Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
538. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to ensure that Irish printers have an opportunity to bid for Government printing contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38973/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish printers are welcome to bid for all publicly advertised Government printing contracts. In common with other contracts for supplies and services, all central government printing contracts where the estimated value excluding VAT exceeds €130,000 are advertised on the Government's public procurement website, www.etenders.gov.ie, as well as in the Official Journal of the European Union. Guidelines set out in Department of Finance Circular 10/10 on Facilitating SME Participation in Public Procurement, require that all contracts for supplies and general services with an estimated value of €25,000 and upwards are now to be advertised by contracting authorities on the eTenders website. In addition, the National Procurement Service maintains on its website, www.procurement.ie, a panel of suppliers who have expressed interest in tendering for public contracts for Printing, Binding and Ancillary operations, where the estimated contract value is below €25,000 and where there is no Framework Agreement/Drawdown contract currently in place. This panel is available to all public sector buyers.
