In the framework document Our Public Service 2020 (OPS-2020), Action-6 under the Innovation pillar specifically mentions Robotic Process Automation (RPA) as an efficiency tool to “help public service organisations to deliver leaner, faster and cheaper back-office functions”.

In late 2016 and throughout 2017, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform ran a pilot study and invited Civil Service organisations to propose a number of processes they deemed suitable and commit some personnel to engage in training, process optimization, robot development and testing. The four departments that were selected were Revenue, NSSO, Public Appointment Service and Property Registration Authority. A Project Board was established to oversee and evaluate the pilot.

When the pilot was evaluated in December 2017, 14 processes had been automated between the four organisations and the final report deemed the pilot a success. One of the report recommendations was that a procurement framework agreement be written to make accessing RPA related services easier for the wider public services. In cooperation with the OGP, DPER published an RPA Framework Agreement and in August 2019 this was awarded to Deloitte. The framework agreement can be accessed from this OGP link.

In December 2020, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) and the RPA Framework Agreement were awarded the top prize in the National Procurement Awards for the Most Innovative Use of Technology. The RPA Framework Agreement beat other highly respected entries from the private sector. Please click on the image below to view the video.

Key Contacts

Please note that the RPA Framework Agreement is only available to Civil and Public Service organisations. Semi-State organisations and private sector organisations are not included in the agreement.

• Reform Delivery Office in DPER at this email rpa@per.gov.ie
• Office of Government Procurement at this email rpa@ogp.gov.ie
• Deloitte’s RPA Framework team at this email IE_GPS_RPA@deloitte.ie