Keystone Procurement was founded in 2014 with a mission to help your organisation to buy better
Founders Ross McCarthy and Donnacha Phelan first experienced public procurement when working for one of the “big four” management consultancy firms in Ireland.
They recognised that the challenges that buyers face:
- the market is vast and complex making it difficult to navigate
- suppliers struggle to communicate what they can actually offer in their responses to tenders
Donnacha and Ross developed their own approach to procurement which is designed to help both sides – buyers and suppliers – to do better.
The Keystone Procurement process is helping to change how things are done, in a very positive way.
Their expertise, creativity in solutions and attention to detail has helped scores of government, not for profit companies and charities to get better value for their spend and to do so in a way that builds confidence in their organisation.
At the same time, Keystone Procurement has succeeded in transforming the way suppliers are able to respond to tenders – delivering more value to the buyer and eradicating risk.
Keystone Procurement is also passionate about sourcing with sustainability in mind – working with suppliers closer to home and shortening supply chains.
The company is headquartered in Dublin and Wexford and services clients across the EU.
To discuss your procurement requirements, arrange a call or email Keystone Procurement.
Meet Ross McCarthy,
Co-Founder and Managing Director
Ross McCarthy’s career in procurement spans over two decades over which he has developed a reputation for innovative solutions and has delivered exceptional results for a wide range of clients across a variety of sectors. Before setting up Keystone Procurement, Ross worked for some of the leading consultancy firms and in telecoms.
Ross holds a Masters in International Relations and a BA in European Business from Dublin City University. He attained a Diplôme en Études Supérieures Européennes de Management from l’École Supérieures de Commerce Reims in France and a Diploma in Procurement and Supply from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS). He is a member of CIPS and has fluent French. Ross is a Board Member of the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association and Vice President of SME United, an influential European orgainsation representing over 20m SMEs across Europe in Brussels. He is committed to ongoing professional development and industry excellence.
An ability to navigate complex procurement landscapes with ease as well as a deep understanding of market dynamics and a keen eye for detail are some of the traits that Ross is reknowned for.
Ross values integrity and family. He is innately curious. He loves reading, music, rugby and is interested in horticulture and food. Time outside of work is spent with family at his home in the South East of Ireland.
Meet Donnacha Phelan,
Co-Founder and Director of Programmes
Donnacha has extensive experience of both the buy and supply-side of Public Procurement.Specialising in technology procurement, Donnacha works extensively with buyers to develop and manage their requests for tenders and obtain the best value for money from the marketplace across a wide range of sectors including capital works, services, and goods and supplies.An experienced bid manager, he has also worked with suppliers to develop winning tenders and bids.Donnacha is an experienced trainer and mentor who has designed and delivered many procurement related courses for both public sector buyers and suppliers alike. He is also a regular contributor to events and conferences on public procurement topics.
Donnacha has worked in professional services as a consultant for almost 20 years.He has a keen interest in technologiy and innovation and attaining a BSc and MSc by research on AI and Computer Science in University College Dublin.This skillset allowed Donnacha to play a leading role in the design of Sluamor.com, a start-up that operated from 2017 to 2023 as an innovative online B2B procurement platform for suppliers and buyers of goods and services. In 2023, he helped to integrate Sluamor into Keystone Procurement in order to streamline our market offering.A project he really enjoyed was the development of an approach to cloud-based SaaS procurement for a State Agency. A novel approach was required because this is a new and emerging area with little by way of established practice.
Donnacha’s interests outside of work include homebrew, model railways and football. Originally from Laois he lives in Saggart with his wife, enjoying the outdoors with their dog and her horse (Donnacha likes to keep his feet firmly on the ground!)
Meet Sophia Hadef - Consultant
Sophia Hadef is a Procurement Consultant at Keystone Procurement, where she collaborates closely with colleagues and clients to ensure the successful delivery of client projects. She works with our clients across the sectors we operate including the Cultural Sector, Not for Profits, Education, Government Departments, State Agencies and Healthcare. Successfully completed projects include technology procurement, goods procurement and services procurement.
Her role involves supporting and driving project delivery. This includes managing projects, drafting tenders, supporting evaluation processes, drafting contracts and reporting on processes. Sophia also drives the digital marketing in Keystone Procurement and also supports our business development activities. Sophia holds degrees in literature and journalism from La Sorbonne, Paris and the University of Galway. Prior to joining Keystone, she worked in marketing and sales, focusing on brand strategy and campaign management, as well as governance, ESG, and cybersecurity. She brings her writing and analytical skills and knowledge of governance to her role with Keystone’s clients.
What We Do
We Tailor Our Services to Meet Your Needs
At Keystone Procurement, we understand the unique challenges public sector organisations like yours face. We specialise in creating bespoke procurement solutions that address these specific needs. With our extensive experience, we develop cost-effective strategies that ensure compliance with national and EU regulations. Our goal is to help you to maximise the value you get from the market while maintaining the highest standards, allowing you to enhance the impact of your public procurement team.
We Support You in the Management of Tender Competitions
We provide end-to-end support for tender competitions, guiding you through every step—from preparing and publishing to managing the entire process. Our approach is designed to be smart, sustainable, and fully compliant, always focusing on delivering best value for money. We’ll assign a dedicated procurement specialist to work alongside you, ensuring a smooth and effective procurement cycle from start to finish.
We Help You to Prepare PMCs and RFTs
We excel in drafting clear and concise Preliminary Market Consultations (PMCs) and Requests for Tenders (RFTs) that meet your specific requirements. Our documents are designed to convey professionalism, reduce the risk of misunderstandings, and ensure smoother responses from suppliers. We don’t rely on outdated templates; instead, we craft documents that are easy to interpret and respond to, making the tendering process more efficient.
We Work to Ensure you get Value for Money in Public Sector Procurement
Our expertise allows us to identify cost-effective strategies that ensure you get the best possible results—without compromising on quality or compliance. By collaborating closely with your team, we ensure that every tender competition delivers maximum value for money within the constraints of your budget.
We Deliver the Procurement Training that You Need
We offer comprehensive procurement training for public sector staff involved in supplies, services, and works. Our training is tailored to meet your needs and covers everything from technical writing to IT skills for document preparation, as well as strategic procurement. With our training, your team will be fully prepared to handle procurement challenges with confidence.
We Provide Strategic Services for Your Procurement Activities
At Keystone Procurement, we help you address the often-overlooked strategic dimensions of procurement. We ensure your procurement activities are aligned with your organization’s broader goals. Our strategic services include preparing business cases, strategic assessment reports, and economic and social appraisals that comply with the Public Spending Code