The National Transport Authority (NTA) has launched a tender for the design of bus depot facilities which could cost anywhere from €45 million to €60 million, excluding construction costs.
According to a contract notice published by the NTA earlier this month, the Authority is seeking a Multi-Disciplinary Design Services Partner (MDDSP) to oversee the development of new or enhanced bus depots across Ireland. The notice specifies the design services will encompass everything from site selection and planning through to construction “oversight”, although the physical building work itself is not included in this figure.
The tender outlines the need to significantly expand current bus depot capacity due to Ireland’s climate targets and national plans to transition from diesel-fuelled buses to zero-emission ones.
“National policies and strategies for the decarbonisation of the transport system includes plans to significantly expand bus services and transition the bus and coach fleet away from diesel fuelled buses to zero emission technologies,” the tender document states.
“In order to support both the expansion and transition to zero emission buses, it is necessary for the Authority to consider the supporting bus depot facilities that are required to deliver an efficient and effective bus system. The current level of bus depot provision will require significant expansion.
“It will be necessary to ensure adequate provision of electric charging infrastructure at depot locations while also considering the appropriate location of depots to reduce the impact of out of service mileage on the operation of electric bus fleets.”
The estimated value of the framework agreement for these design services is €45 million, with the maximum possible expenditure set at €60 million, not including VAT. The agreement will initially last four years from October 2025, with an option to extend annually for a further two years.
Interested parties are told to submit their proposals by April 11th, 2025, and the selected design partner will be responsible for guiding the depot projects to support Ireland’s wider public transport expansion and decarbonisation goals.
The National Transport Authority has been contacted with several questions about the project, though no reply was received.