The Irish BIM resource gap is not a temporary problem. The NDP pipeline commits €165 billion to capital investment through 2030, creating sustained demand for Revit-capable BIM engineers at every RIAI stage gate. The pool of qualified BIM modellers in Ireland — particularly for specialist disciplines like ELV — has not grown at the same pace. Irish practices managing multiple concurrent NDP commissions face a persistent and expensive choice: hire in-house at full Irish employment cost, or outsource to a specialist remote team at 40–60% lower all-in cost. This guide provides the cost comparison for BIM modelling outsourcing from Ireland and covers the quality, IP and engagement model considerations that determine whether outsourcing works in practice.
Why Irish Practices Are Outsourcing BIM Modelling
Three structural forces are driving BIM modelling outsourcing among Irish practices in 2025:
- The NDP pipeline and the Irish BIM resource gap — ISO 19650-mandated projects above €10m require BIM from Stage 2 onwards. The number of qualified Revit BIM engineers in Ireland relative to this pipeline creates a persistent recruitment difficulty and a cost-inflating market for in-house BIM resource.
- Workload variability — BIM production demand peaks at Stage 3–4 coordination and around tender. Between stage gates, the BIM workload can drop significantly. In-house BIM engineers are salaried regardless — offshore BIM teams scale with the workload.
- ISO 19650 compliance requirement — Many Irish practices that previously worked in 2D CAD are now mandated to deliver BIM by their NDP clients. Building an in-house BIM capability from scratch (recruitment, training, software, CDE setup) takes 6–18 months. Outsourcing provides immediate compliance capability.
True Cost of In-House BIM Resource in Ireland (2025)
| Cost Component | Revit Modeller | BIM Coordinator (ISO 19650) |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | €55,000–70,000 | €65,000–85,000 |
| Employer PRSI (11.05%) | €6,100–7,735 | €7,175–9,393 |
| Holiday pay (22 days + BH) | €5,060–6,440 | €5,980–7,820 |
| Hardware | €1,500/year | €1,500/year |
| Software (Revit, Navisworks, ACC) | €4,500/year | €5,500/year |
| Overhead allocation | €8,000/year | €9,000/year |
| Total all-in annual cost | €80,160–98,175 | €95,155–118,213 |
Offshore BIM Cost Model — The 40–60% Saving Explained
ASDV's BIM outsourcing cost model for Irish practices delivers equivalent Revit modelling and ISO 19650 coordination output at 40–60% of the all-in in-house cost — through lower Indian engineering labour costs, lower office and software overhead, and an engagement model that scales with project workload rather than being fixed at full-time equivalent.
For a medium Irish NDP hospital project (RIAI Stage 3–4 ELV BIM modelling, LOD 300, clash detection and CDE coordination over 12 weeks), a typical ASDV engagement costs €8,000–18,000 depending on scope. The equivalent in-house cost for 12 weeks of a BIM coordinator's time in Dublin — including all employment costs — would be €22,000–30,000. The saving funds additional design stage coordination that the practice would otherwise cut for margin.
Quality Considerations in Outsourced BIM
ISO 19650 Compliance from Offshore Teams
ISO 19650 compliance is process-dependent, not geography-dependent. An offshore BIM team that works within the project's CDE, adopts the BEP naming conventions, delivers at the specified LOD on the MIDP schedule, and issues through the CDE's information status workflow is fully ISO 19650 compliant. ASDV participates in MIDP management, coordination reviews and CDE issue tracking on all Irish NDP projects — working as a seamless extension of the Irish design team.
IP Protection and NDA for Irish Practices
All ASDV BIM engagement terms include: explicit IP assignment (all deliverables become client property on payment); NDA covering all project information; prohibition on portfolio use without explicit consent; Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) for GDPR-compliant data transfer; and prohibition on project information sharing beyond the allocated ASDV team. See our outsourcing BIM to India guide for the full IP framework.
Engagement Models — Per-Project, Retainer and On-Demand
- Per-project fixed fee — Agreed upfront for a defined scope (Stage 3 ELV BIM coordination, LOD 300 at Stage 4 tender, etc.). Best for one-off NDP commissions or practices new to BIM outsourcing.
- Monthly retainer (reserved hours) — A fixed number of BIM hours per month reserved exclusively for the practice's projects. Best for practices with steady NDP pipeline — typically 3–5 projects concurrently at various stages.
- On-demand day rate — Available on request for shorter tasks: clash report review, model updates, BEP contribution, IFC export validation. Best for ad-hoc requirements alongside an in-house BIM team.
See our BIM support services Ireland and ELV resource support Ireland pages for the full engagement model options.
FAQs — Outsourcing BIM Modelling Ireland
€80,000–98,000+ all-in per year for a Revit modeller in Dublin (salary + PRSI + holiday + hardware + software + overhead). €95,000–118,000+ for a BIM coordinator with ISO 19650 experience. Fixed cost regardless of workload — during programme gaps, the cost continues.
40–60% compared to in-house or sub-contracted Irish BIM resource. Driven by lower Indian engineering labour costs, lower overhead, and elimination of employer PRSI, holiday pay and hardware costs that add 35–40% to any Dublin base salary.
By working within the project's CDE, adopting the BEP naming conventions, delivering at the specified LOD on the MIDP schedule, and issuing through the CDE's information status workflow. ISO 19650 compliance is process-dependent, not geography-dependent. ASDV onboards to any Irish project CDE within 24 hours.
Internal QA by senior engineer against BEP naming conventions and LOD requirements before every model issue; IFC export validation before handover; clash detection run within the offshore team before coordination review submission; overnight turnaround for revision requests; and prohibition on project model use as portfolio material.
A hybrid model: per-project fixed fee for coordination-intensive Stage 3–4 phases; on-demand day rate for shorter tasks between stage gates. Monthly retainer suits practices with steady pipeline of 3–5 concurrent NDP projects at various stages.
Start a Conversation About BIM Outsourcing for Your Irish Practice
Tell us your NDP project pipeline and BIM requirements — we propose an engagement model and fixed fee within 24 hours.
Start a Free ConversationOr: +91-8800334308 · WhatsApp Us