Ireland's HSE Secures €50 Million Framework for Fire Safety Consultant Services for Major Capital Works

A multi-party framework agreement for fire safety consultant services worth up to €50 million has been awarded by Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE). The contract, won by four leading fire safety consultancies including Arup, Michael Slattery Associates, and ORS, demonstrates how Ireland's health service is prioritizing patient and staff safety in its major capital works programme.

Introduction

Every hospital, primary care centre, and health facility in Ireland must meet the highest standards of fire safety to protect patients, staff, and visitors. As the HSE embarks on major capital works projects valued between €50 million and €400 million, ensuring these facilities are designed with fire safety at their core is essential. The HSE has taken a significant step to address this by awarding a new multi-party framework agreement for fire safety consultant services.

While not a headline-grabbing infrastructure deal, this contract is fundamental to ensuring that Ireland's new health facilities are safe, compliant, and resilient. It reveals a great deal about how Ireland's health service is embedding safety and risk management into its capital investment programme.

Why This Contract Matters

The HSE Dublin and South-East health region is responsible for providing health and social care services to a population of over 1.5 million people across South-East Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, and most areas of Wicklow. As the region develops new health facilities, the need for expert fire safety consultant services is critical.

By structuring this procurement as a multi-party framework agreement, the HSE ensures that it has access to a pool of pre-qualified, expert fire safety consultants who can be called upon as individual projects arise. This approach reduces procurement time, ensures consistency in safety standards, and delivers better value for money.

Contract Timeline

• Previous notice referenced: 26f10da5-7892-4260-a82d-afe47e3de6c5-01
• Contract award notice published: 17 July 2026 (OJ S 136/2026)
• Contracts concluded: 14 July 2026

Contract Overview

The HSE conducted an open procedure for a multi-party framework agreement for fire safety consultant services for major capital works. The contract covers projects valued between €50 million and €400 million (excluding VAT) in the HSE Dublin and South East health region, excluding St Vincent's University Hospital and St Michael's Hospital.

The total estimated value of the framework agreement is €40 million, with a maximum value of €50 million. The contract duration is 48 months. The award criteria were weighted: quality (70%) and cost (30%), reflecting the HSE's emphasis on fire safety expertise and technical excellence.

Key Contract Details

Detail	Information
Contracting Authority	Health Service Executive (HSE)
Winning Bidders	Michael Slattery Associates, Arup, Maurice Johnson and Partners, ORS
Contract Subject	Fire safety consultant services (CPV 75251110)
Procedure Type	Open procedure
Legal Basis	Directive 2014/24/EU
Estimated Value (ex-VAT)	€40,000,000.00
Maximum Framework Value	€50,000,000.00
Duration	48 Months
Project Value Range	€50m - €400m (ex-VAT)
Award Criteria	Quality (70%), Cost (30%)
Bids Received	4
EU Funding	None disclosed
Covered by GPA	Yes
Review Organisation	The High Court of Ireland

Project Scope

The framework agreement covers fire safety consultant services for major capital works in the HSE Dublin and South East health region. The services include fire-prevention services (CPV 75251110), architectural and related services (CPV 71200000), mechanical and electrical engineering services (CPV 71334000), civil engineering consultancy services (CPV 71311000), structural engineering consultancy services (CPV 71312000), and engineering design services for mechanical and electrical installations for buildings (CPV 71321000).

The framework is specifically for projects with values between €50 million and €400 million (excluding VAT), covering the entire project lifecycle from initial design through to completion. The region served includes South-East Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, and most areas of Wicklow.

About the Contracting Authority

Health Service Executive (HSE) is the body responsible for providing health and social care services in Ireland. It manages the largest capital investment programme in the Irish health sector, developing new hospitals, primary care centres, and other health facilities. The HSE's Dublin and South-East region serves a population of over 1.5 million people, making it one of the largest health regions in the country. This procurement was managed through the HSE's procurement function, based at Oak House, Millennium Park, Naas, Co. Kildare.

About the Winning Companies

Michael Slattery Associates is a small Irish fire safety and building services consultancy based in Dublin. With extensive experience in fire safety engineering, the firm specializes in fire safety design, risk assessment, and compliance for complex buildings, including healthcare facilities.

