The HSE is looking to hire external experts to provide fire safety consultancy advice, this newspaper can report.
According to tender documents, the cost of the framework agreement over a four-year period is approximately €125,000.
“This national framework agreement is designed to support both the interim and longer term requirements of the HSE with regard to any future reconfigurations,” according to the HSE.
Appointees to the framework will be invited to tender by means of a mini-competition and will be requested to meet service needs throughout the lifetime of the agreement, which will initially cover a two-year period.
It is envisaged that “a very substantial amount of the HSE’s requirements” in terms of fire safety will be obtained through this framework agreement.
The four ‘lots’ to this framework agreement are: Leinster (lot 1); Ulster (lot 2); Connaught (lot 3); and Munster (lot 4).
The Medical Independent (MI) has previously reported how an external cladding system evaluation group was established by the HSE following the Grenfell tower fire in London and first met in July 2017.
The group identified that the cladding system to be investigated would be in buildings over six floors or 18 metres in height; and all other residential buildings.
Regarding the first category, surveys indicated that buildings of six floors or more or over 18 metres existed on only five acute hospital campuses – Cork University Hospital; University Hospital Limerick; Galway University Hospital; Sligo University Hospital; and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.
The HSE has stated that final fire safety reports have now been received on all locations except Galway, which is expected shortly.
“A programme of on-site testing will commence over the next few months,” an Executive spokesperson told MI.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.