Access to International Public Sector Markets
If you are an Irish exporter of goods or services, you may be interested in the information and links posted on this page on accessing opportunities in international public sector markets.
Public sector procurement opportunities
Public sector procurement accounts for a substantial part of the global economy, and can provide significant opportunities for Irish exporters across many sectors. It affects a substantial share of world trade flows, amounting to 1000 billion Euro per year. It also makes up a significant part of national economies: 10-25% of GDP. In the EU, the public purchase of goods and services corresponds to 16% of GDP. By any standards this is a huge market sector.
Overseas public sector markets are stable, transparent, and increasingly accessible to Irish exporters. Most public contracts for goods and services over €144,000 (€5.548 million for works/construction) in EU/GPA countries must generally be publicly advertised and must be awarded fairly and without discrimination as to nationality.
Accessing opportunities abroad
Irish businesses are entitled to compete for many of these opportunities by virtue of Ireland's membership of the European Union, the European Economic Area and the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).
There are also significant procurement opportunities with international organisations such as EU bodies, United Nations, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
Online opportunities
Information on a wide range of international public sector business opportunities is now available online.
We have put together the following links as a source of information for those who are interested in exploring these opportunities and gaining an understanding of the international public procurement sector. They are for information only. We have no role in relation to the awarding of contracts or the procurement processes of the bodies/organisations mentioned here.
Some of the sites listed (or their sub-sites) may require a subscription for registration.
EU/EEA opportunities
The Official Journal to the EU provides free access to public-sector business opportunities from across the European Union, the European Economic Area and beyond. It is possible to browse, search and sort procurement notices by country, region, business sector, CPV Codes and more.
The European Commission provides access to information on public contracts awarded by the European Commission, the Agencies of the European Union, and the Representations of the European Commission in the Member States.
EuropeAid awards grants and tenders to implement projects or activities that relate to the European Union’s external aid programmes. Detailed information on planned funding, procedures, beneficiaries are available on this page.
European Investment Bank is active in over 150 countries (the pre-accession countries of South-East Europe, the Mediterranean partner countries, the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, Asia and Latin America, Central Asia, Russia and other neighbours to the East), working to implement the financial pillar of EU external co-operation and development policies (private sector development, infrastructure development, security of energy supply, and environmental sustainability).
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development provides opportunities for suppliers, contractors and consultants worldwide, mostly related to EBRD-financed projects in its region of operations. But there are also a limited number of opportunities to tender for contracts involving internal EBRD projects and departments.
The European Defence Agency provides information on tendering procedures and details of live contract opportunities.
The European Space Agency provides information on how to do business with it and on procurement opportunities.
United Nations, World Bank and other international organisations
UN Procurement Division is a portal site that provides access to information on procurement procedures and opportunities offered by the United Nations and its agencies. It includes links to the purchasing departments of all UN agencies, which had a combined procurement spend of $18.6bn in 2017.
The World Bank's Procurement website provides detailed information on procurement procedures and opportunities arising in connection with projects financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and or the International Development Association (IDA).
The Development Gateway Market (dgMarket) is a global online marketplace providing information on donor and government-funded tenders. Currently, dgMarket publishes tender notices for projects funded by the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Europe Aid, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, EU members states, Phare/Tacis, and the World Bank.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB)funds development projects and programmes in the Asian and Pacific Regions. Such funding generates opportunities for the business communities of its member countries (including Ireland). The website includes a business opportunities page which provides information on the requirements for goods, works, and services of projects under consideration by ADB.
Other procurement websites
Northern Ireland
The Website of the Northern Ireland Procurement Directorate includes links to current business opportunities.
Great Britain
The British Government Procurement Service undertakes centralised procurement on behalf of public sector organisations.
Contracts Finder is a free service, which allows suppliers to search for live public sector contract opportunities advertised by various Government Departments and public bodies throughout the UK.
Public Contracts Scotland gives free access to contract opportunities in Scotland, including Scottish Local Authorities, NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government, Agencies and NDPBs, Higher and Further Education and Emergency Services.
The British Department for International Development (DfID)’s website explains how they procure goods and services.
"Sell 2 Wales" is a site maintained by the Welsh Assembly Government which provides online access to opportunities advertised by public sector organisations in Wales.
United States
"Fed Biz Opps" is the US Federal Government's one-stop virtual marketplace and provides access to a market worth up to $500 billion annually. Through this single point of entry vendors can monitor, search, and download information on opportunities solicited by the entire Federal contracting community.
Japan
The JETRO website gives information on procurement procedures and contract opportunities.
Australia
Aus Tenders provides centralised publication of Australian Government business opportunities, annual procurement plans, multi-use lists and contracts awarded.
Canada
Buyandsell.gc.ca provides information on contract opportunities for federal public works and government services in Canada.
Republic of Korea
Public Procurement Services Korea contains useful information on the Korean public sector market, including public procurement opportunities and procedures which may be of interest to some Irish companies. (Note: The Republic of Korea has a government procurement specialist who is attached to its London Embassy.)
Singapore
"GeBiz" is the Singapore Government's one-stop e-procurement portal. All the public sector's invitations for quotations and tenders are posted on GeBIZ. Suppliers can search for government procurement opportunities, download tender documents, and submit their bids online.
Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Treasury website has a page with general information on public contracts and procedures including links to various contracting agencies.
