The Central Bank is set to spend an estimated €20 million on an architect-led Integrated Design Team (IDT) for the design, construction and delivery of a critical piece of State infrastructure, a new high security Cash Centre.
The Central Bank has operated the existing national Irish cash centre on a site in Sandyford, Dublin 18 since the 1970s.
The Sandyford Cash Centre is the second highest security complex in the State and possesses a Tier 1 security designation where there is a permanent presence by both the Irish army and An Garda Siochána.
Arising from a strategic review of its cash centre operations at the Sandyford Cash Centre, the Central Bank has decided to construct a new cash centre in an alternative - and as yet unknown - site, currently anticipated to be located in the greater Dublin area.
Once the new Cash Centre is constructed and fully operational, the Sandyford Cash Centre will be decommissioned.
Earlier this year, the Cabinet approved the transfer of the State owned land at the Sandyford Cash Centre to the Land Development Agency (LDA) for housing.
Tender related documentation now states that the new Cash Centre "will represent a significant investment by the Central Bank to deliver critical infrastructure in the national interest".
The document says that the IDT will be responsible for the specification, design, delivery and cost management of the new Cash Centre and the contract is over a seven year period.
In the latest step in the project, the Central Bank has issued the 'Project Information and Requirements Memorandum' to provide information to applicants seeking to be shortlisted in the tender competition.
The documentation reveals that in January of this year, the Central Bank commenced its site selection process for the new cash centre.
The documentation states that by the time the IDT appointments are made, the site of the new cash centre will be identified.
It adds that the security of the Central Bank’s employees and of the contents of the facility "are an overarching consideration in the design of the new cash centre".
The Central Bank document states that a preliminary Design Report proposes that the selected site will need to be approximately 30 acres and that further layers of security will be required directly within the site boundary.
Applicants are asked to consider the unique security requirements of the new Cash Centre and that the Central Bank may restrict applicants from sharing information, provided to them throughout the tender process, which could compromise the location or design of the New Cash Centre.
Applicants have until September 11th to submit pre-qualification submissions and the Central Bank is hoping to appoint the successful applicant next February with work to commence in the first quarter of 2025.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
