David Stanton
Question:75 Mr Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the way in which the LE Róisin was designed; the individuals or companies involved in the design of the ship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9427/01]
Written Answers. - Naval Service Vessels.
The procurement of the LE Róisin was by way of tender competition in accordance with Government contact procedures and EU directives. The tender competition was run in two stages; a request for proposals, RFP, stage and a request for tenders, RFT, stage.
The tender competition was advertised in the official journal of the EU on 9 November 1996. In the first stage of the competition, which closed on 10 January 1997, proposals in response to a broad specification were requested.
Following receipt of the proposals, a group representing the Department of Defence, the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources and the Naval Service was convened to evaluate and to develop a more clearly defined specification to be issued to a short list of suppliers in the second, restricted tender stage of the competition.
Six companies were issued with the detailed specification and six tenders were received on 1 September 1997. The six tenders were evaluated with the help of a marine consultant. The contract was awarded to Appledore Shipbuilders Limited, Devon.
The design rights to LE Róisin are held jointly between Kvaerner Masa Marine, Canada and Appledore Shipbuilders Limited. Kvaerner Masa Marine carried out the general design work and Appledore Shipbuilders Limited carried out the detailed design work. The design was modified to meet the requirements of the Naval Service. This is not an unusual occurrence in contracts of this nature but such modifications do not affect the original design rights to the vessel.
The contract with Appledore Shipbuilders Limited allowed for the option of a second ship which was exercised and the second new ship, to be named LE Niamh, will be completed by the end of April 2001.