Tender Opportunities in Ireland

Public Procurement in Ireland

As a member of the European Union, Ireland follows EU public procurement directives, ensuring transparency, non-discrimination, and equal treatment for all suppliers across the European Economic Area. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) leads procurement reform and manages centralised purchasing arrangements for the Irish public sector.

Irish public bodies spend approximately EUR 15 billion annually on goods, services, and works. The government actively encourages SME participation, with dedicated supports and guidance available for businesses new to public tendering.

Procurement Thresholds

Ireland applies EU procurement thresholds, above which tenders must be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU):

• Goods and Services (Central Government): EUR 143,000
• Goods and Services (Other Bodies): EUR 221,000
• Works Contracts: EUR 5,538,000
• Social and Specific Services: EUR 750,000

Below these thresholds, national rules apply, and contracts are typically advertised on eTenders. Even lower-value contracts often appear on the platform to maximise competition.

Key Government Procurement Bodies

Where to Find Irish Tender Opportunities

eTenders (www.etenders.gov.ie) is Ireland's national tendering platform. All public bodies are required to advertise contracts above EUR 25,000 on this portal. The system offers free registration, email alerts, and the ability to download tender documents and submit responses electronically.

For EU-level opportunities, tenders above threshold are published in the Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) database. Irish opportunities can be filtered by country, sector, and CPV codes.

Semi-state bodies such as the ESB, Bord Gáis, and Irish Water may use their own procurement processes alongside eTenders, so suppliers should monitor multiple sources for comprehensive coverage.

International Organisations in Ireland

Ireland's membership of the EU provides access to procurement opportunities from European institutions. The European Investment Bank funds major infrastructure projects in Ireland, while various EU agencies occasionally tender for services. Dublin also hosts several international organisation offices with their own procurement needs.

Tips for Winning Irish Tenders

Irish procurement evaluates submissions on the "Most Economically Advantageous Tender" (MEAT) basis, considering quality, technical merit, sustainability, and price. Strong written responses addressing all evaluation criteria are essential.

• Register on eTenders: Create a supplier profile and set up alerts for relevant CPV codes and categories
• Consider OGP frameworks: Framework agreements provide streamlined access to ongoing work across multiple public bodies
• Attend supplier events: InterTradeIreland and Enterprise Ireland run meet-the-buyer events and procurement training
• Address Green Public Procurement: Ireland increasingly weights environmental considerations in evaluations
• Partner strategically: Consortia and subcontracting arrangements can help smaller suppliers access larger contracts