Dodds welcomes progress in public procurement

Finance Minister, Nigel Dodds has welcomed recent progress made in improving the public procurement process for local companies.

This has been achieved by Government working in partnership with CBI and construction leaders.

The Minister said “Last year, CBI conducted a survey to ascertain the attitudes and experiences of Northern Ireland companies involved in the Northern Ireland public procurement process.

“Following the results of the survey, the Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) within my Department and the Heads of the Centres of Procurement Expertise met with CBI to discuss their recommendations for improvement and agree action points.”

The key recommendations focused around the opportunity to improve value for money and to ensure Northern Ireland maximises the economic development potential from this sector in helping companies access opportunities both within and beyond Northern Ireland.

Mr Dodds continued: “We have taken a number of measures over the last year to help local companies identify and access public procurement opportunities more easily. These include the launch of a new electronic tendering system 'eSourcing NI' to maximise the visibility of business opportunities and make it easier for companies, particularly small and medium sized enterprises, to bid for work.

“The public procurement conference in March, organised by CBI and supported by CPD, focused on the changing procurement policies and practices in Northern Ireland, as well as how to access procurement opportunities outside Northern Ireland.

“I welcome the progress that has been made to date and will continue to work with CBI to ensure the public procurement process meets the needs of local companies.”

CBI Northern Ireland Director, Nigel Smyth commented on their relationship with Government. He said: “CBI members have welcomed the opportunity to work with CPD and the Heads of the Centres of Procurement Expertise to improve procurement practices in Northern Ireland in order to deliver better value for money.

“Good progress is being achieved, particularly on the need to standardise generic information and reduce information demands, and improve visibility of procurement opportunities.

“Over 160 companies participated in the CBI public procurement conference in March, which provided suppliers with opportunities to meet and discuss procurement issues with CPD and all the Centres of Procurement Expertise. We look forward to this engagement continuing".

Notes to Editors:

1. The Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) within the Department of Finance and Personnel is committed to making it easier for suppliers to access government opportunities and has developed e-SourcingNI, a platform which is free to SMEs and Social Economy Enterprises to register and gives access to business opportunities within the public sector.
2. The system provides web-based technology allowing buyers and suppliers to manage all their interactions online, creating greater transparency, speed and efficiency throughout the tender process. In addition the system provides details of CPD’s current tender opportunities and links to tender opportunities within the other NI Centres of Procurement Expertise.
3. The system has the ability to hold a supplier’s corporate information (e.g. annual accounts, insurance details, etc) thereby reducing the amount of information required from suppliers at the pre qualification stage in the procurement process. The Procurement Board has recommended that other CoPEs to use the e-SourcingNI platform thereby creating a single portal for all government procurement activity within Northern Ireland. A roll out programme has been established to achieve the single portal for Northern Ireland. To register on the electronic tender system, please visit the eSourcing NI website
4. Media enquiries only to DFP Communications Office on 028 9052 7278 or 028 9052 27375. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
5. Photos of the Finance Minister, Nigel Dodds meeting Nigel Smyth, CBI Northern Ireland Director are available upon request from dfp.pressoffice@dfpni.gov.uk.