Security Tenders Ireland — How to Find and Win Public Sector Security Contracts

Security services are among the most consistently procured categories across the Irish public sector. Government buildings, courthouses, HSE facilities, universities, and state-owned venues all require manned guarding, alarm monitoring, and access control — and under public procurement rules, contracts above threshold must be advertised and competed. For security companies with Private Security Authority (PSA) licences, these contracts offer steady recurring revenue from creditworthy buyers.

This guide covers how public security procurement works in Ireland, where to find contracts, and what licensing and evidence you need to qualify.

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Who Buys Security Services

The range of Irish public bodies procuring security is wider than many operators realise:

OPW and government estates The Office of Public Works manages security contracts across government buildings, Garda stations, courthouses, ministerial accommodation, and heritage sites. OPW security contracts are among the most valuable in the Irish market.

HSE and health sector Hospital security — particularly emergency departments, mental health units, and maternity hospitals — is procured through regional HSE contracts and individual hospital frameworks. Additional specialist requirements apply in these settings.

Department of Justice and state agencies The Irish Prison Service, the Probation Service, the Courts Service, and Tusla (the Child and Family Agency) all procure security services for their estates. Enhanced vetting and operational procedures typically apply.

Local authorities Civic offices, libraries, sports facilities, public parks (seasonal), and housing schemes. Many local authorities combine security with concierge or caretaking services in single contracts.

Third-level institutions Universities and institutes of technology run campus security contracts directly. Scale ranges from single-building coverage to full-campus multi-year frameworks.

Cultural and heritage bodies The National Gallery, the National Museum, the Chester Beatty, Dublin Castle, and similar venues procure specialist security combining visitor-facing duties with asset protection.

Transport operators Dublin Bus, Irish Rail, and Bus Éireann procure security for stations, depots, and occasionally for on-vehicle services. These operate under utilities procurement rules.

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The PSA Licensing Requirement

All manned guarding, electronic security installation, alarm monitoring, and locksmith services provided in Ireland on a commercial basis require a licence from the Private Security Authority (PSA). Public procurement will never award a contract to an operator without the relevant PSA licence.

PSA licence categories relevant to public contracts:

Contractors must hold an employer licence for the relevant sector, and every individual employee must hold a personal PSA licence. Contracting authorities verify both before award.

Practical point: If your company operates across multiple sectors (e.g., static guarding + event security + CCTV monitoring), you need separate licences for each. Many tenders require the operator to cover multiple categories — incomplete licensing rules you out.

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Threshold Structure for Security Contracts

Most commercial security contracts fall between €50,000 and €1 million per annum. Major multi-site OPW, HSE, or local authority contracts can exceed €5 million over a 3-year term.

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How to Find Security Tenders

TenderWatch facilities sector page

Browse live security, cleaning, and facilities contracts at /category/facilities. The sector classifier automatically groups security-related notices so you do not have to filter through unrelated procurements.

eTenders.gov.ie — key CPV codes

Set up eTenders alerts for these CPV codes. See the CPV codes explained guide for the full taxonomy.

TED (Tenders Electronic Daily)

High-value multi-site contracts — particularly OPW national contracts and HSE regional contracts — will appear on TED for EU-wide publication. TenderWatch pulls Irish TED notices automatically.

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Qualification Requirements

Irish public security tenders have more rigorous qualification requirements than most services contracts, reflecting the operational and reputational risk involved.

PSA licensing (mandatory)

• Current PSA employer licence for every sector covered by the tender
• Evidence that all relevant staff hold current personal licences
• No licence suspensions, revocations, or material conditions in the past 3-5 years

Financial standing

• Annual turnover typically 2× estimated contract value
• Filed accounts (CRO)
• Bank reference or equivalent
• Evidence of no insolvency proceedings

Insurance

• Public liability insurance — usually minimum €6.5M, sometimes €10M for high-risk sites
• Employer’s liability insurance — statutory minimum, often required to be higher
• Product liability for equipment installation contracts
• Professional indemnity for monitoring and alarm response contracts

Vetting and integrity

• All operational staff subject to Garda vetting (mandatory for healthcare, education, and Tusla sites)
• AS/EN 50131 or equivalent for alarm system installers
• National Security Inspectorate (NSI) or SSAIB certification for CCTV and alarm installers (UK standards often accepted in Ireland)

Technical capability

• Reference contracts of similar type and scale — 2-3 in past 3 years
• Named contract manager with relevant experience and qualifications
• Evidence of incident management procedures
• Business continuity and disaster recovery plans
• Control room capability (if manned guarding involves centralised monitoring)

Training records

• Induction training records for all operational staff
• Ongoing CPD records
• Specialised training for high-risk sites (mental health awareness for HSE contracts, conflict management for licensed premises, etc.)

