Many SMEs missing vital business opportunities by not knowing the public procurement system – Mitchell O’Connor

Many small businesses are missing opportunities to secure public contracts, not because of red tape or because they don’t want them, but because they simply don’t know the procurement system. That’s according to Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell-O’Connor. Ahead of a conference she’s holding on the topic in Killiney on Tuesday morning, Deputy Mitchell-O’Connor said many businesses are missing potentially valuable contracts, when they don’t need to.

She said: “A survey I’ve undertaken of SMEs in my own constituency of Dun Laoghaire, has shown me that some businesses are losing out on public contracts unnecessarily. Some of the data is surprising, and shows a widespread disillusion with and misunderstanding of the procurement system. That’s a pity, when simply by informing yourself, you can put yourself in the frame for public sector contracts.

“According to my information, one in five businesses has never even tendered for a public contract, one in three thought it took too much time to tender and a third said it was too expensive. Many felt the deadlines were too tight, while more than a quarter of SMEs weren’t even registered on the Government’s e-tendering website. Many others felt the process was inefficient and many others said it was not transparent or open.

“This is why I’ve asked the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Brian Hayes TD – who is responsible for public procurement – to meet with small business owners in the Dun Laoghaire area, hear their concerns, and explain how the system works to them. It is only by understanding how things work that businesses can do what everyone needs to do in a recovery – maximise their opportunities.”