The organisations we have listed below offer comprehensive data on construction projects across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. They will generally cover new build, refurbishment and fit-out of commercial, industrial and residential buildings. Mostly, the data is disseminated to clients on a daily or weekly basis, having been gathered by a network of dedicated researchers. This information is largely based on submitted planning applications and the systems used continually track the progress of each stage of a given project, from pre-planning through to sub-contracting.
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Barbour ABI
Organisations accessing UK project leads will be familiar with Barbour ABI and a subscription to its market intelligence services can be extended to also include information covering both Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
Building Information Ireland
Building Information Ireland is a provider of researched construction project activity.
Construction Information Services (CIS)
CIS provides comprehensive, researched, verified and real-time information on all building projects.
Noticeboard Project Finder
Provided by ConQuest, the Noticeboard Project Finder is an online construction leads service helping subcontractors and suppliers find more work.
Tendering
In terms of public sector tendering, the government's e-tendering website, eTenders, is managed by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) and is a platform where all public sector contracting authorities advertise procurement opportunities and award notices. Suppliers may register with the service, free-of-charge, via the supplier registration page. See also the Benefits of eTenders to Suppliers leaflet.
Enterprise Ireland, the government's business support agency, has produced a comprehensive publication entitled Guide to Tendering for Public Sector Contracts in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Covering over 90 pages, it provides extensive information for suppliers on the key aspects of tendering, and includes chapters such as:
- How Public Organisations Purchase Goods and Services
- Evaluating the Market and Promoting Your Company
- Tender Advertisement
- Responding to a Tender Invitation
It also provides an informative explanation of the procurement process in Ireland, which is summarised as follows:
- Budget
Budgets are a common feature for public sector buyers. Sometimes a Request for Quote (RFQ) might be sought to ensure sufficient funding is available. - Document Preparation
The tender pack will include specifications, terms and conditions, selection criteria and award criteria. - Advertisement
Depending on the value of the contract, the tender will be notified directly to suppliers or through notices on the eTenders website, in the press, or OJEU. - Candidate Selection
If only a restricted number of suppliers will be invited to submit a full tender they will be selected using objective assessment of financial and technical criteria. - Bid Preparation
The suppliers selected to submit bids prepare their responses in accordance with the directions given in the tender documentation. - Evaluate Bids
All completed bids received by the deadline are evaluated against objective award criteria. - Award Contract
The contract is awarded to the supplier whose tender has been evaluated as best fulfilling the award criteria - Contract Management
Contract management includes all aspects of the relationship between the supplier and purchaser until the contract is completed.
Construction Procurement Reform
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is responsible for implementing national policy on public procurement, particularly in relation to construction procurement. The government's website, Construction Procurement Reform, was developed to assist in the reform of public sector construction procurement and “.....to help address concerns about the extent of cost overruns on public works and construction consultancy contracts, and to eliminate such cost overruns through better planning and greater use of the works contracts and conditions of engagement by means of optimal risk transfer to contractors and consultants who are best placed to manage and control such risks.”
Whilst much of the information concerns detailed procedural reform, it may provide some useful information on the latest changes to tendering practices for established businesses.
Meet the Buyer Platforms
Meet the buyer events can provide suppliers with an excellent opportunity to meet main contractors and other key construction decision makers, often including those from the state sectors. The National Development Finance Agency sometimes operates such events relating to construction opportunities in state funded projects. Also, the website of InterTrade Ireland is useful. Events are sometimes publicised only a couple of months beforehand, so it is worth checking these sites periodically.
Procurex Live Ireland is an annual meet the buyer event, exhibition and conference, principally designed to facilitate networking between buyers and suppliers. Delegates can pre-arrange individual one-to-one appointments to meet attending buyers, from both the public and private sectors.