Information on the Council’s Procurement Function
Public Procurement can be defined as the “acquisition, whether under formal contract or not, of works, supplies and services by public bodies.” It ranges from the purchase of routine supplies or services to formal tendering and placing contracts for large infrastructural projects. At Offaly County Council we aim to ensure high standards of openness, transparency and compliance with all relevant public procurement Directives, legislation and guidelines in all our procurement.
Offaly County Council is bound by EU Directives, Legislation and Government Policy in its procurement function. Contract Value thresholds determine which particular procedures are followed. Further information and current thresholds can be found on the EU public procurement website: http://simap.ted.europa.eu/.
The EU Directives impose legal obligations on public bodies to use objective tendering procedures. Contracts with estimated values above the thresholds set out in the Directives must be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). EU Thresholds
Directive 2014/24/EU applies to the procurement procedures of public sector bodies including local authorities. EU Directive 2014/24/EU
In accordance with Government policy (Circular 05/2023, all contracts above €50,000 (excluding VAT) for supplies and services and above €200,000 (excluding VAT) for works must be advertised as part of a formal tendering process.
The national public procurement website www.etenders.gov.ie is a central facility for all public sector contracting authorities to advertise procurement opportunities including those above the EU thresholds.
The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) is an office within the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform. It has been tasked with centralising public sector procurement arrangements for common supplies and services. For more information, please visit www.ogp.gov.ie
National Public Procurement Policy Framework
Public Procurement is governed by EU and National Rules. The purpose of the NPPP Framework document is to set out the overarching policy framework for public procurement in Ireland. The National Public Procurement Policy Framework states that “Public procurement policy aims to achieve value for public money, whether it is grant funding, rates and local property tax or service charges. Value for money in procurement is the optimum combination of whole-of-life costs and/or price where appropriate and quality or fitness for purpose to meet with the user’s requirement.” National Public Procurement Framework
The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) have also published public procurement guidelines. Please visit www.ogp.gov.ie for more information. OGP guidelines for goods and services
The OGP also have a Tender advisory service (TAS). TAS is an informal review mechanism that provides a free of charge outlet for suppliers to raise concerns during a live tender process. Please visit https://ogp.gov.ie/tender-advisory-service/ for more information
Procurement Ethics.
All employees involved in procurement activity are bound to act in accordance with the Local Government Act 2001 and the Code of Conduct for Employees.
Members of a tender evaluation team are required to sign Declarations of Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest prior to the tender evaluation process commencing.