Tender received for major works at SETU campus in Waterford

A tender has been received for major works at South East Technological University (SETU) in Waterford on the Cork Road, it has been confirmed. 

Taylor McCarney are the design team leaders in the PP Bundle 2 with over €100m of new 3rd level buildings across 5 sites for the provision of new academic spaces. They are leading the design process on projects in both South East Technological University Waterford and ATU Galway.

In Waterford, the project comprises a new 12,800 sqm building in the heart of SETU Waterford.

According to Taylor McCarney: “The building represents a very significant investment in this campus and is intended to use the site as a Landmark project for this campus. The project brief includes for various engineering disciplines with new engineering labs at ground floor and computer facilities and general teaching rooms on the first and second floor”.

A new school of architecture comprising architectural studios and BIM studios, occupies the third and fourth floor with studio spaces contained under a series of mono pitch roofs to provide maximum natural daylight to the space.

Waterford Fine Gael Senator John Cummins has confirmed that a tender from the last remaining consortium in the PPP Bundle 2 process has been received and is currently being evaluated by the Department of Further and Higher Education, in collaboration with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

Senator Cummins said: “I am on record as expressing my deep frustration with the slow nature of the PPP process which is being managed by the National Development Finance Agency. The reality is this bundle experienced a number of setbacks, not least construction inflation caused by the war in Ukraine”. 

“As a result, three of the four consortia that were shortlisted for this bundle comprising of the building and maintenance of five academic building across five campuses withdrew from the process. This left one remaining consortium and there was a risk the entire PPP bundle would be mothballed last year with a new direct tender commencing. I felt this would have caused further significant delays and I argued for the PPP tendering process to be completed which Minister Harris has now confirmed”.

In a letter to Senator Cummins, Minister for Further and Higher Education and soon to be Taoiseach Simon Harris TD said: “Further to our ongoing engagement in relation to PPP Bundle 2, I wish to confirm the final tender has been received. A full technical and financial evaluation is currently being undertaken of this bid. It is anticipated that this will be completed in the next few weeks”.

“As you know, I am acutely aware of the importance of this project to SETU and I will ensure the new Minister for Further and Higher Education is fully appraised in early course. I assure you I remain fully committed to the delivery of PPP Bundle 2 and look forward to continuing to work with you on this project,” he said.

“I expect a decision to be made on this in the coming weeks. In my discussions with Simon Harris, since his elevation to party leader, he has confirmed that he is categorically committed to the delivery of PPP Bundle 2 and will work with the new Minister to get a memo to cabinet as quickly as possible”. 

“This has been one of my top priority projects to get over the line and I am satisfied that we can finally see light at the end of the tunnel. I will be  engaging straight away with the new Minister when they are appointed and I have been in regular contact with Minister Paschal Donohoe over the past three weeks to ensure this project is prioritised for an early decision,” Senator Cummins said.