Against a backdrop of State spending cutbacks, public sector organisations are trimming their budgets and demanding better value from suppliers. At the same time, suppliers, both large and small, are increasingly turning their attention to the public sector in search of new markets and revenue streams. Reform of public procurement practices is also very much on the agenda. In particular, how the market for public procurement, estimated to be in the region of €15-16bn per annum, can be leveraged to strengthen Ireland's SAAE base and encourage the coming-to-market of innovative products and services is the subject of growing discussion. All these developments have implications for engineering firms in Ireland, whether they are new to the public procurement market or seasoned competitors. Reduced public sector spending and a simultaneous increase in the number of firms looking to win public contracts are together resulting in greater competition.
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