Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 January 2022
28. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to review the guidelines issued by the Office of Government Procurement to Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2279/22]
View answerThe National Public Procurement Policy Framework (NPPPF) consists of five strands:
1. Legislation (Directives, Regulations)
2. Government Policy (Circulars etc.)
3. The Capital Works Management Framework for Public Works and Construction related Services
4. General Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services
5. More detailed technical guidelines, template documentation and information notes as issued periodically by the Policy Unit of the Office of Government Procurement (OGP)
The NPPPF supports contracting authorities in their decision-making when awarding contracts for works, goods and services. The contracting authorities include the Office of Government Procurement, four key sectors (Health, Education, Local Government and Defence), individual Government Departments and Agencies, commercial and non-commercial State bodies, and private entities which are funded by 50% or more by one or more public body. The NPPPF supports and enables public bodies to adopt procedures to meet their public procurement requirements and facilitates compliance with EU and National Procurement Rules.
The Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services (Guidelines) are published on the OGP website (www.ogp.gov.ie) and reviewed periodically to take account of new developments in the area of procurement, the nature of queries to OGP and to clarify aspects which arise. My officials are currently finalising a review of the Guidelines which were published in 2019. An updated version will be published in the first quarter of 2022, incorporating changes that have occurred in the procurement landscape over the last two years. A new section of the Guidelines will focus on Strategic Procurement reflecting the emphasis on leveraging public procurement to yield wider societal benefits. The Office of Government Procurement provides updates and guidance for public procurement practitioners on specific issues from time to time. For example, an updated Brexit Information Note was published in July 2021 and updated COVID Information Note was published in September 2021.
While the Guidelines facilitate and enable compliance with public procurement rules, it is the responsibility of each Contracting Authority to ensure they adhere to these rules.
