How much competition does a tender for R&D services in Ireland face?
A median of 3 bids per procedure; 26% of procedures ended with a single bidder (341 awards with a bid count). National average for Ireland across all sectors: 5.1 bids.
Search open tenders in this sector · Country guide Ireland
The market norm in numbers
| Metric | Sector | National average | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bids per procedure (median) | 3 | 5.1 | 341 |
| Procedures with a single bidder | 26 % | 17 % | 341 |
| Awards to a repeat winner | 36 % | 46 % | 568 |
| Distinct winners | 389 | 16,538 | 576 |
| Awards to companies from abroad | 22 % | 9 % | 576 |
| Award relative to estimate (median) | 100 % | 99 % | 98 |
| Notice to award (median) | – | – | 0 |
| Bids from SMEs | – | 100 % | 0 |
| Bids from abroad | – | – | 0 |
| Weight of price in award criteria (median) | – | – | 0 |
How to read these numbers
Of 40 sectors in Ireland with a bid count, R&D services ranks 25 for competition. A fifth to a third of procedures have one bidder — a bid pays off even without the best price. 36% of awards went to companies that had already won with the same buyer — buyers switch often here.
Other sectors in the same country
- Construction work5 · 4,989
- Architecture & engineering6 · 4,640
- Business services6 · 4,406
- IT services5 · 3,060
- Hotel & restaurant services3 · 2,475
- Transport equipment3 · 1,221
- Education & training5 · 1,114
- Printed matter4 · 974
- Environment & sanitation4 · 942
- Laboratory & optical equipment2 · 826
- Health & social work12 · 800
- Financial & insurance services7 · 765
Frequently asked questions
How many bidders does a tender for R&D services in Ireland get?
A median of 3 bids per procedure, measured on 341 awards with a bid count since 2013. 26% of procedures had a single bidder.
How often does the incumbent win in Ireland?
36% of awards in R&D services went to a company that had already won with the same buyer.
Do foreign companies stand a chance in Ireland for R&D services?
22% of awards went to companies based outside Ireland.
What share of the estimate does the winner get in R&D services?
The award came in at a median 100% of the estimated value.
How much does price count for R&D services in Ireland?
Not enough weighted notices for this sector yet.
Where the numbers come from
From the documented awards of every portal we read (TED and the national portals), aggregated every night. Bid counts come from the award notices themselves (TED BT-759, PLACSP, OCDS, Hilma, ANAC); incumbency counts whether the winner had won with the same buyer before; abroad means the winner's country differs from the buyer's. Metrics below the minimum sample are not shown.
As of 08/09/2026 · n = 576