek feedback on the contractual and commercial aspects of MetroLink, including from potential lenders to project.

Issues to be raised with registered participants for the M500 PPP Contract are expected to focus on:

i) the nature and terms of the availability-based PPP;

ii) any interests or concerns raised by potential investors and funders, including possible financing arrangements for the M500 PPP Contract;

iii) the nature and form of the expected Interface Agreement between the four major contracts;

iv) matters raised related to the performance of the M401, M402 and M403 contract packages that may affect the performance of the M500 PPP Contract.

Any party who is interested in participating in the market consultation and who has not already registered interest under the 19 April 2022 PIN is invited to express its interest by registering under the 12 September PIN via the e-tenders messaging portal to the contact person named in PIN via the eTenders website, etenders.gov.ie (System ID 2395245 and TED Reference: 2023/S 178-557522). All parties who have previously expressed interest in MetroLink by registering under the PIN published 19 April 2022 will be considered automatically for this consultation and for future market updates.

Registration of interest in the M500 PPP Contract does not have any bearing or preclude registration of interest in market consultation on the M400 Contracts (see also below).

At this point, TII anticipates publication of a contract notice for the M500 PPP Contract in early 2024. Issue of the M500 tender documents to shortlisted candidates is planned to follow the grant of an enforceable Railway Order for the Project, currently anticipated in late 2024. A programme update will be given later this year.

2. Periodic Indicative Notice published for the M400 Contracts and Market Consultation

A separate Periodic Indicative Notice has been published on 6 October by TII in respect of the M401, M402 and M403 contracts and proposed further consultation on specific aspects in relation to the three major design-build contract packages for the main tunnelling and civils works components of MetroLink (“M400 Contracts”) (eTenders ID 2493927 and TED Reference: TED 2023/S 193-602895).

M400 Market Consultation

The purpose of this round of consultation is to inform the market of updates to the anticipated contracting approach proposed by TII on these packages and to seek feedback on the contractual and commercial aspects of MetroLink. Issues to be raised by TII with registered participants are expected to focus on:

i) the nature and terms of the proposed form of contract (i.e., NEC4 ECC Option C);

ii) any interests or concerns raised by potential supply chain participants;

iii) the nature and form of the expected Interface Agreement between the four major contracts;

iv) arrangements for the tender procedure;

v) matters raised related to the performance of the M500 PPP contract packages that may affect the performance of the M401, M402 and M403 contract.

This process is open to any interested parties wishing to respond by sending a request via the e-tenders messaging portal to the contact person named in the PIN and on the eTenders website, etenders.gov.ie as identified above. All parties who have previously expressed interest in MetroLink by registering under the PIN published 19 April 2022 will be considered automatically for this consultation and future market updates.

No party is restricted from registering their interest in both the M500 PPP contract and the M401, M402 and M403 contracts. Registration of interest in the M400 Contract does not have any bearing or preclude registration of interest for the M500 PPP Contracts.

At this point, TII anticipates publication of a contract notice for the first of the M400 Contract packages (being contract M401) between 3 and 6 months after publication of the anticipated contract notice for the M500 PPP Contract. A programme update will be given later this year.

3. Planned Periodic Indicative Notice for the M100 Advance Works Contracts and proposed Market Consultation

TII will shortly publish a Periodic Indicative Notice in respect of the intended MetroLink Advance Works contract packages (contract series number M100) and a planned market consultation on the anticipated scope of the works and proposed contract forms for these Advance Works. A market update will be published when the PIN is published which will provide details of the arrangements for any parties wishing to engage in this process.

At this time, unless there is a patent and obvious conflict of interest and subject to being able to demonstrate sufficient technical, management and financial resources (as will be set out in the relevant tender documents), TII does not envisage restricting an individual contractor who is awarded one or more contracts for an M100 Advance Works package (or any member of the contractor’s supply chain at any tier) from participating in the M400 or M500 Contract packages.

4. Recent Professional Service Appointments to TII for MetroLink

MetroLink Client Partner

In July, TII appointed a multidisciplinary client partner team (“Client Partner”) for MetroLink. This partnership is made up of Turner & Townsend and WSP supported by O’Connor Sutton Cronin, Mace and PwC.

Turner & Townsend is the lead organisation within the Client Partner team. Effective from 22 August, the Client Partner will be in place for the duration of the design, procurement and construction phase, and will ultimately see MetroLink being brought into operation.

MetroLink Insurance Adviser

In May, TII appointed Willis Towers Watson as its insurance advisor for MetroLink. This appointment is for insurance advisory and brokerage services for all works, including the major design-build works contracts, M500 PPP Contract and the Advance Works. The terms of reference for Willis Towers Watson include providing support to TII in the selection and appointment through a public procurement process of a lead arranger of an owner-controlled insurance programme, should such approach be adopted for the project.

These two appointments add further important resources and capability to TII in the planning and delivery of MetroLink. Other appointments previously made by TII that continue to support the development of the Project and related contract packages include:

Further Information

Further information on the details of MetroLink and news updates can be found at www.metrolink.ie.

All correspondence related to the planned procurement of MetroLink will be via the eTenders Messaging portal including the issuing of and response to the Market Consultation pack.

Download a copy of the Dublin MetroLink Project Market Update for October 2023.