Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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158. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the grant of tender award for development of a second cath laboratory at UHW before Christmas 2020 or sooner (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30915/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of a second Cath lab in University Hospital Waterford. As set out in the Health Service Executive’s options appraisal, the preferred option for development of a second Cath laboratory at UHW is for a lab and associated 12 bed day ward (delivering six additional beds) on the roof of the existing Cardiology Department, which will operate five days per week and provide diagnostic services only.

The HSE has advised that funding was allocated in the Capital Plan for the provision of a second Cath lab at UHW and planning permission was received from Waterford City and County Council in January 2020. The Disability Access certificate was granted on 23^rdApril 2020. The Fire certificate was granted on 30^thJune 2020. Preparation of contract documentation commenced, and contractor selection is complete subject to a cooling off period. The project went to tender on the 30^thSeptember.

The Procurement process is as per the Government / OGP Construction Procurement Guidelines. The Tender process being used is a 2 Stage process, whereby Main Contractors are first Tendered (using Indicated, Estimated Figures for Specialist Works). The Specialist Works (Mainly Mechanical & Electrical) are then Tendered separately and the successful Specialists are Novated to the selected Main Contractor at their Tendered figures. This 2 stage process is used where the Specialist Works form a large part of the Construction Cost or where particularly difficult Specialist Works are envisaged.?

The HSE require their design team to conclude a comprehensive tender review and assessment process to ensure the tenders received represent value for money and that tender returns are in line with HSE requirements. There is a period of time required prior to issue of the Letter of Intent (LoI) to clarify contract award queries. There is also a mandatory 2-week cooling off period post Letter of Intent (LoI) being issued to unsuccessful contractors prior to awarding the contract.?

Because of the time taken to run these Tender competitions in Series and the time for Tender clarifications and Assessment, at each stage, the process normally takes about 4 months to complete and is expected to be completed at end of Q4 2020.

The works to the new Cath laboratory are due to commence in Q1 of 2021 with a proposed 12-month build.