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Procurement Information and Advice

Public Procurement Guide for SME’s

The local government sector has prepared a Public Procurement Guide 2023 to help small and medium enterprises and sole traders to make the most of business opportunities in the public sector.

The guide provides an easy-to-understand introduction to public procurement processes, procedures and vocabulary. You can view the Public Procurement Guide 2023 below:

Please note that since this publication the Procurement Thresholds have been updated as follows:

Procurement in Offaly County Council

Procurement in Offaly County Council is largely a devolved function, where individual departments are responsible for ensuring their sourcing requirements are met while operating to best procurement practice and compliance with relevant legislative, regulatory and policy requirements.

The procurement section under the guidance of the Procurement Officer provides a dedicated in-house resource for the organisation in respect of Public Procurement Requirements. Formal responsibility for procurement governance is assigned to the head of finance.

The procurement section has a co-ordinating role in ensuring that there is an organisational focus on good practice in purchasing and that procedures are in place to achieve value for money and to ensure high standards of openness, transparency and compliance with all relevant public procurement guidelines and legislation.

All staff or agents on their behalf who are undertaking procurement activities are required to ensure that their activities are conducted in a manner that is compliant with Public Procurement requirements.

Tender Opportunities/Becoming a Supplier

Offaly County Council seeks quotations from selected economic operators/suppliers in line with OGP Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services.

Offaly County Council will purchase goods and services available under framework agreements and contracts set up by the Office of Government Procurement (gov.ie – Office of Government gov.ie – Search central arrangements (www.gov.ie) in the areas such as:-

  • Facilities Management
  • Fleet and Plant
  • ICT and Office Equipment
  • Library
  • Managed Services
  • Marketing, Print and Stationary
  • Minor Buildings Works and Civils (LGOPC)
  • Plant Hire (LGOPC)
  • Professional Services
  • Travel and HR Services
  • Utilities

The OGP have prepared a short video providing an overview of Public Procurement in Ireland.
National and EU Tender opportunities are advertised on the European tendering platform eTenders which is used by all public sector bodies including Contracting Authorities.  There are several interactive walkthrough videos  for Suppliers on how to register and manage a tender process on the new eTenders platform.

Information on the Council’s Tender Opportunities

For the procurement of goods, services and contracts for works not available under the framework agreements or contracts above, the Council uses the following facilities to procure tenders, quotations or proposals for goods, services and works:

  • etenders
  • supplygov.ie

eTenders

IMPORTANT NOTICE for Suppliers regarding new eTenders May 2023

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/9a109-etenders-is-changing-updates-for-businesses/

Suppliers/contractors are encouraged to register as suppliers on the eTenders public procurement website (http://www.etenders.gov.ie). Registered suppliers receive automatic notifications of tender opportunities available in their field of business.

All of Offaly County Council’s tenders for supplies and services in excess of €50,000, and for works in excess of €200,000 are advertised on the eTenders public procurement website http://www.etenders.gov.ie which is managed by The Office of Government Procurement (OGP). The information is uploaded directly by contracting authorities and the site is a key reference point for suppliers and service providers.

To view tenders currently advertised on etenders, visit www.entenders.gov.ie and click on Latest CfTs. Offaly County Council’s procurement policies provide for collaborative procurement arrangements to be used where appropriate such as frameworks and contracts advertised by The Office of Government Procurment (OGP). the Local Government Operational Procurement Centre (LGOPC), other local authorities and public bodies.

Public tenders for supplies and services in excess of €215,000 and works in excess of €5,382,000 will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) through the eTender website.

Suppliers may be invited from time to through tender notices on www.etenders.gov.ie to be shortlisted for supplies, services or works under framework contracts set up and managed by Supplygov.ie (http://supplygov.ie/).

Mini-tender competitions may be conducted through the Supplygov.ie website (http://supplygov.ie/) for supplies, services and works under those frameworks contracts as described below.

Supplygov.ie

Supplygov is a procurement system which facilities the Local Authorities and other state agencies to run mini-tenders (from frameworks that already have been advertised on etenders) and requests for quotations. It primarily deals with categories relating to Plant Hire, Minor Building and Civil works and related training, Go to the ‘register as a new supplier’ button on the homepage and follow the instructions. Supplier Details (supplygov.ie)

Suppliers registered on Supplygov.ie (http://supplygov.ie/) may receive invitations to provide a quotation for supplies, services or works in their field of business as described below.  if you need assistance in registering please contact the supplygov.ie helpdesk as follows:

Phone: 066 718 3734
Email: eproc@kerrycoco.ie

Mini-Tender Competitions under Framework Agreements

The framework agreements for supplies, services and works cover road construction, plant hire and tool hire and other building and construction activities and road markings. Mini-tender competitions are conducted when the materials, services or work are required. 

Supplygov.ie website (http://supplygov.ie/) is used by Tullamore, Edenderry and Birr Municipal Districts, Roads and Transportation, Environment and Housing Sections for supplies, services that may be required or when minor civil or building works are to be carried out. The value of the supplies, services or works will generally be of a higher value than that of the Request for Quotation mentioned below.

Requests for Quotations under Supplygov.ie

This platform is used for supplies and services normally associated with construction and maintenance of facilities. The value of the supplies and services are below €50,000 and for small works it is below €200,000. Offaly County Council may use this platform to procure quotations for the supplies and services as the need arises.

Other Requests for Quotations for lower value supplies, services and works

Offaly County Council may from time to time invite quotations from suppliers for supplies and services of a value less than €50,000, and small works less than €200,000. In these cases, suppliers will in general be invited by e-mail to quote for supplies, services or works as appropriate.

Suppliers are encourage to contact the various sections of Offaly County Council as appropriate for consideration when for quotations are invited.

Tax Clearance

It will be a condition of this supply arising from a quotation submitted by the supplier, that the successful supplier shall for the term of any appointment, comply with all EU and domestic taxation law and requirements, including but not being limited to Circular 43/2006 issued by the Department of Finance. This Circular and further information is available at www.finance.gov.ie and www.ros.ie

Health and Safety

The Supplier shall comply with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and all Regulations, Codes of Practice and Guidance arising thereof, and requirements as described in Offaly County Council’s Standard Terms and Conditions of supply and in the Request/Invitation for Quotation/Proposal. The Supplier shall prepare and submit a Health and Safety Prequalification Questionnaire for Contractor and Safety Statement and other documentation when requested