The Irish National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) published a Prior Information Notice (PIN) on Tuesday 8th April to announce its intention to procure the Courts Bundle PPP project to design, build, finance and maintain seven courthouses.

The Department of Justice and Equality (DJE) will  be the Sanctioning Authority and the Courts Service the Sponsoring Agency.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced the Government's intention to develop the project by PPP on 17 July 2012 as part of a €2.25 billion Infrastructure Stimulus package.

The project is expected to consist of seven courthouses located in Drogheda, Letterkenny, Limerick, Wexford, Cork, Mullingar and Waterford. The project is anticipated to comprise the design, build, finance and maintenance of the seven courthouses and courthouse refurbishments/extensions on seven sites.

The details of the courthouses and courthouse refurbishments/extensions are as set out in the attached document. It is expected that the project will be procured under a single PPP contract using the negotiated procedure. Details of the final expected composition of the project will be confirmed in the Contract Notice.

It is anticipated that the project will be a Public Private Partnership of 25 years duration from service commencement date. It is expected that the project will be funded by private funding and payment will be made by monthly unitary payment subject to the terms and conditions of the contract.

The Government agreed that the tender documents may include provision for a fixed payment to be made to unsuccessful tenderers submitting a compliant bid. In addition, in the event that a project does not proceed to the award stage, fixed payment may be made to the three shortlisted tenderers.