The Office of Government Procurement, a division of my Department, acts as a central purchasing body, aggregating the State's purchasing power and establishing framework agreements for a range of commodities, including ICT goods and services. The establishment of a national-level framework is a significant undertaking. OGP framework agreements are established based on public sector bodies' needs and market capabilities and are a key instrument in delivering value for money, promoting SME access to Government contracts as well as incorporating horizontal policy considerations. Since its establishment in 2014, the OGP has gained significant experience in establishing national-level framework agreements. The OGP takes a diligent and disciplined approach to each and every framework, with frameworks taking up to 12 months to put in place. The OGP is supported in its work by key public sector bodies, subject matter experts and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, CSSO. In each case, the relevant risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies are carefully considered. All framework agreements commence with a pre-market engagement, which informs the market of the OGP’s intentions as well as informing the OGP of the market’s capabilities and developments. Following publication of the tender, the OGP typically receives feedback from interested parties relating to the design of the competition. Such feedback is dealt with on a case-by-case basis, including assessing the potential impact to the tender. In respect of preparing the tender for the framework for the renewal of Microsoft licences, solutions and associated services, the OGP adhered to its standard, detailed and disciplined approach over an eight-month period, including engaging with the market through a structured, extensive and comprehensive pre-market consultation process, which seeks the market’s view with defining the scope, structure and content of the tender.
Sentiment score: 0.39
We are reviewing the operation of the existing framework and obtaining relevant input from subject matter experts across the public service to improve the scope, specification and features. We are obtaining relevant market-specific commercial advice from IT market analysts and industry experts, and also obtaining legal advice from the CSSO. As part of the OGP’s governance process, we are conducting a review of the relevant risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies before final approval to publish. The framework is only for the renewal of Microsoft licences. The prerequisite is that public service bodies using the framework must have already procured a Microsoft agreement appropriate to the licences being renewed. Again, interested parties are entitled to query any element of the procurement competition and such queries can arise through a number of channels, including clarification requests, direct correspondence or through the tender advisory service. The OGP considers each case on its own merits and decides on a course of action. In relation to this tender, matters of concern were raised by an interested party. Having carefully considered those matters, the OGP determined it was prudent to cancel the competition and notify the market accordingly.
Sentiment score: 0.38
The current framework expires in September 2027. Until then, public service bodies can continue to procure renewals of their Microsoft licences in line with the rules governing the existing framework agreement. The OGP's objective is to ensure that it can aggregate the State's expenditure, delivering value for money in all the expenditure categories that it manages. The OGP also remains committed to ensuring that public service bodies have access to a compliant and effective procurement mechanism for Microsoft solution renewals and associated licensing services. All the feedback received has been assessed by the OGP and the intention is to publish a new tender as early as is feasible.
Sentiment score: 0.39
The forthcoming national public procurement strategy will set the strategic direction for public procurement in Ireland for the next five years. The strategy will for the first time establish a shared vision, values and objectives for the public procurement system, providing a common framework for the procurement of goods, services and works across the public sector. Given the scale and ambition of the strategy, it was important that sufficient time was taken to ensure that its development and implementation are informed by stakeholder engagement, evidence-based policymaking and practical delivery considerations. We have been engaging with our officials to finalise the strategy and ensure that the necessary preparatory work is undertaken and that the foundations are laid for its successful implementation. A number of initiatives aligned with the strategy's vision, values and objectives are already being progressed across the public procurement system, including measures to support sustainable procurement, SME participation, transparency and simplification. In parallel, significant preparatory work has been undertaken to establish the governance, capability and stakeholder engagement arrangements necessary to support its successful implementation across the public sector. Among the recent initiatives introduced are a new series of webinars to deliver procurement essentials to SMEs, representation from the social enterprise sector joining the SME advisory group and journey-mapping exercises with public buyers and suppliers to identify opportunities for simplification and practical co-design solutions. Taken together, the extensive consultation process, the preparatory work undertaken to date and the initiatives already under way will provide a strong foundation for the effective implementation of the strategy across the public sector. I expect to bring the strategy to Government in the coming weeks.
Sentiment score: 0.58
I share the Deputy's view. The strategy has not been delayed. As I stated previously, this will be Ireland's first overarching strategy for public procurement. It will set the direction of travel to 2030 to support delivering the Government's commitments. Given the scale and ambition of the strategy, it is important that it is informed by extensive stakeholder engagement, a robust evidence base and careful consideration of implementation arrangements. It is important to note that significant work has already been undertaken in this regard. We are engaging closely with my officials to finalise the strategy and to ensure that the conditions for its successful implementation are in the place. The Deputy referred to SMEs and local communities. She is absolutely right. This will help SMEs, but, more importantly, it will also help small family businesses and local communities. The strategy will take into consideration many of the matters she mentioned.
Sentiment score: 0.35
I am very mindful of how time-poor small businesses are. We want to put them at the centre of the strategy from its inception. The idea for the strategy derived from a programme for Government commitment to review the public procurement process and make it much more transparent. We are trying to support SMEs in identifying and pursuing public procurement opportunities. In most businesses - and I was part of a business myself - you would work all hours of the day and would you want to step in a back office and go through these applications? We also are trying to work with mentors who will help small businesses with their applications. The strategy is trying to redefine value for money but include longer-term social value for Irish taxpayers. A pillar of that strategy will focus on procuring for the future and we want to embed social and environmental innovation, as well as local social resilience, into the current public procurement strategy.
Sentiment score: 0.35