Census of Social Enterprises in Ireland to update and expand the 2023 Baseline Data Collection Exercise

Department of Rural and Community Development_158143

The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) was established in July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland. The Department’s Mission is “to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland”. In 2019 the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) published the National Social Enterprise Policy 2019-2022 which sought to create an enabling environment for social enterprise in Ireland to grow and contribute to Ireland’s social and economic progress. One of the policy actions committed to “Improve data collection relating to the extent of Social Enterprise in Ireland and the areas in which social enterprises operate”. A baseline data collection exercise was commissioned by the department. The resultant document entitled 'Social Enterprises in Ireland A Baseline Data Collection Exercise ' was published by DRCDG in 2023. The second National Social Enterprise Policy – Trading for Impact was published by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in July 2024. ‘Trading for Impact’ has been designed to cultivate and sustain a strong and impactful social enterprise sector in Ireland that enriches the social, environmental, and economic wellbeing of our communities. The policy details five key objectives: • Building Awareness of Social Enterprise • Growing and Sustaining Social Enterprise • Supporting the Green Transition • National and International Engagement • Impact Measurement Action No 51 of Trading for Impact commits to to undertake a Census of Social Enterprises in Ireland to update and expand the 2023 Baseline Data Collection Exercise. The successful service provider will be required to deliver a two-stage stakeholder driven project to the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht: Stage 1 – In conjunction with the Department of Rural and Community Development, to review and update the methodology used in the Social Enterprises in Ireland A Baseline Data Collection Exercise published by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in 2023. Upon satisfactory completion of Stage 1, Stage 2 – To conduct a Census of Social Enterprises in Ireland in collaboration with social enterprise networks, present a preliminary report with headline findings followed by a comprehensive report about the scale, scope and nature of the social enterprise population in Ireland. The data collected to be presented in an anonymised format and, in accordance with a commitment in Trading For Impact, made publicly available in line with the 2023-2027 Open Data Strategy, which states that Government data should be open by default and design. Full details of this research project can be found in the associated Request for Tender Document.

Deadline
The time limit for receipt of tenders was 2025-11-17. The procurement was published on 2025-10-23.

Who?

What?

Where?

Procurement history
Date Document
2025-10-23 Contract notice
Contract notice (2025-10-23)
Object
Scope of the procurement
Title: Census of Social Enterprises in Ireland to update and expand the 2023 Baseline Data Collection Exercise
Short description:
“The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) was established in July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on...”    Show more
Type of contract: Services
Products/services: Research services 📦
Estimated value excluding VAT: 100 000 EUR 💰
Description
Description of the procurement:
“The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) was established in July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on...”    Show more
Main site or place of performance:
“Research will be published on DRCDG Website”
Duration: 12 (MONTH)
The time frame below is expressed in number of months.
Title
Lot Identification Number: LOT-0001

Procedure
Type of procedure
Open procedure
Accelerated procedure:
“The Contract must be in place in early December 2025”
Administrative information
Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 2025-11-17 18:00:00 📅
Conditions for opening of tenders: 2025-11-18 00:00:00 📅
Conditions for opening of tenders (place): https://www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/cft/prepareViewCfTWS.do?resourceId=6850315
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English 🗣️
Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender: 6

Contracting authority
Name and addresses
Name: Department of Rural and Community Development_158143
National registration number: 158143
Postal address: 10-11 Trinity Point, Leinster Street South
Postal code: D02EF85
Postal town: Dublin
Region: Dublin 🏙️
Country: Ireland 🇮🇪
E-mail: kevin.holmes@drcd.gov.ie 📧
Phone: 013591101 📞
Address of the buyer profile: www.drcdg.gov.ie 🌏
Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
Main activity
General public services
Communication
Documents URL: https://www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/cft/listContractDocuments.do?resourceId=6850315 🌏
Participation URL: https://www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/cft/viewTenders.do?resourceId=6850315 🌏

Complementary information
Review body
Name: The High Court of Ireland
National registration number: The High Court of Ireland
Postal address: Four Courts, Inns Quay, Dublin 7
Postal code: D07 WDX8
Postal town: Dublin
Region: Dublin 🏙️
Country: Ireland 🇮🇪
E-mail: highcourtcentraloffice@courts.ie 📧
Phone: +353 1 8886000 📞
Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Name: The High Court of Ireland
National registration number: The High Court of Ireland
Postal address: Four Courts, Inns Quay, Dublin 7
Postal code: D07 WDX8
Postal town: Dublin
Region: Dublin 🏙️
Country: Ireland 🇮🇪
E-mail: highcourtcentraloffice@courts.ie 📧
Phone: +353 1 8886000 📞
Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
Source: OJS 2025/S 206-707590 (2025-10-23)