Ireland – Economic impact assessment – Multi-Supplier Framework Agreement for the Provision of Consultants to Support the Infrastructure Guidelines 2023

In fulfilling its remit the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Property Management Unit (PMU) operates within and according to the Infrastructure Guidelines (previously the Public Spending Codes), and is responsible, as a sponsoring agency, for conducting a range of analyses, appraisals and reports at different stages of the project lifecycle, as well as for ensuring its approach to buildings and infrastructure management, development and provision adheres to the principles and protocols contained within the Guidelines. The Infrastructure Guidelines (previously the Public Spending Codes) is a set of rules and procedures which must be followed to ensure value for money requirements for the evaluation, planning, and management of public expenditure in Ireland are upheld across the Irish public service. The Guidelines were consolidated and updated in 2023, and its scope covers the evaluation, planning and management of both the current and capital expenditure activities of public bodies. All public bodies have a duty to ensure compliance with the Guidelines, and to report on such compliance routinely as part of their normal delegated duties and responsibilities. It is DFA’s intention up to engage up to four framework members from the Framework Agreement to carry out business cases and economic appraisals in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines for a number of upcoming Department property projects. It is expected that the majority of the service will be carried out over the four year term with additional associated and varied economic services required during the contract period.