Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
424. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of construction procurement processes that the Office of Government Procurement has been involved in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of those contracts that have gone to Irish small and medium enterprise, SME, construction companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34181/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Government Procurement (OGP) commenced operations in 2014 and, together with four key sectors (Health, Defence, Education and Local Government), has responsibility for sourcing goods and services on behalf of the Public Service. The OGP is responsible for Framework Agreements (FWA) where it is the Contracting Authority. The OGP facilitates mini-competitions under these FWAs for both Central Government and non-Central Government. It acts in an advisory role in this respect but the individual Contracting Authorities are accountable and responsible for the mini-competitions and also bespoke contracts.
In the area of construction procurement the OGP has responsibility for policy and publishes standard template tender documents, contracts and guidance. It does not typically procure construction contracts directly with the exception of the assistance that has been extended to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in relation to one aspect of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, through the establishment of a Framework for the provision of rapid delivery housing projects. This involves the construction of social housing projects on sites provided by the Contracting Authority. The Framework Agreement was established in 2017.
To date, six Local Authorities have tendered for ten housing projects to deliver 221 social housing units under the Framework. While the OGP facilitated the development of the Framework, the tender processes and any consequent contracts awarded under the Framework are managed by the respective Contracting Authorities, the Local Authorities in these cases.
