Construction work for buildings relating to health

Tender description

The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital has decided to enter into a contract with John Sisk and Son (Holdings) Ltd for the rapid construction of an urgent Covid c.112 bed unit with ICU facility. In response to the Covid pandemic, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MH) has decided to enter into a contract with John Sisk and Son (Holdings) Ltd for the rapid construction of an urgently required c. EUR 49.3 million ex VAT separate c.112 Covid bed unit with intensive care facilities on the MH campus, Eccles Street, Dublin 7. The impact of Covid is unprecedented, unforeseeable and has had a significant adverse impact on patients’ access to care; such delays will have an impact on patient outcomes, care and mortality. The re-organisation of existing emergency and ICU facilities to address the unique and infectious Covid circumstances has materially adversely impacted routine and elective care for non-Covid patients. MH provides advanced respiratory support and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), both treatments used in the care of Covid ICU patients. As Covid patients are redirected to MH for intensive care, infectious disease and ECMO care, MH’s existing ICU capacity is disproportionately impacted. Ordinarily, MH’s ICU operates at c.95 % occupancy. The additional requirement for ICU beds is unsustainable. Elective care has been detrimentally impacted by the prioritisation of resources to address Covid. Waiting times and lists have increased materially. MH managed these challenges, including re-configuring existing facilities. Despite MH’s best efforts to mitigate the Covid impact, it has now become apparent that these measures are not sustainable or optimal for patient care and access for Covid patients. As a matter of extreme urgency, care for Covid and non-Covid patients must be separated at MH by the addition of a separate Covid facility in order to sustain major elective surgeries, heart surgeries, transplant, emergency non-Covid care. Otherwise mortality rates will be impacted. The HSE/MH are proceeding with this rapid build to bring urgently required dedicated Covid ICU beds on line, by Winter 2021. The availability and take-up of a vaccine (if approved) will not sufficiently alleviate this urgent timeline. Once the requirement for urgent action became apparent, MH considered the feasibility of conducting a competitive tender process in line with usual or accelerated procurement timescales. Given the complexity of the procurement process required for this build, the time taken to engage in a procurement procedure (up to 24 months) cannot be complied with to address the extremely urgent need for the first operational beds by Winter 2021. No existing suitable contract or framework can be leveraged for this requirement. MH proceeded expeditiously in identifying this requirement having regard to best available evidence. Sisk has been selected for a direct award using the negotiated procedure without prior publication under Regulation 32(2)(c) of Irish S.I. 284/2016. Sisk constructed MH’s McGivney and Whitty Wings, over 80 % of MH’s footprint. Sisk has knowledge of the site and does not require extensive site surveys or due diligence to proceed within weeks with commencement of rapid construction of an interconnected facility. The award is limited to what is strictly necessary in the timeline. Separate procurement processes will be run for the fit-out of Levels 4-6 of the facility and for all equipment required, where required by procurement rules. Further Information can be found at https://www.mater.ie/docs/projects/veat-notice-text-for-the-award-of-a-contract-for-the-rapid-construction-of-a-covid-bed-unit-at-the-mater-hospital.pdf