Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
203. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will review the e-tenders system to make it more user friendly for small and medium enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41076/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises the importance of the SME sector and continues to enhance the already substantial measures to support SMEs in accessing the public procurement market. Significant work has been undertaken by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) to ensure that public procurement is accessible by all businesses, including SMEs. My colleague, Minister of State Ossian Smyth, chairs quarterly meetings of the SME Advisory Group so that the voice of industry is heard at first hand by Government. The SME Advisory Group consists of officials from the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, as well as representatives from the IBEC, the Small Firms Association, the Construction Industry Federation, Chambers Ireland and the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association.
The OGP administers the Irish Government’s national electronic tendering platform (eTenders). It is the national facility for all public sector contracting authorities to publish procurement tenders and contract award notices for goods, services and works. eTenders is also used by potential suppliers including SMEs to view and access tender opportunities. eTenders is currently provided, managed and maintained on behalf of the OGP by a third party service provider.
In line with public procurement obligations, the OGP is currently advanced in preparing to advertise a tender for a new contract for an electronic tendering platform. As part of these preparations, the OGP has carried out extensive stakeholder consultation and engagement, covering both public bodies and potential suppliers, including SMEs, as key stakeholders in the electronic tendering system and process. In that context, in September 2020, a survey of potential suppliers on the electronic tendering process was carried out with the support of Minister of State Smyth and the SME Advisory Group. SMEs and micro businesses represented 78% of respondents to the survey. The responses from this survey are being used to inform the requirements for the new contract.
