Public procurement rules govern how public bodies and grant-funded organisations purchase works, services and supplies, ensuring transparency, fair competition and value for money.
Updated thresholds, effective from 15 December 2025, set out when contracts may be awarded through quotations and when formal procurement procedures are required. Lower-value contracts may be awarded following written or verbal quotations, while higher-value contracts must be advertised on eTenders and use one of the prescribed public procurement procedures (open, restricted etc) each of which has its own predetermined rules, requirements and steps. Knowing when a threshold to procure a contractor or service provider is likely to trigger the need to advertise and use one of these processes and understanding the time implications of the procurement steps are important considerations at the outset of any project. Contracts exceeding EU thresholds must also be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) from 1 January 2026.
In Ireland, goods and services contracts valued at €50,000 or above, and works contracts valued at €200,000 or above, must be advertised on eTenders. EU-level tendering applies where contract values exceed the applicable thresholds: €140,000 (central government goods and services), €216,000 (sub-central authorities), €5,404,000 (works), and €750,000 for services under the Light-Touch Regime. Where required, eTenders automatically publishes notices to the OJEU.
EU advertising broadens market access but may increase delivery risk where tenderers lack familiarity with Irish regulatory or site-specific requirements. Grant-funded projects may also be subject to additional procurement conditions, which must be applied alongside national and EU rules.
Our Project Management team provides specialist procurement support, helping clients apply proportionate, efficient and compliant procurement processes aligned with project objectives and funding requirements.