OGP Commercial Cleaning Framework: What Cleaning Companies Need to Know

What Is the OGP?

The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) is a division of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Established in 2014, the OGP centralises procurement for goods and services across the Irish public sector. Its mandate is to deliver value for money, ensure compliance with procurement law, and make it easier for businesses — including SMEs — to supply the government.

Before the OGP, each government department, local authority, and state agency ran its own procurement. This led to fragmented purchasing, inconsistent standards, and limited opportunities for smaller suppliers. The OGP consolidates demand across government, creates framework agreements for common goods and services, and provides procurement guidance to all public bodies.

Commercial cleaning is one of the OGP’s largest frameworks. Cleaning services are needed in every government building, court, Garda station, military installation, public office, and state-funded facility in Ireland. The centralised framework streamlines procurement for public bodies and provides a structured route to market for cleaning companies.

The Commercial Cleaning Framework Structure

The OGP commercial cleaning framework is a multi-supplier, multi-lot agreement designed to cover all commercial cleaning requirements across the Irish public sector. The framework has an estimated annual value of approximately €88 million.

The framework operates on a call-off basis. Public bodies that need cleaning services browse the approved supplier list, run a mini-competition among framework suppliers, and award the contract. This is faster and simpler than running a full public tender each time.

How Call-Offs Work

1. A public body identifies a cleaning requirement (new contract, contract renewal, or contract expansion)
2. They issue a Request for Tender (RFT) to all framework suppliers in the relevant lot
3. Framework suppliers submit a tailored response within the stated timeline (typically 2–4 weeks)
4. The public body evaluates responses against pre-agreed criteria
5. The contract is awarded to the highest-scoring supplier

Not every call-off goes to the cheapest supplier. Evaluation criteria are set at framework level and typically include quality, methodology, and price. Established framework suppliers with strong track records have an advantage in call-offs because they can reference existing public sector performance.

Lot Breakdown

The framework is divided into lots by estimated annual contract value. This structure is specifically designed to allow cleaning companies of different sizes to participate. You can apply for multiple lots, but you must demonstrate the capacity to deliver in each lot you target.

The lot structure may also include geographic sub-lots in some framework iterations, allowing regional companies to compete for work in their area without needing national coverage.

Eligibility Criteria

To be admitted to the OGP cleaning framework, you must demonstrate compliance across several categories. The requirements scale with the lot(s) you are applying for.

Financial Capacity

• Minimum annual turnover: typically 1.5–2x the maximum annual contract value for the lot. For Lot 1 (€50K), expect a minimum turnover requirement of €75,000–€100,000. For Lot 3 (€1M), expect €1.5M–€2M.
• Financial statements: audited accounts for the last 2–3 years, or certified management accounts for newer companies
• Tax clearance: current tax clearance certificate from Revenue (mandatory, non-negotiable)

Technical Capacity

• Relevant experience: evidence of delivering cleaning contracts of similar size and complexity within the last 3–5 years. Provide client references with contract values and scope.
• Staffing capacity: demonstrate that you have (or can recruit) sufficient cleaning operatives and supervisors to deliver the lot. Include your approach to recruitment, retention, and absence management.
• Quality management: ISO 9001 certification is strongly preferred. If not certified, you must demonstrate an equivalent quality management system with documented procedures, auditing, and continuous improvement.
• Environmental management: ISO 14001 is increasingly expected. Green procurement is a priority for the OGP. Demonstrate your approach to sustainable cleaning, chemical reduction, waste minimisation, and energy efficiency.

Insurance Requirements

• Public liability: minimum €6.5 million per occurrence (Lots 3–4 may require €13 million)
• Employer’s liability: minimum €13 million (strongly recommended and standard industry practice). See our cleaning company insurance guide for details.
• Professional indemnity: minimum €1.3 million
• Motor insurance: comprehensive cover for any vehicles used in service delivery

Compliance Requirements

• ERO compliance: confirmation that all cleaning operatives are paid at or above the Employment Regulation Order minimum rate (€14.80/hr in 2026)
• Garda vetting: arrangements for Garda vetting of staff working in sensitive environments. See our Garda vetting guide.
• Health and safety: documented H&S policy, risk assessment procedures, Safe Pass for relevant staff, COSHH compliance. See our COSHH guide.
• Data protection: GDPR compliance statement, data processing agreements, staff training on data handling
• ESPD (European Single Procurement Document): completed and signed. This covers grounds for exclusion and selection criteria in a standard EU format.

