Procurement Services and Contract Management Consultancy (Revised)

Description

The EU’s Customs Union prohibits customs duties on imports and exports between member states and details a common customs tariff in MS relations with third countries. There is also a principle of mutual recognition of standards whereby goods are certified in one Member State (MS) and this certification is accepted in all MS. As a result, goods move freely between MS without the need for customs declarations, associated controls and inspections. This means that no controls are carried out at Irish ports and airports on consignments of live animals, plants, plant and animal products and consignments of foods of non-animal origin, food contact materials (e.g. plastics), some composite products, cosmetic products or tobacco related products that are entering Ireland from another EU Member State. Following Brexit, all consignments of live animals, plants, plant and animal products and consignments of foods of non-animal origin, food contact materials (e.g. plastics), some composite products, cosmetic products or tobacco related products that are entering the EU, including Ireland, from Great Britain are subject to customs formalities including the requirement for customs declarations, payment of tariffs (where applicable) and documentary or physical controls. In addition, DAFM and the HSE, inspect all consignments; to confirm they are in compliance with EU legislation. Consignments found not to comply with these requirements are rejected and are either destroyed, re-exported to the country of origin or are subjected to special treatment under Competent Authority control. The Competent Authorities require a Tenderer to procure and manage on their behalf, a Border Control Post (BCP) Support Services Contract. The BCP Support Services Contracts will provide a range of services to assist with facilitating checks on incoming imports including consignment handling and traffic control services in Dublin and Rosslare Ports for and on behalf of the following Competent Authorities: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue) and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The expected range of services included in the BCP support services contracts may, but is not limited to, the following: Consignment Handling; Traffic Control; Provision of Machinery/Equipment and Health and Safety, Quality and Environmental Management. On 7 March 2025 a tender process for this service was ran, however at evaluation a flaw was identified, and the process was collapsed. Then on the 19 May 2025, an EU-UK Summit resulted in a Common Understanding on future EU-UK cooperation, which included undertakings on an EU-UK Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement. If a comprehensive SPS agreement is successfully negotiated it may, in the future, reduce the activity in Irish BCPs. The current uncertainty in future activity levels has led to the decision that both the BCP Support Services contracts and their Procurement and Management Contracts being a shorter term than previously advertised.