There is no explicit requirement that companies must be in existence for a minimum period of time, or that recently established firms or firms with no previous experience of public contracts should be excluded from the tendering process. However, candidates expressing an interest in significant public contracts are generally required to satisfy the contracting authority that they possess the necessary capacity to perform the contract. For instance, to prove economic or financial capacity, a company may be requested to furnish appropriate statements from banks, evidence of professional risk indemnity insurance, balance sheets or relevant extracts from annual accounts or statements of turnover.
This list of examples is not exhaustive and the relevant proof may be provided by any other means which the contracting authority considers appropriate or acceptable. Evidence of technical capacity may be required by production of certificates of relevant technical or professional qualifications, statements of technical and human resources available or a company's past record of performance on other projects. Companies being awarded public contracts must be tax compliant. Proof of compliance must be furnished by means of a tax clearance certificate issued by the Revenue Commissioners.