Arup is a large international engineering and design consultancy, with a significant presence in Dublin. As one of the world's leading engineering firms, Arup brings global expertise in fire safety engineering, building design, and major capital project delivery. The company has extensive experience in the healthcare sector.

Maurice Johnson and Partners is a small Irish fire safety and building services consultancy based in Dublin. The firm specializes in fire safety engineering, building regulations compliance, and fire risk assessment, with a strong track record in public sector and healthcare projects.

ORS is a medium-sized Irish engineering and project management consultancy based in Mullingar, with offices across Ireland. The firm provides a wide range of engineering services, including fire safety consulting, building services engineering, and project management for the public sector.

Procurement Analysis

Procedure: An open procedure was used, which is the most transparent and inclusive method under EU law, allowing any interested supplier to submit a bid. Four tenders were received, all submitted electronically.

Competition: Four bids were received, and all four bidders were successful in securing a place on the framework. This indicates a strong competitive field of fire safety consultancies in Ireland, with all qualifying firms being awarded contracts.

Award Criteria: Quality was weighted at 70%, while cost was weighted at 30%. This heavy emphasis on quality reflects the HSE's priority on fire safety expertise, technical excellence, and proven delivery capability over the lowest price.

Framework Structure: The agreement is structured as a framework agreement, partly without reopening of competition and partly with reopening of competition. This hybrid structure allows the HSE to directly award certain call-offs while retaining the option to run mini-competitions for more complex or specific fire safety requirements.

Project Value Range: The framework covers projects valued between €50 million and €400 million, targeting the HSE's largest and most significant capital investments where fire safety design has the greatest impact on patient and staff safety.

Strategic Procurement: While the procurement is not classified as strategic procurement, the quality-weighted criteria and focus on fire safety align with broader Irish government objectives for safe and resilient healthcare infrastructure.

GPA Status: The procurement is covered by the World Trade Organization's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), meaning it was, in principle, open to qualifying international bidders. However, all winning bidders were Irish companies.

Additional Procurement Facts

• The framework covers the HSE Dublin and South East health region, excluding St Vincent's University Hospital and St Michael's Hospital.
• The contract duration is 48 months.
• Four tenders were received, all submitted electronically.
• All four winning bidders were Irish companies, ranging from small to large enterprises.
• Subcontracting status for all winners is "not yet known."
• The contract is not financed with EU funds.
• Disputes or review requests fall to The High Court of Ireland.

Market & Industry Perspective

The fire safety consultancy market in Ireland is specialized and highly regulated, with firms requiring deep expertise in building regulations, fire safety codes, and healthcare-specific safety requirements. This framework agreement is a prime example of how the health service is strategically procuring specialist safety expertise to ensure its new facilities meet the highest fire safety standards.

The weighting of the award criteria (70% quality, 30% cost) reflects the critical importance of fire safety in healthcare facilities. Patient safety, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience are prioritized over cost, rewarding consultancies with deep technical expertise and proven track records in the health sector.

The multi-party framework structure—with four winners—ensures that the HSE has a diverse pool of expertise to draw upon, allowing for competition on individual projects while maintaining the efficiency of a framework agreement.

Economic Significance

With a maximum value of €50 million, this framework agreement represents a substantial financial commitment and provides significant economic security for the four winning consultancies. It ensures a predictable revenue stream and the stability to plan resources, invest in talent, and develop innovative fire safety solutions for the health sector.

For the HSE, the framework agreement is expected to generate value through reduced procurement costs, consistent safety standards, and the delivery of fire-safe facilities that protect patients, staff, and visitors.

Future Procurement Opportunities

This framework agreement covers the HSE Dublin and South East region. Other HSE regions may adopt similar frameworks for fire safety consultant services on their own cycles, creating opportunities for consultancies to expand their public sector portfolios.

Beyond this specific framework, the HSE has a significant pipeline of capital projects, including new hospitals, primary care centres, and community facilities. This framework will be a primary mechanism for procuring fire safety consultancy services for major projects, and consultancies not on this framework may need to seek subcontracting opportunities or await future framework renewals.

