Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 November 2013
16. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the enhanced strategy the Office of Government Procurement intends to adopt to ensure the small and medium enterprise and micro-business sectors can access the multi-supplier framework agreement for the supply of stationery and office supplies. [49526/13]
View answerI am keenly aware that public procurement can be an important source of business for Irish small and medium enterprises (SMEs). I am also aware of the need for Departments and Offices to make every effort to contain and reduce all administrative costs to ensure the continued provision of much needed public services. In this regard, the National Procurement Service which will soon form part of the recently established Office of Government Procurement is engaged in an ambitious reform programme designed to deliver cost reductions for commonly acquired goods and services; increased levels of professionalism among staff responsible for procurement; and better performance management of the central procurement function.
In relation to the framework for the supply of stationery and office supplies, referred to by the Deputy, I am informed by the National Procurement Service that they published a request for tenders for these supplies on eTenders on 9th August 2013. The tender documentation seeks to encourage participation on a fair and equal basis by Small and Medium Enterprises (“SME”s) in this competition. SMEs that believe the scope of this competition is beyond their technical or business capacity are encouraged to explore the possibilities of forming relationships with other SMEs or with larger enterprises. Through such relationships they can participate and contribute to the successful implementation of any contracts, agreements or arrangements that result from this competition and therefore increase their social and economic benefits. Similarly, larger enterprises are also encouraged to consider the practical ways that SMEs can be included in their proposals to maximise the social and economic benefits of the contracts that result from this tendering exercise.
In a significant change to the previous single supplier contract, this competition has been structured as a multi-supplier framework agreement. In this case the framework will be broken up into four sectoral groupings (lots) that will be subject to ongoing competition from the participants under the terms of the competition. Furthermore in drafting the tender documentation, consideration was given to resolving issues that SMEs and Consortia might have adhering to standard requirements. In order to address such issues the tender documentation included tables and instructions on how a consortium should complete them to address such issues.
To summarise: we in government want better value for money for our substantial procurement spend. We are also committed to ensuring that SMEs are fully engaged in the process and will be encouraged, where necessary, to form alliances and networks to ensure they can tender on a competitive basis for this work.
