Provision of Zoo Inspectorate

Tender description

This request for tender is for the provision of a zoo inspectorate, authorised by the Minister for Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht, to carry out annual zoo inspections. There are currently 37 licenced zoos in Ireland that are situated throughout the country. Each licenced zoo is inspected annually. 8 are due to have their licence renewed in 2018. The remainder are inspected for the purposes of determining whether the conditions of their existing licence are being met. 16 hold exemptions and these are inspected annually also. They will also be required to inspect any new zoos that may open or the Department become aware of The inspectorate will consist of a team of two persons. Inspections are usually carried out between April and September. The Department will provide a list of premises requiring inspection and an official to accompany inspections. The successful tenderer will also be required to update and supplement the ‘Irish standards of modern zoo practice’. Provide On-going support to new zoos and offer training where necessary. The successful tenderer will be required to work for up 60 days a year to a nominated officer in the Biodiversity and EU Programmes unit in the Department, on the zoo inspection programme. This includes time for inspections, travel and preparatory work. The inspections can be carried out in a single or in separate block of work. The contract will run for a 36 month period and inspections for 2018, 2019 and 2020 will need to be undertaken in that period. (Refer to Rft)