How to Become an Approved Supplier

The process for joining the OGP cleaning framework follows this timeline:

Step 1: Monitor eTenders

Framework competitions are published on eTenders (www.etenders.gov.ie). Register and set up alerts for CPV code 90910000. The competition will be published when the current framework is nearing expiry or when the OGP decides to refresh the supplier panel. For guidance on eTenders, see our cleaning tenders guide.

Step 2: Attend Information Sessions

The OGP typically hosts information sessions (often called “Meet the Buyer” events) before major framework competitions. These sessions explain the framework structure, evaluation criteria, and application process. Attendance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended. They also provide an opportunity to ask questions and network.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application

Before the competition opens, prepare:

• Updated company insurance certificates
• Current tax clearance certificate
• Latest audited financial statements
• Client references (3–5 relevant contracts with contact details, values, and scope descriptions)
• Quality management documentation (ISO 9001 certificate or equivalent QMS)
• Environmental management documentation (ISO 14001 or equivalent EMS)
• Health and safety policy and Safe Pass records
• ERO compliance statement and sample payroll evidence
• Garda vetting policy and procedures
• Company capability statement (2–4 pages summarising your experience, capacity, and service approach)

Step 4: Submit Your Application

Complete and submit the application through eTenders before the deadline. This typically includes the ESPD, a detailed questionnaire, financial evidence, and supporting documentation. Ensure every mandatory field is completed and every required document is attached. Late or incomplete submissions will be disqualified.

Step 5: Evaluation and Notification

The OGP evaluation team scores all applications against the published criteria. Successful applicants receive a notification of admission to the framework. Unsuccessful applicants receive a debrief explaining where they fell short — use this feedback to strengthen your next application.

Pricing Within the Framework

Framework pricing is not fixed at the point of admission. When you join the framework, you may be asked to submit indicative pricing or maximum rates. However, actual pricing is determined at the call-off stage through mini-competitions.

Key pricing considerations:

• ERO floor: your pricing must support payment of at least the ERO rate (€14.80/hr in 2026) plus all employer costs. Any pricing that appears to undercut this floor will raise compliance concerns.
• Annual escalation: include a provision for annual price adjustment linked to ERO rate increases. Public bodies expect and accept this. A framework without an escalation mechanism will erode your margins over 2–4 years.
• Blended rates: for contracts requiring evening, night, and Sunday work, present a blended hourly rate that accounts for the unsocial hours premium and Sunday double time. Be transparent about how the blend is calculated.
• Materials: specify whether cleaning materials and consumables are included in the hourly rate or priced separately. Most framework call-offs expect an all-inclusive rate, but some may separate labour from materials.

For detailed pricing methodology, see our commercial cleaning cost guide.

Compliance During the Framework Period

Being admitted to the framework is not the end of the process. You must maintain compliance throughout the framework period:

• Keep insurance certificates current and provide updated certificates annually
• Maintain tax clearance at all times
• Continue to comply with ERO wage rates, including annual increases
• Report any material changes to your company (ownership, financial difficulty, loss of key certifications)
• Respond to mini-competition invitations within the stated deadlines
• Deliver contracted services to the agreed specification and KPIs

Poor performance on call-off contracts can lead to suspension or removal from the framework. Conversely, strong performance builds your reputation and makes you more competitive in future call-offs.

Benefits of Being on the Framework

• Guaranteed pipeline: public bodies are required to use the framework where one exists, creating a steady stream of opportunities
• Simplified process: call-offs are faster and less administratively burdensome than full tenders
• Credential building: OGP framework membership is a recognised mark of quality that helps win private sector work too
• Multi-year visibility: frameworks run for 2–4 years, giving you a medium-term planning horizon
• Payment certainty: government payments are reliable, typically within 15–30 days under the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act