Contractors sought for exciting ‘archaeology play area’ at Navan Centre

by
Micheal McKenna
November 24, 2014

Armagh Council is advertising for a list of contractors to complete a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire as they aim to appoint a team to build an exciting new ‘archaeology’ play area at the Navan Centre.

Armagh I first revealed the plans for the development, which will have both indoor and outdoor elements, back in July.

At the same time, a contractor is also being sought for the interior development of the Armagh Visitor Information Centre/Craftswirl, at English Street in the city.

The Navan Centre contract, at the award-winning visitor attraction on the Killylea Road, on the outskirts of the city, is for the installation of an archaeology play area, of both an interior, within an existing activity space, and exterior nature, an external area immediately beyond the activity space.

The archaeology play items will be site specific to the Navan Fort and to the history of the surrounding area. The equipment must be suitable for all ages and abilities.

The interior, according to the PQQ, should not require staff involvement, but the exterior area will be designed to accommodate a role playing archaeologist/character.

All elements will be interactive, with some adaptation and possible extension of existing services required. Items to be used within the interactive areas will be both ‘bespoke’ and ‘off the shelf’.

The PQQ states: “This may, for example, include an element of contractor design in the supply, erection and decoration of the interactive module.”

The Navan works budget has been given as £166,000.

At the Armagh Visitor Information Centre, the contract, with a set budget of £20,000, is for the interior development of the centre to accommodate literature display within the guidelines of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board; craft display and, the provision of a dedicated visitor information section on the immediate area of Armagh.

This may also include the creation of an online browsing area, which will require the supply and installation of the electronic equipment, in addition to requiring an element of contractor design in the erection of the partitions and backgrounds.

Both contracts have been given a six to eight week deadline.

Applications are being invited from Constructionline Registered Builders who wish to be considered for inclusion on a restricted list for the schemes.

The deadline has been given as 12 noon on Thursday, December 4.

As we reported in February, as the district rate was being struck, the provision of the Navan facility was listed as one of the key financial priorities for the year ahead, the last before Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Councils merge next April.

Photo: Grenville PR & Event Management