Ireland – IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support – Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency (VEAT) Notice for Award of Contract to Pin Point Alerts Ltd for the provision of a cloud-hosted platform designed to provide location-based alert services tailored to the needs of the Irish local authority sector.

Dublin City Council gives notice to invoke Article 32.2 (b) (ii) for a derogation from public procurement whereby the works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator as competition is absent for technical reasons. Dublin City Council intends to award a contract to Pin Point Alerts Ltd for 3 years. The maximum value of of this contract is €76,500 ex VAT. This contract is for a cloud-hosted platform designed to provide location-based alert services tailored to the needs of the Irish local authority sector. The platform allows local councils to send targeted alerts and notifications to subscribers based primarily on their location, with additional subscription options for specific projects or points of interest (e.g., pitch playability updates). The service offers multi-channel communication, enabling bulk messaging through SMS, email, app notifications, social media, and APIs. It uses geographic information systems (GIS) and mapping tools to ensure alerts reach the right audience effectively. Subscribers can register home/work location to receive alerts from multiple local authorities, receiving relevant updates even across council boundaries. The platform facilitates direct communication between council and various audiences, including the public, staff, councillors, and stakeholders, while maintaining council's branding. Alerts are sent regularly to keep subscribers informed about important situations. The platform also supports social media automation and integrates with third-party data sources such as: weather warnings from Met Éireann, river height data from the Office of Public Works (OPW), bathing water quality from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Property Price Register updates, Irish Water incidents. Platform administrators can manage user accounts, issue alerts, and customize system settings. The notification service supports automated alerts by integrating with internal council systems. This automation allows councils to send alerts without manual input, improving operational efficiency and ensuring timely communication with the public. Additionally, the platform provides data streams that can be integrated into internal council systems, such as GIS layers. The service is free for end users and plays a key role in improving communication between local authorities and the public.