Opportunities for Suppliers

Fire safety consultancies active in the Irish public sector should note that this framework is part of a broader trend of centralizing and professionalizing the procurement of specialist safety services. The emphasis on quality (70%) over cost (30%) rewards consultancies with strong technical credentials, proven health sector experience, and innovative fire safety expertise.

For firms not currently on this framework, opportunities may arise through subcontracting with the four winning consultancies, or by positioning for future framework renewals and expansions to other HSE regions.

What Businesses Should Watch

• How the HSE distributes call-offs across the four winners, which will determine the real financial value each consultancy receives.
• Whether other HSE regions adopt similar multi-party frameworks for fire safety consultant services.
• The specific fire safety standards and requirements embedded in call-offs, which may signal evolving regulatory expectations.
• Opportunities for subcontracting or teaming with the four framework winners on specific projects.

IrelandTender Procurement Intelligence

This contract is a useful case study in how Ireland's HSE is modernizing its approach to major capital projects. By establishing a multi-party framework agreement for fire safety consultant services, the HSE has created a streamlined, efficient mechanism for procuring specialist safety expertise for its largest and most significant capital investments.

The most interesting signal is the 70% weighting for quality. This confirms that for complex professional services focused on safety and compliance, price is becoming a secondary consideration. The focus is on the ability to deliver high-quality fire safety designs that will protect patients, staff, and visitors over the long term. This shift rewards consultancies that invest in technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and innovative safety solutions.

The hybrid framework structure—partly without reopening and partly with reopening of competition—also reflects a maturing procurement approach. It offers the HSE the flexibility to award routine work directly while retaining the option to run competitive mini-procurements for more complex or innovative fire safety requirements.

For suppliers, the lesson is that competing on technical excellence, health sector expertise, and safety innovation—not just price—is what wins these tenders. Consultancies that can demonstrate strong fire safety credentials and proven delivery on major capital projects are best positioned as the HSE and other public bodies renew similar frameworks over the coming years.

Supplier Takeaways

• Fire safety consultant services frameworks across Irish public bodies follow a recurring, region-by-region cycle, worth mapping for pipeline visibility.
• Quality was weighted higher than cost in this award; suppliers should lead proposals with technical excellence and safety expertise.
• Multi-party framework structures allow multiple consultancies to participate, offering opportunities for both small and large firms.
• Hybrid framework agreements (partly without reopening, partly with reopening) offer a balance of stability and flexibility for suppliers.
• Health sector expertise and proven major capital project delivery are critical success factors.

Key Takeaways

• HSE awarded a multi-party framework agreement for fire safety consultant services worth up to €50 million.
• Four winners were selected: Michael Slattery Associates, Arup, Maurice Johnson and Partners, and ORS.
• The framework covers projects valued between €50 million and €400 million in the HSE Dublin and South East region.
• Award criteria: quality (70%) and cost (30%).
• Contract duration is 48 months.
• All winning bidders are Irish companies, ranging from small to large enterprises.

Conclusion

This is not a contract that will make national headlines, but it reflects something structurally important about how Ireland's health service is planning for safe and resilient healthcare infrastructure. By establishing a multi-party framework agreement for fire safety consultant services, the HSE has ensured that its major capital projects will be designed to the highest fire safety standards, protecting patients, staff, and visitors for decades to come. Four leading consultancies—Michael Slattery Associates, Arup, Maurice Johnson and Partners, and ORS—now carry this responsibility through 2030.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Health Service Executive (HSE)?

It is the body responsible for providing health and social care services in Ireland, managing the largest capital investment programme in the Irish health sector.

Q: What does this framework cover?

It covers fire safety consultant services for major capital works in the HSE Dublin and South East region, including fire-prevention services, architectural services, and engineering design services.

Q: What is the value of this framework?

The estimated value is €40 million, with a maximum value of €50 million over the 48-month duration.

Q: Why was quality weighted higher than cost?

The HSE prioritized quality (70%) over cost (30%) to ensure that facilities are designed to the highest fire safety standards, protecting patients, staff, and visitors.

Q: Is this contract open to international bidders?

Yes, the procurement is covered by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), making it theoretically open to qualifying international bidders. However, all winning bidders were Irish companies.

Source: EU Official Journal, Contract Award Notice 494072-2026, OJ S 136/2026, published 17 July 2026.