Working time compliance

• Evidence of compliance with the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997
• Rostering procedures that respect rest periods and maximum weekly working hours
• Particular attention in public contracts to avoid excessive shifts that raise safety concerns

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What Gets Scored in Security Tenders

Quality criteria for Irish public security tenders typically include:

Operational methodology

• How the service will be delivered (post assignments, patrol patterns, response procedures)
• Incident management and escalation procedures
• Handover procedures at shift change
• Reporting to the contracting authority

Staff recruitment and retention

• How you will recruit for the specific site
• Pay rates and conditions (must comply with the Employment Regulation Order for the Security Industry)
• Retention and turnover management
• Succession planning for key roles

Training

• Induction training content and duration
• Site-specific training
• Ongoing CPD and refresher training
• Specialist training for the sector (healthcare, education, cultural, etc.)

Technology

• Electronic patrol monitoring systems
• Reporting and incident management software
• Body-worn cameras (increasingly specified for high-risk sites)
• Integration with the authority’s own systems

Quality assurance

• Inspection regime
• KPI framework and reporting
• Service review meetings
• Complaint management procedures

Social value

• Local recruitment commitments
• Apprenticeship and trainee programmes
• Living wage commitments (scored increasingly on public contracts)

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The Employment Regulation Order — Critical for Pricing

The security industry in Ireland is covered by an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) setting minimum pay and conditions for security operatives. As of early 2026, the ERO hourly rates are substantially above the National Minimum Wage.

Public sector pricing must be ERO-compliant. Contracting authorities check that submitted rates reflect legal pay — bids priced below ERO rates are treated as abnormally low and will be investigated or rejected.

Before submitting a security tender price:

• Confirm current ERO rates for the relevant grade
• Factor in employer PRSI, holiday pay, and training costs
• Include realistic site-specific premiums (nights, weekends, public holidays, overtime)
• Allow for supervisor and management overhead

Under-pricing a security contract to win and then either understaffing or underpaying is a recipe for performance issues, enforcement action, and reputational damage.

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Practical Tips for Winning Security Contracts

1. Get your PSA licensing file in order

Current employer licences, personal licences for named staff, training records, and compliance history should be a single well-organised folder. Tenders that ask for licensing evidence give short response windows.

2. Invest in reference sites that match the target sector

Hospital security is different from office security, which is different from cultural venue security. If you want HSE contracts, demonstrate HSE-comparable experience. If you want OPW, show government accommodation references. Sector-matched references outscore higher-value unrelated references.

3. Address TUPE risk proactively

Many public security contracts involve incumbent staff who transfer under TUPE regulations. Your bid should show you understand the legal process, have handled TUPE before, and have a clear mobilisation plan that manages continuity for transferring staff and the client.

4. Price for the ERO plus realistic overhead

Under-pricing is the most common reason for post-award problems in public security contracts. Price for sustainable delivery — the contracting authority values continuity more than headline rate.

5. Showcase technology without over-selling it

Electronic patrol monitoring, incident reporting software, and body-worn cameras are now standard in public sector security. Describe what you use, how it integrates with the client’s reporting requirements, and what value it adds. Avoid vendor-style claims; focus on the practical benefit.

6. Build a visible track record in the public sector

Public sector security buyers often talk to each other. A clean incident record and strong KPI performance on one contract translates into invitations to quote on the next. Treat every public contract as a reference builder.

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Current Live Security Tenders

Browse all live Irish security and facilities tenders at /category/facilities.

Set up alerts for your target CPV codes at /sign-up to receive notifications when new security contracts are published.

Use the Bid Readiness Checker to assess your qualification documentation before the next tender deadline.