Selling IT to government in Ireland

Ireland's public sector buys a lot of IT, from health and education systems to local authority services and central government digital programs. It follows EU procurement law, which makes it accessible to firms from across the EU and, under trade agreements, to many from outside it.

Where tenders are posted

• eTenders (etenders.gov.ie): the national portal for public sector tenders. Irish guidance expects contracts for goods and services above modest values to be advertised there.
• TED: contracts above the EU thresholds are also published on Tenders Electronic Daily.

The Office of Government Procurement

The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) buys common goods and services, including ICT, for the public service, often through framework agreements. Health, education, local government and defence have their own procurement bodies that work with the OGP. If your service is bought through an OGP framework, the framework competition is your way in.

Rules and thresholds

Irish public procurement follows the EU directives, transposed into Irish law, with national guidance for contracts below EU thresholds. Above them, procedures and timelines follow EU rules, including the ESPD for self-declaration.

Help for SMEs

Irish policy encourages SME participation through:

• Splitting contracts into lots.
• Proportionate financial and experience requirements.
• Encouraging consortia.
• Tender advisory services for suppliers who want to raise concerns about a competition.

Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland run events and training on public procurement for Irish firms.

Language and practicalities

Tenders are in English, with some requirements for Irish language services in certain cases. Many public bodies expect suppliers to meet GDPR obligations and often prefer EU data hosting. A tax clearance certificate is commonly required for Irish suppliers.

Overseas firms

Firms from other EU member states compete on equal terms. Firms from countries covered by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement or EU trade deals, such as Canada under CETA and the UK under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, can generally bid on covered contracts. See selling IT to government in the EU.

Common questions

Where are Irish government tenders published?

On eTenders, the national portal, and on TED for contracts above EU thresholds.

Can a Canadian or UK company bid on Irish public tenders?

Often, yes. CETA and the EU–UK trade agreement open many covered contracts to Canadian and UK firms.

What is the Office of Government Procurement?

It's the Irish body that buys common goods and services for the public service, often through central frameworks that other bodies use.