Public procurement is the purchase 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.
A key principle of public procurement is that it is carried out honestly, fairly, and in line with procurement legislation and best practice. All procurement carried out by public bodies are subject to audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
It is a basic principle of public procurement that a competitive process should be used unless there are justifiably exceptional circumstances. The process can vary depending on the value and type of the contract to be awarded.
| Value of Supplies or Services | Procurement Processes |
|---|---|
| Less than €5,000 | May be purchased based on verbal quotes from one or more competitive suppliers. |
| Between €5,000 and €50,000 | May be purchased based on three written quotes from three or more competitive suppliers. |
| Between €50,000 and EU tendering threshold* | Must be purchased by a full tender process. |
| Greater than EU tendering threshold* | Must be purchased by a full tender process |
*Tender documents are produced and published on the eTenders website.
Details of all current EPA tenders available on eTenders website.
