Tenders
Tenders
All Marine Institute Tenders are published on the public procurement website.
If you have any queries please send an email to tenders@marine.ie.
Procurement
‘It is a basic principle of Government procurement that competitive tendering should always be used, unless exceptional circumstances apply, in which case the approval of the Government Contracts Committee must be obtained’. (Public Procurement Guidelines 1994, 1999 Reprint)
MI Procurement Policy
Public procurement is the acquisition, whether under formal contract or otherwise, 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 pieces of infrastructure or outsourced services. The Marine Institute is committed to achieving value for money in the procurement of goods and services essential to support our work in providing a high quality service to customers and stakeholders in a cost effective and efficient manner.
Procurement by the Marine Institute is compliant with both the EU Directive 24 of 2014 (and any amending regulations) and the Procurement Guidelines published by the Office of Government Procurement. It is underpinned by a number of core principles, in particular the need to maximise competition in the market for the goods and services purchased by the State. Underpinning the public procurement rules are five core principles:
• Non-Discrimination and Equal Treatment
• Fairness and Transparency
• Accountability
• Integrity
• Openness of Competition
The Marine Institute participates fully in the on-going initiatives of the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), who set out the rules and best practice on the various stages of the procurement process, focusing on procurement savings and improved co-ordination between bodies, including the use of shared framework agreements for the provision of a range of goods and services.
The Marine Institute adheres fully to all applicable Circulars including Circular 10/10 and Circular 10/14 with respect to optimise access for SME's and Circular 02/16 in respect of digital and ICT related expenditure.
The Marine Institute is committed to facilitating access to procurement opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those providing innovative solutions. All tenders are advertised on the Governments e-tenders website in accordance with Government guidelines and thresholds. The Institute also strives to implement Green Public Procurement (GPP) which is a process whereby public authorities seek to procure goods, services and works with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life-cycle when compared to goods, services and works with the same primary function that would otherwise be procured. The Institute also seeks to apply Socially responsible public procurement (SRPP) which is about setting an example and influencing the marketplace. By promoting SRPP, the Institute can give companies real incentives to develop socially responsible management. By purchasing wisely, we can promote employment opportunities, decent work, social inclusion, accessibility, design for all, ethical trade, and seek to achieve wider compliance with social standards. Through our policies and practices, we strive for the highest standards of governance and seek compliance with legislation.
All staff involved in procurement in the Marine Institute are fully aware of and comply with applicable legislation and Government policies.
The Principles of Public Sector Buying
As member of the European Union, the award of public sector contracts in Ireland is regulated by European treaties and by European directives and national rules. This opens the public procurement market to many of the world’s leading economies. Public procurement rules are based on four principles:
Equal Treatment
No supplier can suffer discrimination because of location or nationality or bias of any description.
Transparency
Information regarding forthcoming contracts and the rules to be applied should be readily available to all interested candidates. A contract cannot be awarded without publicity or in the absence of award criteria being available to a tenderer.
Proportionality
A buyer cannot place excessive conditions on suppliers – e.g. a buyer cannot insist on a minimum turnover of €10m when awarding a contract for €10,000.
Mutual Recognition
The standards, specifications and qualifications in use throughout the EU should receive equal recognition on condition that the products or services are suitable for their intended purpose. Suitably qualified service providers cannot be rejected due to non-recognition of their qualifications.