Roscommon County Council Secures €750,000 Framework for Architect-Led Design Team Services

A multi-supplier framework agreement for architect-led design team services worth up to €750,000 has been awarded by Roscommon County Council. The contract, won by Craftstudio Architecture, demonstrates how Irish local authorities are engaging professional design services to deliver social and affordable residential developments across County Roscommon.

Introduction

Every new social and affordable housing development in Ireland depends on professional design services to ensure quality, sustainability, and value for money. From initial concept to final completion, architect-led design teams play a critical role in delivering successful residential projects. Roscommon County Council has taken a significant step to ensure this expertise is available by awarding a new framework agreement for architect-led design team services.

While not a headline-grabbing infrastructure mega-project, this contract is fundamental to ensuring that social and affordable housing developments across County Roscommon are designed to the highest standards. It reveals a great deal about how Irish local authorities procure professional design services for housing delivery.

Why This Contract Matters

Roscommon County Council is responsible for providing social and affordable housing across County Roscommon, a rural county in the West of Ireland with a population of approximately 70,000 residents. The council is committed to delivering high-quality housing that meets the needs of its communities.

This framework agreement ensures that the council has access to pre-qualified, architect-led design teams who can deliver professional services for design-build housing developments. The framework covers all stages of the design and construction process (Stages i to v), from initial feasibility and planning through to construction and handover.

Contract Timeline

• Previous notice referenced: b17a48f9-d026-43d0-b19e-e428860864a1-02
• Contract award notice published: 29 July 2026 (OJ S 144/2026)
• Date winner chosen: 12 March 2026
• Contract concluded: 15 May 2026

Contract Overview

Roscommon County Council conducted an open procedure for a multi-supplier framework agreement for architect-led design team services for the provision of design-build social and affordable residential developments. The contract covers county-wide design-build housing delivery, including associated buildings such as community facilities.

The estimated value of the framework is €750,000. The contract duration is 4 years. The framework is a multi-supplier framework with reopening of competition for individual call-offs. The procurement received nine tenders, with Craftstudio Architecture selected as the sole winner.

Key Contract Details

Detail	Information
Contracting Authority	Roscommon County Council
Winning Bidder	Craftstudio Architecture
Contract Subject	Architectural, engineering and planning services (CPV 71240000)
Procedure Type	Open procedure
Legal Basis	Directive 2014/24/EU
Estimated Value (ex-VAT)	€750,000.00
Maximum Framework Value	€750,000.00
Contract Duration	4 Years
Award Criteria	MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender) – Quality-based
Bids Received	9
EU Funding	None disclosed
Covered by GPA	Yes
Review Organisation	The High Court of Ireland

Project Scope

The framework agreement covers architect-led design team services for the provision of design-build social and affordable residential developments. The scope includes:

• Architect-Led Design Team Services: Comprehensive architectural and design services for residential developments.
• Design-Build Housing Delivery: Professional services for design-build projects, including associated buildings such as community facilities.
• All Project Stages: Services covering Stages i to v of the design and construction process, from initial feasibility and planning through to construction and handover.
• County-Wide Coverage: Services to be provided across County Roscommon.

About the Contracting Authority

Roscommon County Council is the local authority responsible for the provision of services, including housing, infrastructure, and community development, across County Roscommon in the West of Ireland. With a population of approximately 70,000 residents, the council is committed to delivering high-quality social and affordable housing to meet the needs of its communities. The council's procurement function manages the acquisition of goods, services, and works on behalf of the authority.

About the Winning Company

Craftstudio Architecture is a small Irish architectural practice based in Monaghan, specialising in architectural design, planning, and project management services. The firm has extensive experience in delivering residential and community projects across Ireland, with a strong track record in the public sector. Craftstudio Architecture's expertise in architect-led design team services makes it well-suited to deliver the comprehensive services required by Roscommon County Council.

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. Nine tenders were received, indicating strong competition in the Irish architectural services market.

Competition: Nine bids were received for this framework, reflecting a healthy level of competition for public sector architectural services in Ireland.

Award Criteria: The MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender) criteria were used, with quality as the primary evaluation factor. The minimum quality threshold for each individual criterion was 40%, and the minimum overall quality threshold was 50%. This approach ensures that only high-quality proposals progress, with price being considered as part of the overall value assessment.

Framework Structure: The agreement is a multi-supplier framework with reopening of competition for individual call-offs. This structure provides flexibility for the council to award individual projects while maintaining a pool of pre-qualified suppliers.

Clean Vehicles Directive: The procurement falls within the scope of the Clean Vehicles Directive (2009/33/EC), with the council noting the requirement for clean vehicles in the delivery of services.

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.

Additional Procurement Facts

• Nine tenders were received for this procurement.
• The framework has a maximum value of €750,000 over 4 years.
• The award was based on MEAT criteria with a quality threshold of 50%.
• The procurement falls within the scope of the Clean Vehicles Directive.
• No EU funding was used for this procurement.
• Disputes or review requests fall to The High Court of Ireland.

