This programme will provide a detailed analysis of the requirements of the Public Sector Directives and the corresponding Irish regulations. It has been fully updated to take account of Directive 2014/24/EU for the Public Sector and summarise key requirements of Directive 2014/23/EU covering Concessions, in addition to the latest national guidelines issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in January 2019. Emphasis is placed on the key features and risk areas linked to the procurement cycle from specifications, advertising, setting selection and award criteria, evaluations, and notifications.

Date & Duration

This course consists of four half-days.
Next dates tbc

This programme is to be delivered in a mix of blended elearning using Virtual Classroom (via Zoom), breakout rooms and guided practice. It consists of 4 highly interactive Live Virtual Classroom Sessions, individual & team activities, accompanied with supporting documentation.

Target Audience

As our flagship course, this two-day programme is designed as an essential building block for those involved on a regular basis in procurement who need to understand the detailed requirements for effectively running a fully compliant procurement process. It is an ideal follow on to the Introducing Public Procurement course.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course, participants will be equipped with a clear understanding of the key requirements for compliance with national and EU procurement regimes and the skills necessary to carry out contract award procedures successfully using the primary procedures of open and restricted tendering.

Course Content

Session 1: Virtual Classroom Session (2.5 hours)

• Summary of National and EU Rules
• Key Government Circulars
• The key features of good procurement
• Defining contracts
  • Supplies
  • Works
  • Services
  • Title III
  • Concessions
• Thresholds and Valuing Contracts
• The role of a specification
  • Features of good specifications
  • Greening your specification
• Questions and Answers session

Session 2: Virtual Classroom Session (2.5 hours)

• Setting selection criteria
  • Art. 57
  • Financial Criteria
  • Technical Criteria
  • European Single Procurement Document
  • Rules for open versus multi-stage (qualification stage)
• Setting award Criteria
  • Price
  • Cost Effectiveness
  • Best Price Quality Ratio – Role of quality & cost
  • Pricing documents
• Procedures
  • Open
  • Restricted
  • Competitive Dialogue
  • Competitive Procedure with Negotiation
  • Flexible procedures for Title III / Concessions
• Questions and Answers

Session 3: Virtual Classroom Session (2.5 hours)

• Contracts versus Framework Agreements
  • Contracts with options
  • When to award a contract
  • When to establish a framework agreement
  • Single versus multi party framework agreements
• Panels versus Dynamic Purchasing Systems
  • When to use a DPS
  • When to use a Panel
• Advertising on eTenders / OJEU
  • Prior Information Notices
  • Calls for Competition
• Questions and Answers

Session 4: Virtual Classroom Session (2.5 hours)

• Receiving and evaluation at selection stage
  • Applications in multi-stage procedures
  • Notification letters for unsuccessful applicants
  • Assessment of pass/fail selection criteria in open procedure
  • Managing responses with ESPDs
• Evaluation of Tenders
  • Assessing qualitative criteria
  • Assessing cost
  • Notification letters and compliant content
  • Award notices
  • Art. 84 Reports
• Modification of Contracts
• Questions and Answers

Cost

€895 per participant. All training costs are VAT exempt.
There is a 10% discount when 3 or more places are booked on this course.