Met Éireann Pollen Forecast Service

Description

This Preliminary Market Consultation is designed to provide further information to the Notification sent to Economic Operators on 11th November 2025. Economic Operators are asked to read the information provided below carefully, and if they believe they can provide the services outlined are requested to submit an Expression of Interest. We are not seeking proposals or any other type of submission at this stage, but would like to clarify the market for providing a pollen forecast service. Only proposals submitted in response to the RFQ when it is published will be evaluated. Met Éireann provides a daily pollen forecast during the pollen forecast season, which is 1st February to 30th September, but may extend for a longer period depending on conditions. This forecast is included in the national and regional weather forecast, which are made available to the public on digital channels, TV and radio. There is also a dedicated pollen forecast page on met.ie. The pollen forecast must cover three days, the current day and next two days. It must be provided by an automated data flow making it available to Met Éireann forecast staff by 7am each day, and must be provided and supported 7 days a week during the season. The forecast must provide the pollen levels for each province of Ireland (Connacht, Leinster. Munster, Ulster) over this three day window. The levels must be set on a scale (Low, Medium, High, Very High). The RFQ response must detail, and justify, the threshold concentrations for each level on the scale. In addition to the pollen levels the predominant pollen type must be identified with expert commentary on the general pollen situation, with specific information on grass pollen, tree pollen, weed pollen and fungal spores impacting Ireland. The RFQ response must provide a description of forecast methodology with references to peer-reviewed studies of forecast validation and accuracy. The response must also provide evidence of operational application of the forecast methodology in Ireland. The forecast production system must be reliable and robust. The RFQ response must detail the plans to ensure continuity of service in the event of system failure of any kind. The service will be expected to be operational by mid January 2026 to allow the forecasts to be disseminated to the public from 1st February 2026. The contract term will be a maximum of 4 years. The estimated value provided is based on this maximum contract term. This Preliminary Market Consultation is designed to provide further information to the Notification sent to Economic Operators on 11th November 2025. Economic Operators are asked to read the information provided below carefully, and if they believe they can provide the services outlined are requested to submit an Expression of Interest. We are not seeking proposals or any other type of submission at this stage, but would like to clarify the market for providing a pollen forecast service. Only proposals submitted in response to the RFQ when it is published will be evaluated. Met Éireann provides a daily pollen forecast during the pollen forecast season, which is 1st February to 30th September, but may extend for a longer period depending on conditions. This forecast is included in the national and regional weather forecast, which are made available to the public on digital channels, TV and radio. There is also a dedicated pollen forecast page on met.ie. The pollen forecast must cover three days, the current day and next two days. It must be provided by an automated data flow making it available to Met Éireann forecast staff by 7am each day, and must be provided and supported 7 days a week during the season. The forecast must provide the pollen levels for each province of Ireland (Connacht, Leinster. Munster, Ulster) over this three day window. The levels must be set on a scale (Low, Medium, High, Very High). The RFQ response must detail, and justify, the threshold concentrations for each level on the scale. In addition to the pollen levels the predominant pollen type must be identified with expert commentary on the general pollen situation, with specific information on grass pollen, tree pollen, weed pollen and fungal spores impacting Ireland. The RFQ response must provide a description of forecast methodology with references to peer-reviewed studies of forecast validation and accuracy. The response must also provide evidence of operational application of the forecast methodology in Ireland. The forecast production system must be reliable and robust. The RFQ response must detail the plans to ensure continuity of service in the event of system failure of any kind. The service will be expected to be operational by mid January 2026 to allow the forecasts to be disseminated to the public from 1st February 2026. The contract term will be a maximum of 4 years. The estimated value provided is based on this maximum contract term.