Expressions of Interest to sell land in Inishowen

Donegal County Council is inviting expressions of interest from landowners in the Buncrana  / Kinnego / Umrycam Areas to sell land for an Operational Depot within 5 km of Buncrana / Cockhill.

1. Introduction:

Donegal County Council is considering providing an Operational Depot somewhere in the Buncrana  / Kinnego / Umrycam Area’s. Expressions of Interest are hereby sought from landowner(s) who have suitable lands available within 5km of Buncrana / Cockhill which they would consider selling to the Council.

2. Expressions of Interest:

Expressions of Interest must be made in writing, in a sealed envelope marked;

“Expression of Interest for sale of Land (Buncrana / Cockhill) to Donegal County Council” F.A.O. Council Secretariat, Corporate Services, First Floor, County House, Lifford, Co. Donegal F93 Y622.

and must be received in Donegal County Council’s offices by 4.00pm on Friday, 5th April 2019.

All submissions should include the following information:

• Details of Landowner:
  • Name
  • Address
  • Contact details (phone & email)
• Land Ownership Details;
• Site location details including site location map and site area. (min scale 1:2500);
• Description of existing site conditions (incl. ground conditions);
• Asking Price;
• Date the land can be available from.

3. Suitability Criteria:

Proposed lands for sale must meet the following minimum criteria:

• Size must be a minimum of 2 acres;
• Be relatively level;
• Have access to a land drainage outlet;
• Be free from Invasive Plant Species (such as Japanese Knotweed);
• Be within an acceptable distance (100m) of 100mm diameter water supply;
• Be capable of being serviced by electricity supply and telecommunications;
• Have a minimum 5m wide access to the Regional or Local Road Network ;
• Have a site entrance capable of achieving the minimum vision lines and entrance requirements set out in the ‘Donegal County Development Plan 2018-2022 Part B: Appendix 3 – Development Guidelines & Technical Standards’;
• Minimum distance from nearest dwelling to be approx 200m;
• Be of rectangular / trapezoidal shape.

4. Selection Criteria:

When assessing submissions Donegal County Council will consider the following:

• Level of compliance to the Suitability Criteria above.
• Proposed asking price.
• Additional information at the discretion of the Local Authority based on quality and any other reasonable factor that is applicable to the land in question.

5. Cost of Preparation of Submission:

All costs and expenses incurred by Applicants relating to this submission and including any other costs, is to be considered as work at risk and no recovery of any costs from Donegal County Council will be entertained. Donegal County Council have no financial liability prior to signing of the contract. Applicants are advised not to make a submission if this condition is considered unacceptable.

6. Confidentiality:

Donegal County Council will use its best efforts to hold confidential the proposed asking price provided by submission / expression of interest subject to their obligation under law, including the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and 2003. Donegal County Council will consult with Applicants about sensitive information before making a decision on any FOI request received. Similarly, Donegal County Council requires that all information provided pursuant to this invitation will be treated in strict confidence. The submission(s) / expression of interest(s) will be considered by Donegal County Council staff and any site deemed potentially feasible may be discussed with the elected representatives in a public forum.

7. Irish Legislation:

Applicants should be aware that national legislation applies in other matters such as Official Secrets, Data Protection and Health and Safety. People making a submission must have regard to statutory terms relating to minimum pay and to legally binding industrial or sectoral agreements in preparing submissions.

8. Meetings:

Donegal County Council reserve the right to meet with people making the submission if considered necessary for the purposes of clarification of information received as part of the submission.

9. Conflict of Interest:

Any conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest on the part of an Applicant, individual employees, agents, or subcontractors of an Applicant must be fully disclosed to Donegal County Council as soon as the conflict or potential conflict is (or becomes) apparent. In the event of any conflict or potential conflict of interest, Donegal County Council may invite Applicants to propose means by which the conflict might be removed. Donegal County Council will, at its absolute discretion, decide on the appropriate course of action, which may in appropriate circumstances include eliminating an Applicant from the process.

10. Applicant Exclusion:

An Applicant may be excluded if, to Donegal County Council’s knowledge at the time of the decision, the Applicant has been convicted of an offence involving participation in a prescribed criminal organisation or corruption or fraud or money laundering.

An applicant may be excluded if the Applicant:

• is subject to a bankruptcy or insolvency procedure or process of a kind specified in Regulation 53, paragraph (5) of the European Communities (Award of Public Authorities’ Contracts) Regulations 2006 or
• has been found guilty of professional misconduct by a competent authority that is authorised by law to hear and determine allegations of professional misconduct against persons that include the Applicant or
• has committed grave professional misconduct provable by means that the Donegal County Council can demonstrate or
• has not fulfilled an obligation to pay a social security contribution as required by a law of Ireland or the country or territory where the Applicant ordinarily resides or carries on business or
• has not fulfilled an obligation to pay a tax or levy imposed by or under a law of Ireland or the country or territory where the Applicant ordinarily resides or carries on business or
• has provided a statement or information to Donegal County Council or another such authority knowing it to be false or misleading, or has failed to provide to Donegal County Council or another such authority a statement or information that is reasonably required by Donegal County Council or other authority for the purpose of making the decision concerned.

11. Queries:

Queries can be made to the Senior Executive Engineer, Roads & Transportation Services, via email [email protected]. Any queries that give rise to any new information or clarification may be issued to all applicants depending on relevance. The identity of the Applicant who raised the initial query shall not be disclosed to other interested parties.

12. Contract:

Subject to contract / contract denied the acceptance of any proposal(s) by Donegal County Council shall be subject to the final negotiation and agreement of satisfactory terms of contract with the Applicant(s) and subject to availability of funding.