Market & Industry Perspective

The Irish architectural services market is competitive, with numerous practices offering design services for the public sector. The nine bids received for this framework reflect a healthy level of competition.

The MEAT quality-based award criteria, with minimum quality thresholds, ensure that the council selects service providers with proven capabilities. This approach recognises the importance of design quality in delivering successful housing developments.

The inclusion of the Clean Vehicles Directive reflects the growing importance of environmental sustainability in Irish public procurement, even for professional services.

Economic Significance

At up to €750,000 over 4 years, this framework agreement represents a significant investment in professional design services for social and affordable housing in County Roscommon. The contract ensures that housing developments are designed to high standards, delivering quality homes for residents.

For Craftstudio Architecture, the framework provides a stable, multi-year revenue stream and the opportunity to deliver housing projects across the county.

Future Procurement Opportunities

This framework agreement covers design team services through approximately 2030. Related procurement opportunities may include:

• Individual project call-offs under the framework
• Specialist engineering and planning services
• Construction and works contracts for housing developments
• Other housing and community infrastructure projects

Opportunities for Suppliers

Architectural practices active in the Irish public sector should note the importance of meeting quality thresholds in MEAT-based procurement. The minimum quality threshold of 50% means that suppliers must demonstrate strong design capabilities and project management expertise to compete.

Key success factors include: strong design portfolio, proven experience in residential and community projects, robust project management capabilities, and the ability to deliver architect-led design team services.

What Businesses Should Watch

• Individual call-offs under this framework from Roscommon County Council.
• Similar housing framework opportunities from other Irish local authorities.
• The evolution of housing delivery requirements and design standards.
• Opportunities for subcontracting with Craftstudio Architecture.

IrelandTender Procurement Intelligence

This contract is a useful case study in how Irish local authorities procure professional design services for social and affordable housing delivery. Roscommon County Council has secured a €750,000 framework for architect-led design team services, with Craftstudio Architecture selected through a quality-focused open procedure.

The most notable feature of this tender is the MEAT quality-based award criteria with minimum quality thresholds (40% per criterion, 50% overall). This approach ensures that only high-quality proposals progress, with price being considered as part of the overall value assessment. For professional services like architecture, quality is paramount to delivering successful housing developments, and the council has prioritised this appropriately.

The nine bids received reflect strong competition in the Irish architectural services market, demonstrating that there is significant interest in public sector housing work.

The inclusion of the Clean Vehicles Directive in the procurement documentation reflects the growing importance of environmental sustainability in Irish public procurement, even for professional services where vehicle use may be limited.

For suppliers, the lesson is that quality and proven capability are critical success factors in architectural services procurement. Firms that can demonstrate strong design portfolios, relevant experience, and robust project management capabilities are best positioned for these frameworks, even if they are not the lowest-cost bidders.

Supplier Takeaways

• Quality is the primary evaluation factor (MEAT with 50% minimum quality threshold).
• Proven experience in residential and community projects is essential.
• Strong design portfolio and project management capabilities are critical.
• Multi-supplier frameworks offer ongoing opportunities through call-offs.
• Clean Vehicles Directive compliance is increasingly relevant.
• Strong competition (9 bids) requires differentiation on quality.

Key Takeaways

• Roscommon County Council awarded a €750,000 framework for architect-led design team services to Craftstudio Architecture.
• The contract covers design-build social and affordable residential developments across County Roscommon.
• Award criteria: MEAT (quality-based with minimum 50% quality threshold).
• Nine bids were received, with a small Irish architectural practice winning.
• Contract duration: 4 Years.
• The framework supports the delivery of high-quality social and affordable housing in County Roscommon.

Conclusion

This is not a contract that will make national headlines, but it reflects something structurally important about how Irish local authorities procure professional design services for housing delivery. By awarding a €750,000 framework for architect-led design team services to Craftstudio Architecture, Roscommon County Council ensures that its social and affordable housing developments are designed to the highest standards. The contract demonstrates the importance of quality in professional services procurement, the value of multi-supplier frameworks, and the growing role of sustainability in public procurement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Roscommon County Council?

It is the local authority responsible for providing services, including housing and community development, across County Roscommon in the West of Ireland.

Q: What does this framework cover?

It covers architect-led design team services for the provision of design-build social and affordable residential developments across County Roscommon.

Q: Who is the winning bidder?

Craftstudio Architecture, a small Irish architectural practice based in Monaghan.

Q: What is the value of this framework?

The estimated value is €750,000 over 4 years.

Q: Is this contract funded by the EU?

No. The notice confirms the project is not financed with EU funds, though it is governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU.

Source: EU Official Journal, Contract Award Notice 522866-2026, OJ S 144/2026, published 30 July 2026.