Category Management
The State procures a wide range of goods and services from everyday office supplies to complex assets such as vehicle fleets and specialised medical equipment. This spend now amounts to over €20 billion annually. Given this scale of investment, it is essential that the Public Service operates in a coordinated, efficient manner that delivers sustainable value for money for the taxpayer.
Established in 2015 under the centralised procurement model, the EPS is responsible for sourcing goods and services within its designated categories on behalf of the Public Service. Working in partnership with the OGP and sector-based procurement functions, the EPS helps ensure that the Public Service engages with the market in a unified and strategic way. This approach reduces duplication, leverages purchasing scale, and aligns with best practice across both the public and private sectors, supporting the wider reform programme led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
EPS delivers a professional, compliant, and value-driven sourcing service, underpinned by a whole life-cycle cost approach and a strong commitment to meeting customer needs. Funded and supported by the Department of Education, EPS plays both operational and strategic roles within the education sector.
Under the OGP Category Management Model, EPS is responsible for sourcing in the areas of Laboratory and Research Diagnostics, Services and Equipment; Agriculture and Veterinary Goods and Services; and Library Goods and Services. In addition, EPS is responsible for supporting the implementation of national procurement policies and procedures across the education sector.
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