Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 April 2013
38. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the percentage of supplies and services public contracts that have been awarded to micro-enterprises which have collaborated on public sector tender through a joint bidding or consortium formation year on year over the past three years. [17835/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the National Procurement Service (NPS) actively encourages the participation of SMEs in the tendering process, it does not have the information requested. The exact nature/make up of a company is not one of the pieces of information sought by the NPS when tendering.
The NPS uses its Standard Suite of documents, designed in conjunction with the Chief State Solicitors Office and the Attorney Generals Office, for every competition it goes out to tender for. The following paragraph is contained in each NPS Request For Tender explicitly encouraging SMEs to tender in their own right or for those who feel that the scale of the competition may be beyond their own capacity to form potential consortia:
“NPS policy seeks to encourage participation by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) 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.
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. A main focus of this Competition is a reduction in transaction costs for both Clients and suppliers.”
