Modules for course M1AQ | LLM/PPLS
LLM Public Procurement Law and Strategy

Compulsory Modules

0 to 120 credits from:

• September start must take:
• SXL-4009: Legal Research Methods (20) (Semester 1 + 2)
  The module will cover the following topics: using a Law Library, essay writing for Masters students, legal writing, identification and evaluation of sources, avoiding plagiarism, referencing correctly, compiling a bibliography, planning a dissertation project, writing a research proposal, identifying a dissertation research question, research methodologies, and doing a literature review.
• SXL-4432: Nat & European Pub Proc Law (40) (Semester 1 + 2) Core
  The main areas to be studied include: • Introduction to Public Procurement and EU Procurement Policy. • Procurement under the EC Treaty: objectives and the application of the follwoing Treaty principles to public procurement: o free movement o equal treatment o transparency and o proportionality • European Union Procurement Directives o evolution of procedural rules on Public Procurement o the rules on coverage (public sector and utilities) and types of contracts, o the tendering procedures and methods o the procurement process including specification, advertisement, qualification, invitation to tender and evaluation o the standstill requirements o debrief and contract award o the impact of the remedies regime. • Infringement and complaints - the European Court of Justice and the European Commission • Public Procurement in the United Kingdom o evolution of the regime, implication of devolution on the UK public procurement framework o the key rules on the procurement process on advertisement, pre-qualification, invitation to tender and evaluations, standstill, debriefing and contract award and contract award) o the remedies rules • Irish public procurement framework o approach to implementation of the Directives on stages of the procurement process o the rules on advertisement, qualification, invitation to tender and evaluation, standstill, debriefing and contract award o comparison with the UK procurement regime. • Challenging a procurement decision – the main rules in the Remedies Directive and implementing Irish and United Kingdom legislation including their implications for procurers, suppliers and on the powers of the Common Law Judge • Community and national initiatives on public procurement. This would include Concession contracts, Collaborative Procurement Agenda, Efficiency reforms, Shared Services, and Transparency in Public Procurement • Special Sectors – defence procurement, SMEs, Third Sector organisations • Public Procurement and State Aid • Public Procurement and Competition Law • The Equality Act and Public Procurement • Competition Law and Public Procurement • Electronic Procurement • Competitive dialogue.
• SXL-4441: App Proc Research Projects (60) (Semester 2) Core
  Students will choose to undertake at least one Applied Procurement Research Project (APRP) following consultation and discussions with a project supervisor. Indicative list of areas where projects may be undertaken is provided below. It is likely that projects may be undertaken in other areas subject to availability of supervision staff and the appropriateness of suggested topics. 1. National & European Public Procurement Law 2. e-Procurement – Legal & Operational issues 3. International Public Procurement Regimes 4. Sustainable and Social Procurement 5. Low Value Procurement – Legal & Process issues 6. Lean Procurement – Legal, Operational & Performance 7. Competitive Dialogue – Legal & Operational issues
• The above modules are compulsory for September intake students. This means that students arriving in September modules.

0 to 120 credits from:

