The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is currently seeking tenders for the management of avian influenza (bird flu) at its sites throughout Ireland.

The services would include the retrieval and disposal of dead birds from NPWS sites, according to the tender documents.

The two-year contract, which has an overall estimated cost of €60,000 excluding VAT, will begin with a retainer fee service between May 1 August 31 this year and the same period in 2026.

This contract will cover the 2025 and 2026 breeding season and will revert to a call-out service between September 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026 and September 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027 for winter season birds.

The NPWS said that the services required include a 24/7 response throughout Ireland for the collection and licensed disposal of dead birds due to bird flu.

The successful tenderer will be required to keep records of all collected birds noting species, location, condition and weight.

The NPWS added that all collections and transfers to disposal facilities must have a waste transfer notice and adhere to all legislative requirements.

While health and safety procedures and protocols must be in line with all government standards and must be implemented.

Bird flu is a contagious and often fatal viral disease of birds. There is a constant risk of the disease being introduced into Ireland from wild birds particularly when migratory birds arrive and congregate on wetlands, mixing with resident species.

Bird flu can affect many different types of birds including domesticated birds such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and other fowl.

There are two types of the disease which are named according to the impact that the disease can have on birds:

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI): can have up to 100% mortality in affected flocks;
Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI): generally causes mild disease in affected birds.

Th closing date for the submission of tenders is next Thursday, April 17.