Vol. 557 No. 5
113 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Finance when Government approval was given to the signing of the VPN contract with a company (details supplied); if the contract was notified to the EU Commission at any stage; if so, the manner in which and when; and when he plans to place a copy of the contract before Dáil Éireann. [22781/02]
116 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Finance the steps he took to satisfy himself that the prices agreed in the VPN contract did not breach legal requirements. [22972/02]
117 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Finance the expected annual and overall total value for the VPN contract recently concluded with Eircom; and if he has satisfied himself that the contract represents the best value available to the Government and that no realistic alternatives were or are open to him. [22973/02]
118 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Finance the additional investment in communications networks which will result from the VPN contract; the timescale he expects for this additional investment; and the level of investment which has occurred to date. [22974/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 116 to 118, inclusive, together.
On foot of the Government's first action plan for the information society and to support the delivery of on-line public services, my Department undertook an open EU procurement exercise for a carrier for e-government services seeking a solution that provided a range of managed voice and data telecommunications services for the public service.
I approved progressing with the VPN contract on 11 January 2002 on foot of the evaluation of all responses received to my Department's request for tenders for these services. As the responses were evaluated on the basis of value for money criteria as set out in the RFT, I am satisfied that the contract represents the best value for money for these services. My Department continuously monitors the market to ensure that this remains the case and the contract provides for reviews where the situation changes.
In pursuing the standard open EU procurement exercise for these services, my Department complied with all notifications required to the Official Journal of the EU. A prior indicative notice was sent on 23 February 2001, an open procedure notice was sent on 23 March 2001 and an award of contract notice was sent on 19 August 2002. In addition, all tenderers were individually notified of the result and debriefed.
