asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state the anticipated clothing requirements of the Comptroller of Stores in the coming financial year, the nature of these requirements, when such requirements will be advertised, the method by which contracts are awarded, and whether he will in the future be prepared to disclose the tender prices of all parties tendering and, if not, why not.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clothing Requirements of Comptroller of Stores.
The clothing requirements of the Government service in general are ordered by the Comptroller of Stores. In the coming financial year the anticipated requirements are approximately 80,000 woollen garments (overcoats, tunics, vests and trousers), 35,000 items of protective clothing (waterproofs, overalls, etc.) and 130,000 minor items (caps, shirts, underwear, socks, gloves, etc.).
It is not the practice to advertise for tenders for these requirements as all potential suppliers are known to the Department. Tenders are invited from all firms capable of producing satisfactorily the particular types of garments required and contracts are awarded on the basis of acceptance of the most favourable tenders received. Some of the requirements for the coming financial year have already been ordered and it is expected that contracts for the bulk of the remainder will be arranged within the next two months.
It is not my intention to disclose tender prices as I am satisfied that it would not be in the public interest to do so.
Arising out of the last portion of the Minister's reply in which he states that he is satisfied it would not be in the public interest to disclose the tender prices to other parties, particularly to other parties submitting tenders, is the Minister aware that down through the years there has been the greatest dissatisfaction amongst clothing manufacturers and people tendering generally for these contracts? Surely, in all justice, if a person fails to obtain a contract he should know what the successful tender was so that in the future he may become more competitive? Any local authority when it gets tenders for housing schemes publishes them so that other builders will become more competitive in the future. Will the Minister state what is the reason for the secrecy?
Disclosure of contract prices would be objectionable on a number of grounds. There sometimes is a wide margin between the lowest price and the second lowest. This arises from the fact that particular jobs are often better suited to one firm than to others, either because its machinery is more suitable or because it has the requisite skill, or from other reasons such as location. The disclosure of tender prices in such a case would almost certainly lead to an increase in the prices paid by the Department as the lowest tenderer would become aware of the margin at his disposal and might be expected to raise his price next time to something nearer his competitor. The present system makes for keener prices as it encourages tenderers to be competitive.
The Minister is quite right.
I wonder had anybody that bad thought.
I still think the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs is the decentest man in the House.