An advertisement was placed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in the national newspapers and in the Official Journal of the European Union seeking Expressions of Interest from experienced developers/contractors who wished to be considered in connection with the provision of office accommodation for the Department of Education & Science in Mullingar. This is part of a major PPP project which also involves the provision of office accommodation for the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment in Carlow and the Department of Agriculture and Food in Portlaoise. The project will be procured on a Design/Build/ Finance/Maintain basis and a single contract will be placed covering the three buildings. Financial advice is being provided to the OPW by the National Development Finance Agency.
Evaluation of the Expressions of Interest received is nearing completion and the OPW expects to be in a position to invite tenders in the very near future. When selected, it will be a matter for the preferred tenderer to secure a satisfactory planning permission in respect of each of the locations. On receipt of satisfactory planning permissions, the preferred tenderer will be instructed to prepare working drawings, specifications and Bills of Quantities with a view to a contract being placed and construction work commencing on the three sites. Construction is expected to be completed in 2009.
At present, there are no plans to provide temporary advance accommodation for the Department of Education & Science in Mullingar.