BIM wishes to invite tenders for the provision of transportation and storage services for large and irregularly sized goods. The contracting authority requires a comprehensive transport and lifting service capable of handling large, irregular and occasionally oversized goods throughout the island of Ireland. The service must support both scheduled and “just in time” delivery arrangements, including situations where delivery timings depend on external factors such as weather and tidal conditions. Flexibility will be crucial, as transport may be required at short notice, with less than 48 hours’ lead-time. Transport must be provided using a flatbed vehicle or with curtain sides and a minimum trailer length of 40 feet. Each movement is expected to involve a full load, and items being transported are generally irregular in shape and may also include palletised loads, 10ft containers or 20ft containers Goods will be collected and delivered to locations anywhere within Ireland, including but not limited to Dublin, Cork, Donegal and Galway. Some loads may be oversized, and in such cases the provision of escort vehicles will be necessary. The Tenderer must hold all the relevant licences from the Department of Transport for carrying heavy goods throughout the Island of Ireland. The ability to lift and drop these items is of paramount importance. It must be assumed that there are no lifting facilities at either the pick-up or drop off locations. Crane services must accompany the transport operation. The crane must be capable of lifting 3,000 kilograms at a reach of 19 metres. For lighter items of approximately 700 kilograms, lifting distances of up to 35 metres will be required. A qualified crane operator must be supplied for all lifting activities, and the crane will be required for loading and unloading at all collection and delivery points. Temporary storage may be required during transport or for periods of up to six months. Storage facilities must provide at least 1,000 square metres of secure space to accommodate the expected volume and nature of the items. It is anticipated that approximately ten lifts and ten drops will be required each year. For further information on this tender competition, please see the accompanying tender documents.