New circular to support Green Public Procurement (GPP)

Overview

The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation has published Circular 17/2025. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP), which operates as part of the Department, was tasked with replacing Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement to include updated instructions to government departments and the public sector regarding new GPP obligations included in Buying Greener: Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027. This Circular replaces previous guidance, issued through Circular 20/2019.

What is included in Circular 17/2025?

The Circular includes 11 GPP actions from Buying Greener under the following themes

• Corporate Procurement Plans
• Accelerating GPP Implementation
• The Built Environment
• GPP Training and Awareness
• GPP Monitoring and Reporting

The Circular also:

• encourages public sector bodies to pay particular consideration to any potential impact on SMEs when applying GPP practices.
• highlights the role that market engagement can play in creating the market conditions needed to deliver sustainable and innovative solutions. In that regard, public sector bodies are encouraged to consider undertaking preliminary market consultations prior to tendering in order to better understand matters, including the capacity of the market to deliver the sustainable solutions.
• encourages public sector bodies to consider the total price of a product including purchase price, operating costs and end of life costs, particularly those associated with disposal or decommissioning.
• promotes the use of central procurement arrangements as a means for public sector bodies to meet their obligation to include GPP criteria in all tender documents, where possible.
• encourages public sector bodies to consider the scope for including wider sustainable considerations, including socially responsible public procurement, in their procurements. This includes taking steps to promote the participation of social enterprises and community-based organisations, particularly when implementing GPP.
• encourages the use of innovation procurement as a strategic tool to find green solutions and deliver on GPP commitments.

What reporting requirements are included in the Circular?

The Circular includes the below reporting requirements, which covers procurement activity from 1 January 2025:

1. All public bodies, subject to the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate, to report explanation in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Monitoring and Reporting system for not including National GPP criteria in published tender documentation for contracts valued over the applicable national procurement thresholds where National GPP criteria are available. This measure is already an existing reporting obligation, for contracts valued over the applicable EU procurement thresholds, that public bodies, reporting through the SEAI Monitoring and Reporting System, and that are subject to the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate, have been fulfilling since 2024.
2. All government departments to capture data in their annual report to the EPA regarding tenders awarded to social enterprises, voluntary and community organisations where GPP criteria have been applied. In line with Circular 20/2019, government departments have already been reporting annually to the EPA on progress in relation to GPP. The EPA will be updating its annual reporting template to take into account this additional reporting requirement.
3. All government departments to report in the annual report to the EPA on GPP implementation in relation to contracts valued over the applicable national procurement thresholds, including explanation for not including GPP criteria in published tender documentation where National GPP criteria are available. In line with Circular 20/2019, government departments have already been reporting annually to the EPA on progress in relation to GPP. The EPA will be updating its annual reporting template to take into account this additional reporting requirement.

To whom will the circular apply?

This Circular applies to all public sector bodies.

When does Circular 17/2025 take effect?

Circular 17/2025 applies with immediate effect.

Are there any supports for including GPP criteria?

Yes, public sector bodies are encouraged to refer to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) GPP Guidance and Criteria and utilise the Office of Government Procurement’s (OGP) online GPP Criteria Search, which facilitates ease of use of the national GPP criteria published by the EPA. GPP Criteria Search allows users to find, select and download relevant criteria for specific procurements, along with an appropriate method of verification, for a wide range of products, services and works.

Frequently Asked Questions

The OGP has developed a list of answers to some questions that public bodies may have regarding Circular 17/2025. Please refer to this FAQ in the first instance before contacting the OGP with any queries. The FAQ can be found below.

This FAQ will be updated so please check the OGP website to ensure that you have downloaded the most recently published version.

Was the SME Test applied to Circular 17/2025?

Yes, the SME Test was applied to Circular 17/2025. The completed SME Test can be found below.

SME Test - GPP Circular 17/2025