Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has officially begun the process of inviting prospective bidders to participate in the first stage of the tendering process for the Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract forming part of the wider MetroLink programme.
An availability Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain (DBFOM) contract, the agreement will be awarded to a single consortium responsible for delivering specified railway works, together with the integrated operation and maintenance of the public passenger metro service (M500 Services) for a period of 25 years.
An artist’s impression of a MetroLink station
The PPP will not include major civil engineering and infrastructure works, which will instead form part of the wider MetroLink programme set to be delivered through non-PPP mechanisms.
TII has now issued the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) to the market, with this development marking a major milestone for MetroLink as it moves from project planning into procurement and delivery of Ireland’s largest public transport infrastructure project.
The process, which is being carried out by TII on behalf of MetroLink, follows a dedicated sequence of market engagements, which first began with the tendering of the Programme Delivery Partner (DPD) contract for essential professional services, including safety management, project management and site supervision. This was then followed by the commencement of the M100 contract to provide enabling works, and M400 contracts, to provide heavy civil engineering works, earlier this year.
Once completed, it is expected that the three highest ranked eligible applicants for the contract will be shortlisted and selected to proceed to the next stage of the competition.
Anne Shaw, CEO of the National Transport Authority, said:
I am very pleased to see this important project progressing, reflecting the strong and growing desire to progress this transformative project. MetroLink is a cornerstone of the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy (2022-2024) and a key component of the National Development Plan, strengthening connections across the wider Transport for Ireland network and enabling more sustainable travel for commuters, visitors and passengers.
The project has the potential to support housing delivery, economic growth and reduced emissions, while addressing long‑standing congestion challenges. Through this procurement, we welcome ambitious and experienced partners to be part of a once‑in‑a‑generation transport project and to play a vital, long‑term role in designing, building, operating and maintaining a system that will reshape mobility across Dublin and beyond.
In total, the contract scope is set to include:
- The design, supply, construction, operation, maintenance and financing of the metro rolling stock, signalling system at Grade of Operation 4, an automated railway (‘GoA4’)
- A railway depot and maintenance facility, park and ride facility, metro control centre building(s)
- All line-wide trackwork, overhead contact system, power and communication systems
- Mechanical and electrical systems including tunnel and station ventilation, people movement systems
- Construction of internal walls and secondary civil and building works within the shell and core structures of the underground stations
- The fit out and finishes in 16 stations (above and below ground) and design and construction of urban realm enhancements
- Operation and maintenance of all assets comprising MetroLink
- TII has also proposed awarding an Early Services Agreement to the Preferred Tenderer for the performance the Early Services during the Preferred Tenderer Stage
The procurement process itself will begin with a pre-qualification stage (PQQ), which represents the initial screening phase of the competition. This stage has been designed to assess a bidder’s capability, experience and capacity to deliver the contract before being invited to submit a full tender. Once the PQQ process has been completed, a shortlist of pre-qualified applicants will be invited to submit detailed tenders.
Currently, the estimated contract value stated within the contract notice is 7.3 billion EUR (excluding VAT) in Net Present Value (NPV) terms. The contract duration is expected to be circa 32 years, and consist of a works period of circa seven years for completion of the works; and a services period of 25 years for the operation and maintenance of the MetroLink assets.