Food Safety Authority of Ireland

Procurement Intelligence

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is a statutory, science-based agency under the Department of Health responsible for the enforcement and oversight of food safety regulation across Ireland.[1][8][10] It operates from The Exchange, IFSC, Dublin 1, and manages national food safety monitoring, risk assessment, and advisory functions, supported by a mix of technical, regulatory, and corporate services.[5][11] Procurement is conducted primarily via the national eTenders platform, with competitive tendering as the standard approach and use of Office of Government Procurement (OGP) frameworks where appropriate.[1][8] Core procurement categories evidenced in recent tenders include **IT services** (helpdesk, network support, telephony), **professional and scientific services** (analytical and diet study work), and **facilities/front-of-house and corporate support services**.[2][4][5][11]

Strategic Context

FSAI’s corporate governance framework emphasises robust procurement controls and competitive tendering, and a Contract Procurement Plan for 2023–2024 was prepared to address contracts highlighted by the Comptroller & Auditor General, indicating active scrutiny of procurement and contract renewal.[8][10][13] A periodic critical review in 2024 noted that contracts have been appropriately procured, with remaining contracts subject to ongoing public tender processes, suggesting a programme of corrective action and structured tendering over recent years.[10][13] Budget allocations for the health vote in Budget 2024 frame FSAI’s funding environment, with its spending focused on operational programmes (surveillance, research, enforcement support) rather than large capital works, which shapes a steady, service-heavy procurement profile.[9][10]

Updated 30 August 2026