Ross McCarthy, Author at Keystone Procurement

What is a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)?

In the realm of public procurement within the European Union (EU), Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) are becoming a workhorse for delivering value for money across the 27 states. In Finland, over 90% of tenders are now done through DPS systems as they digitise their workflows and focus their skilled buyers on…

Ross McCarthy13th September 2023

Procurement Sourcing

How to run a tender process to buy goods

Buying goods can be deceptive. On the one hand, it is relatively easy to buy goods. You source the goods, you pay for them and you hopefully get the right items, at the right time, in the right place, at the right quality and price (the five rights). This is…

Ross McCarthy18th August 2023

Procurement Strategy

How to run a competitive procedure with negotiation in the EU

There are a total of six formal procurement procedures for running EU tender processes using the classic procurement directive. These are: The Open Process, The restricted process The competitive dialogue The innovation partnership The negotiated procedure without market notice The competitive procedure with negotiation This article focuses on the competitive…

Ross McCarthy2nd August 2023

Procurement Strategy

The top five procurement firms in Ireland

Who are the top five procurement firms in Ireland? It can be challenging to seek procurement advice as it necessitates trust in a procurement company. If your organisation must adhere to EU and national regulations when acquiring goods, services or works, you will depend on the procurement company to assist…

Ross McCarthy18th July 2023

Procurement Sourcing

Using z-score models to assist financial due diligence

The use of Z-score models can help you to evaluate the financial credibility of companies, whether they are buyers or suppliers. Completing such risk assessments is of particular importance for your company, especially if your revenue earning capabilities is dependent on a limited number of buyers or suppliers. In addition,…

Ross McCarthy4th July 2023

Bid Management

Contract Management Issues – the most common problems for contractors

In this article, we are going to focus on the contract management issues in public sector construction (works). A lot of the risk in public works contracts arises from how variations (or required changes based on matters that arise in the course of construction) are managed. Some of these issues…

Ross McCarthy23rd June 2023

Procurement Sourcing

Overview of what the EU CSD Directive means for businesses

The European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU CSD Directive) represents a significant milestone in the realm of corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices. The directive, proposed by the European Commission, aims to enhance the accountability of companies and strengthen their obligations regarding environmental and human rights impacts…

Ross McCarthy8th June 2023

Procurement Strategy

What do scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions mean for green public procurement?

Procurement professionals need to have an understanding of what green procurement or sustainable procurement means. Green Public Procurement takes a different approach to the private sector when it comes to integrating green considerations into its purchasing processes. In our view, the approach of the private sector is clearer and easier…

Ross McCarthy17th May 2023

Procurement Sourcing

Key considerations when buying from overseas suppliers

We work with clients regularly to help them source from near and far shore overseas suppliers. Whether a company is sourcing from the southern mediterranean, far east Asia (from a European point of view) or from another place, caution is advised. How to vet overseas suppliers Overseas suppliers should be…

Ross McCarthy2nd May 2023

Procurement Strategy

How to run effective supplier review meetings

Decision-makers in organisations should be meeting their suppliers regularly to review their performance in meeting their requirements. Whether things are going well or not, suppliers need to be actively managed to drive high performance. Unless contract managers are holding supplier review meetings with structured plans and goals, they are simply…

Ross McCarthy21st April 2023