Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2024-07-15
Buyer: Gas Networks Ireland
Country: IE
Contract type: Services
CPV classification: 44161100 | 44212318 | 71353000 | 71520000: Construction supervision services | 71632200
Submission deadline: 2024-09-30

Technical requirements: Management of the gas pipeline network is a sophisticated 24-hour operation. GNI wish to put in place a framework agreement with suitably experienced and competent service providers, to provide pipeline inspection services to support GNI pipeline safety management.  The contracting Entity reserves the right to call off from the Framework in respect of ancillary works and services that might be required to be performed in Northern Ireland. 

Note: This PIN (Prior Information Notice) is to advise of a tender process due to commence shortly and tender documents will not be available until the OJEU Notice has been published. 

Gas Networks Ireland
Gas Networks Ireland is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ervia, established pursuant to section 5 of the Gas Regulation Act 2013. It carries out activities with respect, inter alia, to the construction, operation and maintenance of and the provision of services with respect to Gas Networks Ireland’s transmission and distribution networks used to transport natural gas to and in Ireland and includes all businesses carried out or to be carried out by the networks business from time to time and any subsidiaries of Gas Networks Ireland from time to time (other than GNI (UK)). 

Gas Networks Ireland is certified to both the Environmental Management system, ISO14001 and the Energy Management System, ISO50001. Tenderers should note that the evaluation of Tenders may include elements that relate to environmental and energy performance of services, materials, methodology and equipment proposed by the Tenderers.

For more information, please see Gas Networks Ireland’s website, which can be found at www.gasnetworks.ie

GNI (UK) Limited
GNI (UK) Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gas Networks Ireland, registered in England and Wales. The principal activity of the company is the transportation of natural gas (1) together with GNI, through two pipelines from Moffat in Scotland to Ballough in Ireland; and (2) from Belfast to Derry (through the North-West Pipeline) in Northern Ireland, and from Gormanston, Ireland to Belfast (through the South-North Pipeline). 

GNI (UK) Limited is certified to both the Environmental Management system, ISO14001 and the Energy Management System, ISO50001. Tenderers should note that the evaluation of Tenders may include elements that relate to environmental and energy performance of services, materials, methodology and equipment proposed by the Tenderers.

Contracting Entity: means GNI and any subsidiary, holding company or affiliated company of GNI including GNI (UK) Limited.

GNI (UK) Limited: a wholly owned subsidiary of Gas Networks Ireland, registered in England and Wales. The principal activity of the company is the transportation of natural gas (1) together with GNI, through two pipelines from Moffat in Scotland to Ballough in Ireland; and (2) from Belfast to Derry (through the North-West Pipeline) in Northern Ireland, and from Gormanstown, Ireland to Belfast (through the South-North Pipeline). 

Geographical Scope: The services procured under this contract/framework agreement may relate to GNI’s activities in Republic of Ireland and it is envisaged that associated services may be required to be performed in Northern Ireland.
Lot 1 Inspection Services on Gas Installations and Pipelines
•	Provision of pipeline inspectors and equipment to supervise excavation works close to GNI Transmission and Distribution pipelines and within GNI installations.
•	Provision of inspectors to carry out surveillance activities over pipeline routes as required.
•	Performing PSR (Pressure System Regulation) inspections on Transmission AGI’s.
•	Provision of administration resources to manage the GNI Transmission permit system.
•	Carrying out leak survey of Transmission network locations.
•	Non-Destructive testing.
•	Provision of experienced management agents to manage all aspects of the GNI inspection works.
•	Provision of pipeline inspectors to participate in out of hours standby rota for excavation supervision or surveillance where necessary.
•	Provision of qualified Welding Inspectors and equipment to supervise welding works on pipelines and within PRI’s as required for operational and reactive issues.
•	Provision of Construction supervision.
•	Provision of Painting inspection services and supervision of painting works.
•	Provision to provide the service of a (a) Third party Liaison Officer and (b) Process Safety Engineer.
•	Provision of Drone and Satellite Surveillance Services 
•	Associated services may be required to be performed. 



Lot 2 Leak Detection and Quantification
This is a new European Regulation which GNI must adhere to: Methane Emission Reduction Regulation 2019/942 that obliges the fossil gas, oil and coal industry in Europe to measure, monitor, report and verify their methane emissions according to the highest monitoring standards, and to take action to reduce them and associated services that may be required to be performed. 




Lot 3 Engineering Design Technical Support Services
Expertise required on pressure testing of pipelines and AGI’s, development of welding, coating and painting specifications, expertise on interpretation of welding x-rays, application of internal and external pipelines coatings, Expertise required on tensile strength of steel line pipe and testing methodology and associated services that may be required to be performed.