asked the Minister for Labour if he will make a statement on the request contained in repeated representations made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway which have not yet been answered, regarding the circumstances in which a company, after incurring substantial outlay in preparing documents, had its tender rejected on the grounds that it was late; if he will refer again to the correspondence already with him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - County Galway Tender.
81.
The representations referred to by the Deputy have been the subject of correspondence with my office and that of the office of the Minister for Finance and three replies have issued to the person who made the representations.
The case referred to concerns a request for proposals for certain computer equipment which my Department issued on 29 August 1985. September 27th, 1985 was specified as the latest date for the receipt of proposals. Although the person referred to in the Deputy's question was aware of the closing date, he did not submit a quotation until 14 November. This quotation was clearly outside the closing date and therefore was not considered as to do so would be in breach of the tendering rules.
In December the person in question sought permission to demonstrate his equipment in one of the National Manpower Service offices of my Department and after being informed clearly that the demonstration could not be considered to be related to the quotation which he had submitted he was allowed to give the demonstration. However, after the demonstration another quotation was received.
The equipment and quotations were not considered in relation to the request for proposals issued on 29 August 1985 as they were brought to the attention of the Department after the closing date for receipt of proposals 27 September 1985.