The verdict in three sentences
For an Irish public body serving around 80,000 people, a website and online services rebuild typically costs 30,000 to 90,000 EUR excluding VAT, which usually means an eTenders competition under national thresholds. The real timeline is about a year: 4 to 6 months of procurement, then 6 months of delivery. Contracts are won and lost on three points: accessibility compliance, data hosting within the EU, and a price weighting capped at 30 to 40%.
Typical budget for a public body website rebuild
The figures below are 2026 orders of magnitude based on awarded contract notices and offers from agencies serving the Irish public sector.
| Lot or item | Range ex VAT 2026 | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery and UX | 6,000 to 15,000 EUR | User workshops, information architecture, accessible designs |
| Development and CMS | 12,000 to 35,000 EUR | Templates, directory, events, news, search |
| Online services and forms | 5,000 to 20,000 EUR | Forms, MyGovID sign in, request tracking |
| Accessibility audit and fixes | 3,000 to 8,000 EUR | WCAG 2.1 AA audit, accessibility statement |
| Content migration | 2,000 to 7,000 EUR | 300 to 800 pages |
| Staff training | 1,500 to 4,000 EUR | 2 to 4 editor sessions |
| EU hosting and support (per year) | 4,000 to 12,000 EUR | Hosting, backups, updates |
With 30,000 EUR you get an accessible institutional site and a few forms. Above 70,000 EUR you fund real online services connected to back office systems (planning, housing, waste), which often pushes the contract value higher once support years are added.
Thresholds, procedure and timeline
Irish public procurement follows the Office of Government Procurement guidance. Below 5,000 EUR ex VAT, a body can buy after verbal quotes. Between 5,000 and 25,000 EUR, written quotes from at least three suppliers are expected. From 25,000 EUR ex VAT, the opportunity should be advertised on eTenders. Above the EU threshold for services, a full EU procedure published in the Official Journal applies.
| Stage | Indicative duration | Watch point |
|---|---|---|
| Needs analysis and market consultation | 4 to 8 weeks | Meet 3 to 5 suppliers, note budgets |
| Writing the specification and RFT | 4 to 6 weeks | Accessibility, hosting, exit terms |
| Publication and response window | 4 to 6 weeks | 30 days minimum for serious bids |
| Evaluation and presentations | 3 to 5 weeks | Award criteria published in advance |
| Award and standstill | 2 to 4 weeks | Notify unsuccessful bidders |
| Project delivery | 5 to 7 months | Testing, accessibility audit, training |
The common weighting in 2026 gives quality 60 to 70% and price 30 to 40%. A price weighting of 60% or more attracts low bids that often sacrifice accessibility and later trigger costly variations.
What the specification must require
The EU Web Accessibility Directive, transposed in Ireland by S.I. 358 of 2020, applies to public sector bodies: WCAG 2.1 AA, a published accessibility statement and a feedback mechanism. Require a third party audit and a measurable target at handover. On hosting, require EU data residency and GDPR compliant processing agreements for citizen data. Add an exit clause: full export of content and code, documentation and transfer within 30 days.
Kolonell supports public and institutional organisations on design, accessibility and hosting. These projects are always priced on quote, depending on scope and procedure. See our institutional websites offer.
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Aoife, head of digital services at a public body in the Dublin region serving 80,000 people, estimates the build at 72,000 EUR ex VAT, plus 8,000 EUR a year for hosting and support over 3 years, 96,000 EUR in total. The full contract value, support included, is what counts for the procurement route.
Online services should absorb 40% of the 6,000 yearly counter and phone requests, or 2,400 requests. At 20 minutes saved per request, that is 800 staff hours a year. At a loaded cost of 40 EUR per hour, the saving is 32,000 EUR a year, covering the project in about 3 years, before any benefit to residents.
FAQ
Should hosting be included in the contract value?
Yes, the estimate must cover the full contract term, including support years. A 72,000 EUR build plus 24,000 EUR of hosting over 3 years totals 96,000 EUR ex VAT.
Is accessibility really monitored?
Yes, the National Disability Authority monitors public sector websites and reports to the European Commission. Accessibility statements must be reviewed at least once a year.
What price weighting should we use?
A weighting of 30 to 40% is most common for a public website. It leaves 60 to 70% for quality, assessed on method, accessibility and team.
How long from launch of the tender to go live?
Plan 10 to 13 months in total: 4 to 6 months of procurement and 6 to 7 months of delivery. Early market consultation often saves 2 months.
Can the contract be split into lots?
Yes, and it often helps smaller suppliers bid. A common split is design and build, hosting and support, and an independent accessibility audit.
Let's scope your project. Share your scope, online services and procurement timeline, and we will help you frame the lots and technical requirements. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
