Vol. 564 No. 5
398 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the tendering criteria for the public procurement of the Garda fixed charge processing system; the number of companies which tendered for the project; the composition of the assessment panel; the total price of the successful tender; when the project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9776/03]
A computerised FOTS system for the Garda Síochána would facilitate the introduction of the penalty points system. A notice advertising the competition for the development of such a system was published in the Official Journal for the European Communities on 12 May 2001.
The request for tender specified that the contract be awarded from the qualifying tenders on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender, applying the following award criteria in order of importance: quality and merit of the proposed solution and how well it meets the requirements as set out in the RFT; the proven experience and track record of the respondent, including the quality and relevance of reference sites, in undertaking comparable assignments involving: relevant technologies, police systems and change management; the level and degree of relevant experience and balance of skills of the personnel proposed to undertake the work; change management strategy; ability to meet project schedule; cost; project plan including reporting structures and methods; and development methodology. Six companies submitted tenders by the closing date of 29 June 2001.
The tenders were evaluated by an evaluation team of ten Garda personnel drawn from the information technology division, the change management division, the Garda national traffic bureau and Garda operational areas. The outcome of the evaluation process was endorsed by a project board made up of representatives from the Garda Síochána, and Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Finance and the Environment and Local Government. The approval of the Government contracts committee was also obtained before the award of contract. The total contract price is €7.4 million plus VAT.
I expect that implementation of the system will commence in the second quarter of 2004 with the progressive extension of the system to cater for all penalty point offences taking place as quickly as possible thereafter.
