Limerick Awards €1.09 Million Contract for Aerial Ladder Platform

Limerick City and County Council has awarded a €1.09 million contract to Emergency One (UK) Limited for the supply and delivery of a new Aerial Ladder Platform for Limerick Fire and Rescue Service. The contract, which received two bids, will provide the fire service with a critical piece of high-reach rescue and firefighting equipment.

Introduction

Fire and rescue services require specialised equipment to respond effectively to emergencies in multi-storey buildings and industrial settings. Aerial ladder platforms (ALPs) provide essential high-reach capabilities for rescue operations and firefighting at height.

Limerick City and County Council has awarded a €1.09 million contract to Emergency One (UK) Limited for the supply and delivery of a new Aerial Ladder Platform for Limerick Fire and Rescue Service. The contract, which received two bids, will replace or supplement the city's existing high-reach firefighting capabilities.

This investment ensures that Limerick's fire service can respond effectively to emergencies in the city's growing urban environment, including high-rise buildings and industrial facilities.

Why This Contract Matters

Aerial ladder platforms are essential for modern urban firefighting, enabling rescue operations from heights and providing elevated water streams for fire suppression. This contract ensures that Limerick Fire and Rescue Service can protect the city's residents, workers, and visitors.

This contract matters because it:

• Enables high-reach rescue: Provides capability to rescue people from multi-storey buildings
• Supports firefighting at height: Delivers elevated water streams for fire suppression
• Replaces aging equipment: Modernises Limerick's fire service fleet
• Significant investment: €1.09 million contract
• UK supplier: Emergency One is a leading UK manufacturer of firefighting vehicles
• Competitive process: Two bids received

Contract Timeline

• Contract award notice published: 10 August 2026 (OJ S 152/2026)
• Previous notice referenced: 4850bf39-40ee-4584-94e7-c1a6c718956a-01
• Winner chosen: 15 July 2026
• Contract concluded: 6 August 2026
• Coverage start date: Not specified
• Coverage end date: Not specified (estimated duration 24 months)

Contract Overview

Limerick City and County Council conducted an open procedure for this procurement. The contract covers the supply and delivery of a new Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) for Limerick Fire and Rescue Service.

Key features include:

• Single lot: Supply and delivery of aerial ladder platform
• Value: €1,087,285.00
• Evaluation: Cost (60%) and Quality (40%)
• Duration: Estimated 24 months
• Winner: Emergency One (UK) Limited
• No subcontracting: The winner will deliver the vehicle without subcontracting

Key Contract Details

Detail	Information
Contracting authority	Limerick City and County Council
Winning bidder	Emergency One (UK) Limited
Contract subject	Aerial Ladder Platform (CPV 34144213 Fire engines)
Procedure type	Open procedure
Legal basis	EU Directive 2014/24/EU
Awarded value (ex-VAT)	€1,087,285.00
Estimated value	€1,000,000.00
Contract duration	24 Months (estimated)
Bids received	2
EU funding	None
Covered by GPA	Yes
Winner chosen	15 July 2026
Contract signed	6 August 2026
Evaluation criteria	Cost (60%), Quality (40%)
Subcontracting	No

Project Scope

The contract covers the supply and delivery of a new Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) for Limerick Fire and Rescue Service. The scope includes:

Vehicle Specification

• Type: Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) fire engine
• Purpose: High-reach rescue and firefighting operations
• Key features:
  • High-reach ladder platform for rescue at height
  • Elevated water stream capability for firefighting
  • Compliance with fire service safety standards

Delivery

• Location: Limerick, Ireland
• Timeline: Estimated 24-month delivery period

About the Contracting Authority

Limerick City and County Council is the local authority for Limerick city and county in Ireland. The council is responsible for delivering public services, including fire and rescue services through Limerick Fire and Rescue Service. The fire service provides emergency response, fire suppression, rescue operations, and fire safety education to the community.

About the Winning Company

Emergency One (UK) Limited is a medium-sized UK-based manufacturer of firefighting and emergency vehicles. Headquartered in Cumnock, Scotland, Emergency One is a leading supplier of fire engines, aerial ladder platforms, and other specialist emergency vehicles. The company has extensive experience in supplying firefighting vehicles to fire services across the UK, Ireland, and internationally. Emergency One's winning bid of €1,087,285 was the successful tender among two bids received.

Procurement Analysis

• Procedure: An open procedure was used, allowing any interested economic operator to submit a tender.
• Competition: Two bids were received, representing a competitive field for a specialist firefighting vehicle procurement.
• Evaluation criteria: Cost (60%) and Quality (40%). The weighted evaluation balances cost with quality considerations.
• Value: The awarded value (€1,087,285) is slightly above the estimated value (€1,000,000), suggesting the final specification may have exceeded initial estimates.
• No subcontracting: Emergency One will deliver the vehicle without subcontracting.
• Duration: 24-month estimated duration.

Additional Procurement Facts

• The contract is covered by the WTO's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).
• No EU funds were used for this procurement.
• The procurement was not accelerated.
• No dynamic purchasing system was used.
• No framework agreement was used—this is a direct supply contract.
• Two bids were received.
• No subcontracting was declared by the winner.
• Disputes or review requests fall to The High Court of Ireland.
• The winner is a UK-based company, demonstrating cross-border participation.

