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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, invites Private Veterinary Practitioners to consider registering for a process whereby appropriately qualified vets may be contracted for Border Inspection Post (BIP) duty as part of the Department’s Brexit contingency planning.

This initiative forms part of a broader response by the Department to resource the contingencies that may arise as a result of Brexit over the near and longer term, which also includes external recruitment through our partners in the Public Appointments Service as well as redeployment of existing staff within the Department.

It is envisaged that successful veterinary practitioners engaged under this process may be deployed at Dublin and Rosslare Ports, should the need arise. Depending on evolving import and export patterns, there may be potential for engagement at further Border Inspection Posts in the future, for example at Shannon or elsewhere.

Veterinary practitioners who wish to be engaged for contracted BIP Veterinary Inspection Services must complete a two stage process, both of which are completed through the State Procurement Website https://www.etenders.gov.ie, on which this tender is advertised.

Everyone in Government and beyond would wish that no-deal Brexit plans and contingencies remain on the shelf. It is appropriate however that solutions are put in place that can address all potential contingencies. In that respect arrangements such as this will afford the Department the appropriate flexibility and latitude in addressing the situation as it evolves, taking both the specific situation that prevails and  value for money into account.

Notes for Editors

Genral Information

• A DPS is an electronic system used to purchase services, and is hosted on eTenders.
• The initial stage involves application, through e-tenders, to the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of Border Inspection Post Veterinary Inspection Services (BIP Veterinary Inspection Services). The next stage of the process, following successful admittance to the DPS, involves mini-competitions for the provision of the required services which will be notified to successful applicants who may choose to tender for such competitions.

• Applicants may seek admittance to the DPS. Subsequently, mini-competitions for the provision of the required services (in this instance BIP Veterinary Inspection Services) will be notified to successful applicants who may choose to tender for the specific competition, which will be aligned to the requirements of the contracting party at any given time. 

Current Process

• The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has established a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of Border Inspection Post Veterinary Inspection Services (BIP Veterinary Inspection Services).
• The Department invites responses from veterinary practitioners/surgeons to a request for qualification in the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for subsequent participation in mini-competitions for the provision of Veterinary Inspection Services at approved Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) or locations associated with BIPs in Ireland.
• For further information, including guidance regarding the process, see under Current Tenders at https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/tenders/ and also www.etenders.gov.ie where the tender documents can be downloaded.
• The request for tender (RFT) reference is RFT 146778.
• In terms of initial phase requirements regarding the DPS for the provision of BIP Veterinary Inspection Services, applicants must hold a veterinary qualification (MVB/ MRCVS), or hold a qualification which will be acceptable as being equivalent, and must be registered or be eligible for registration with the Veterinary Council of Ireland (and register prior to signature of any tender awarded).
• During the term of any contract awarded as part of this DPS, the contractor will be part of a team involved in protecting public health, animal health and animal welfare in any one of Ireland’s approved border inspection posts or any location associated with the operation of approved BIPs in Ireland including, but not limited to, Dublin Port, Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport and Rosslare Port.
• Contractors will be required to attend on a shift basis that will include out of hours and weekend work. Contract terms will vary on a contract by contract basis.
• The process is open to suitably qualified veterinary practitioners including private practitioners, who will be engaged on a contracted basis in 4 or 8 hour shift patterns up to a maximum of 40 hours per week for a pre-determined period. The rate of payment for these contracted services will be €42.99 per hour, which is aligned to the rate already paid by DAFM to Locum Tenens (LT) veterinary inspectors, who are contracted to ensure business continuity in situations or circumstances where unforeseen resource constraints emerge.
• For full details of this DPS, including a sample services contract, suitably qualified individuals should register on eTenders and view the DPS (request for tender reference RFT 146778).