The plan-led approach to offshore renewable energy (ORE) adopted by Government and approved by the Oireachtas in 2023 requires that all post Phase One offshore wind developments in Ireland must be situated within Designated Maritime Area Plans, or DMAPs, with Ireland’s first ORE DMAP to be located off the South Coast. In Summer 2023 the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage designated me, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, as the Competent Authority for preparation of ORE DMAPand subsequent publication of a South Coast DMAP Proposal, a refined draft South Coast DMAP is currently being prepared by my Department.
The methodology to establish the South Coast DMAP comprises a number of distinct and complementary workstreams. These workstreams include comprehensive engagement with local communities and key stakeholders, with a more than nine-week period of consultation having taken place during August to October 2023, and a further statutory consultation to take place following draft DMAP publication.
Additional ongoing workstreams include analyses of environmental constraints and technical opportunities for offshore wind developments within the geographical area of the South Coast DMAP Proposal, which are being carried out by external expert consultancies. A further Request for Tender was launched by my Department in August 2023 for the supply and rights to publish legacy marine data relating to the geographical area of the South Coast DMAP Proposal. This resulted in the procurement of relevant data from one external company. No contracts have been awarded to carry out survey activity to inform the establishment of the South Coast DMAP. However, it is currently envisaged that the Marine Institute will conduct a geophysical survey on a number of the prospective ORE development sites identified within the draft DMAP following its forthcoming publication.
The details of all contracts awarded as part of the process to establish the South Coast DMAP, which in a number of instances also relate to establishment of further DMAPs, are listed in the attached table.
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Consultant
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Function/Services
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Contract Award Process
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Cost of Contract (excl. VAT)
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Duration
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RPS
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Appropriate Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Citizen Engagement for the establishment of the South Coast DMAP
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Multi Supplier Framework Agreement of Offshore Renewable Energy and Renewable Energy Consultancy RFT 233409 - (PAS126F) Lot 1
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€338,475.00
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July 2023 to July 2024 (option for 6-month extension)
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Fishery Liaisons Limited
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Fishery Liaison Officer for an initial 12-week consultation period for the South Coast DMAP
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3 Quote Tender
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€47,100.00
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August 2023 to November 2023
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Fishery Liaisons Limited
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Fishery Liaison Officer to ensure continuity of fisheries engagement on the South Coast DMAP as long-term contract was being prepared for open competition
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3 Quote Tender
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€19,400.00
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November 2023 to December 2023
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Fishery Liaisons Limited
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Fisheries Liaison Officer services to support DECC with engagement of fisheries throughout the process of preparing Offshore Renewable DMAP’s
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eTenders Open Competition 27 October 2023 to 27 November 2023
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€194,000.00
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January 2024 to January 2025 (option for 6-month extension)
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BVG Associates Ltd
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Ongoing marine engineering advisory services to inform offshore renewable energy spatial planning and policy on an ongoing basis
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Multi Supplier Framework Agreement of Offshore Renewable Energy and Renewable Energy Consultancy RFT 233409 - (PAS126F) Lot 1
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€959.66 (fixed daily rate). Anticipated 280 days over contract period and extension is €287,898.00
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November 2023 to November 2024 (option for 12-month extension)
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Philip Lee LLP
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Legal advisory services in the continued establishment of both the South Coast DMAP and with the establishment of subsequent future ORE DMAPs
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eTenders Open Competition from 27 October 2023 to 27 November 2023
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€205,500.00
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January 2024 to January 2026 (option for 6-month extension)
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Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions
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Procurement of geophysical data within the South Coast DMAP draft proposal area
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eTenders Open Competition from 04 August 2023 to 04 September 2023
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€205,000.00
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September 2023 to September 2026 (option for 12 months extension with a maximum of three such extensions)
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Total Approximate Costs
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€1,297,373.00
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