• January start must take:
• SXL-4109: Legal Research Methods (20) (Semester 2)
  The module will cover the following topics: using a Law Library, essay writing for Masters students, legal writing, identification and evaluation of sources, avoiding plagiarism, referencing correctly, compiling a bibliography, planning a dissertation project, writing a research proposal, identifying a dissertation research question, research methodologies, and doing a literature review.
• SXL-4432: Nat & European Pub Proc Law (40) (Semester 1 + 2) Core
  The main areas to be studied include: • Introduction to Public Procurement and EU Procurement Policy. • Procurement under the EC Treaty: objectives and the application of the follwoing Treaty principles to public procurement: o free movement o equal treatment o transparency and o proportionality • European Union Procurement Directives o evolution of procedural rules on Public Procurement o the rules on coverage (public sector and utilities) and types of contracts, o the tendering procedures and methods o the procurement process including specification, advertisement, qualification, invitation to tender and evaluation o the standstill requirements o debrief and contract award o the impact of the remedies regime. • Infringement and complaints - the European Court of Justice and the European Commission • Public Procurement in the United Kingdom o evolution of the regime, implication of devolution on the UK public procurement framework o the key rules on the procurement process on advertisement, pre-qualification, invitation to tender and evaluations, standstill, debriefing and contract award and contract award) o the remedies rules • Irish public procurement framework o approach to implementation of the Directives on stages of the procurement process o the rules on advertisement, qualification, invitation to tender and evaluation, standstill, debriefing and contract award o comparison with the UK procurement regime. • Challenging a procurement decision – the main rules in the Remedies Directive and implementing Irish and United Kingdom legislation including their implications for procurers, suppliers and on the powers of the Common Law Judge • Community and national initiatives on public procurement. This would include Concession contracts, Collaborative Procurement Agenda, Efficiency reforms, Shared Services, and Transparency in Public Procurement • Special Sectors – defence procurement, SMEs, Third Sector organisations • Public Procurement and State Aid • Public Procurement and Competition Law • The Equality Act and Public Procurement • Competition Law and Public Procurement • Electronic Procurement • Competitive dialogue.
• SXL-4441: App Proc Research Projects (60) (Semester 2) Core
  Students will choose to undertake at least one Applied Procurement Research Project (APRP) following consultation and discussions with a project supervisor. Indicative list of areas where projects may be undertaken is provided below. It is likely that projects may be undertaken in other areas subject to availability of supervision staff and the appropriateness of suggested topics. 1. National & European Public Procurement Law 2. e-Procurement – Legal & Operational issues 3. International Public Procurement Regimes 4. Sustainable and Social Procurement 5. Low Value Procurement – Legal & Process issues 6. Lean Procurement – Legal, Operational & Performance 7. Competitive Dialogue – Legal & Operational issues
• The above modules are compulsory for January intake students . This means that students arriving in January must take all of the above modules.

Optional Modules

60 credits from:

• SXL-4436: Int'l Procurement Regimes (20) (Semester 2)
  The “International Procurement Regimes” module involves the study of the main principles, main rules and the functioning of UNCITRAL Model Law on Procurement, the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) of the WTO and the procurement rules of selected international finance institutions, all of which have impacted on legal principles in national procurement regimes. Students will gain an appreciation of the main features of international procurement regimes and will be provided with an examination of interesting aspects of the legal regimes, through an integrated study of focusing on the political and economic contexts of the rules and important contemporary developments. Specifically the course of study will involve examination of: 1. The objectives and rationales for regulating procurement 2. The United Nations Model Law on Procurement of Goods, Construction and Services - a model procurement framework? 3. The WTO Agreement on Government Procurement. 4. Regulation of procurement in international finance institutions. 5. Recent regulatory reforms in Public Procurement – examination of experiences from selected countries (particularly developing countries).
• SXL-4438: Proc Relationships & Ethics (20) (Semester 1)
  1. The scope of procurement relationships with suppliers. 2. Factors affecting relationship strategy from arm’s length to collaborative relationships. 3. Analytical Tools & Relationship Strategy 4. Managing Power & Dependency issues in supply relationships 5. The major causes of conflict in purchasing & supply relationships as well as various conflict management and resolution strategies. 6. Relationship constraints in public sector procurement, including differences between private and public sector procurement. 7. Ethical issues and procurement relationships. 8. Relationships with a range of different internal and external stakeholders. 9. Outsourcing and how such relationships can be most effectively be managed. 10. The impact of Culture on procurement relationships. 11. Supplier Development Processes, benefits and barriers.
• SXL-4439: Strategic Proc & Leadership (20) (Semester 2)
  1. Management in public procurement. 2. Leadership in public procurement. 3. Influencing and Managing stakeholders. 4. Developing Procurement People. 5. Drivers of Procurement Change. 6. Change Management. 7. Analysing the external environment. 8. Structure of the purchasing function: centralisation vs. decentralisation debate. 9. Developing Public Procurement Strategies: Use of appropriate key performance indicators (KPI). 10. Supply Chain Management in Public Sector Procurement. 11. Dealing with internal and external advisers.