Market & Industry Perspective

The market for firefighting vehicles is specialised, with a limited number of manufacturers capable of producing bespoke aerial ladder platforms. Key players in the UK and Irish market include Emergency One, Angloco, and other specialist manufacturers.

Key trends in this market include:

• Specialisation: Aerial ladder platforms are highly specialised vehicles
• Bespoke manufacturing: Vehicles are often custom-built to fire service specifications
• Long lead times: Manufacturing and delivery can take 12-24 months
• Cross-border procurement: Irish fire services often procure from UK manufacturers
• Cost-quality balance: Fire services balance cost with quality and safety

Economic Significance

At €1.09 million, this contract represents a significant investment in Limerick's emergency response capabilities. The new aerial ladder platform will:

• Enhance rescue capabilities: Enable rescue operations at height
• Improve firefighting: Provide elevated water streams for fire suppression
• Replace aging equipment: Modernise the fire service fleet
• Support public safety: Protect Limerick's residents, workers, and visitors

Future Procurement Opportunities

With the contract now awarded, future opportunities include:

• Maintenance contracts: Ongoing maintenance of the new vehicle
• Other fire vehicles: Other Irish fire services may procure similar vehicles
• Fleet replacement: Limerick may replace other firefighting vehicles in the future
• Related equipment: Additional fire and rescue equipment

Opportunities for Suppliers

While this contract is awarded, future opportunities exist for firefighting vehicle manufacturers:

• Other Irish fire services: Similar procurements are conducted by other Irish local authorities
• Maintenance contracts: Ongoing maintenance of the new vehicle
• Fleet replacement: Other fire services may replace vehicles
• Specialist equipment: Additional fire and rescue equipment

What Businesses Should Watch

• Other Irish local authorities' procurement notices for firefighting vehicles
• Limerick City and County Council's future procurement notices
• Fleet replacement cycles for fire services across Ireland
• Changes to fire service standards and regulations
• Emerging technologies in firefighting vehicles

IrelandTender Procurement Intelligence

This firefighting vehicle procurement is a straightforward but significant contract for Limerick's emergency services. Several features stand out:

• Specialised procurement: Aerial ladder platforms are highly specialised vehicles requiring expert manufacturing
• Balanced evaluation: The 60:40 cost-quality split reflects the importance of both cost and quality for safety-critical equipment
• Cross-border supplier: The UK-based winner demonstrates the importance of the European market for specialised vehicles
• No subcontracting: The winner will deliver the vehicle without subcontracting

For suppliers, this procurement highlights the importance of:

• Quality: Demonstrating quality and safety (40% of evaluation)
• Cost competitiveness: Cost accounts for 60% of evaluation
• Bespoke manufacturing: Ability to custom-build vehicles to fire service specifications
• Cross-border supply: UK suppliers can compete effectively in the Irish market

Supplier Takeaways

• Demonstrate quality and safety—40% of evaluation is quality-based
• Offer competitive pricing—cost accounts for 60%
• Show capability for bespoke, custom-built vehicles
• Monitor Irish local authority procurement notices for firefighting vehicle opportunities
• Build relationships with Irish fire services for future fleet replacement

Key Takeaways

• Limerick City and County Council awarded a €1.09 million contract for an Aerial Ladder Platform
• Winner: Emergency One (UK) Limited
• Project: Supply and delivery of a new aerial ladder platform for Limerick Fire and Rescue Service
• Evaluation: Cost (60%), Quality (40%)
• 2 bids received
• No subcontracting
• UK-based supplier demonstrates cross-border procurement
• Contract supports high-reach rescue and firefighting capabilities for Limerick

Conclusion

This contract represents a significant investment in Limerick's fire and rescue capabilities. The new aerial ladder platform will enhance the city's ability to respond to emergencies at height, protecting residents, workers, and visitors.

Emergency One (UK) Limited's successful bid demonstrates the company's expertise in manufacturing bespoke firefighting vehicles. The 60:40 cost-quality evaluation ensures that Limerick City and County Council receives both value for money and a high-quality, safe vehicle.

As Limerick continues to grow and develop, this investment in emergency services infrastructure will support the city's resilience and public safety for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the value of the contract?

Ans: €1,087,285.00 (excluding VAT).

Q: Who won the contract?

Ans: Emergency One (UK) Limited.

Q: What is being procured?

Ans: A new Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) for Limerick Fire and Rescue Service.

Q: What is an aerial ladder platform?

Ans: A specialised firefighting vehicle with a high-reach ladder platform for rescue operations and elevated water streams.

Q: What were the evaluation criteria?

Ans: Cost (60%) and Quality (40%).

Q: How many bids were received?

Ans: Two bids were received.

Q: Is this contract funded by the EU?

Ans: No, the procurement is not financed with EU funds.

Q: Where is the winner based?

Ans: The winner, Emergency One (UK) Limited, is based in Cumnock, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Source: EU Official Journal, Contract Award Notice 551271-2026, OJ S 152/2026, published 10 August 2026.