Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
102. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the policy of his Department to ensure that Irish-based businesses and SMEs, in particular, are not prevented from tendering for Government and State business; the measures that he has put in place to ensure that Irish businesses are supported in tendering for Government or State business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37894/23]
View answerMy Department is fully committed to ensuring that it meets its obligations under the National Public Procurement Policy Framework including all national and EU procurement laws, guidelines and Government circulars. This includes measures to support and encourage participation by Irish based businesses and SMEs in the tendering process, such as:
• The eTenders website. www.eTenders.gov.ie is a central facility for all public sector contracting authorities to advertise procurement opportunities. The site is managed by The Office of Government Procurement (OGP). All government Departments are required to advertise all competitive procurements in excess of €50,000 on e-Tenders. All suppliers can register, free of charge on this site and will receive notifications when new opportunities in their field have been advertised. Tender documents are usually available to download from the site. The site provides a comprehensive notice search and help functions and also provides information on procurement rules and guidelines;
• The OGP Request For Tender (RFT) templates encourage SMEs to apply for large contracts through interalia subcontracting to other SMEs, where they do not have the capacity to do the work alone;
• Circular 05/2023: “Initiatives to assist SMEs in Public Procurement” was recently published by The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. The circular replaces Circular 10/2014 and has been developed with a view to encouraging public bodies to adopt measures that will further enable SMEs to compete for public contracts. It provides for interalia:
• An increase to the threshold at which all contracts for goods and services must be advertised on eTenders from €25,000 to €50,000 (exclusive of VAT);
• Enhanced measures that public bodies should take to promote transparency;
• The specific measures that public bodies should take to promote SME participation;
• A reminder to public bodies of their obligations around the use of central procurement arrangements;
• A reiteration of the role that eTenders, the national e-tendering platform, can play in promoting SME participation; and
• Updated guidance for insurance levels for supplies and general services.
