Vol. 567 No. 5
332 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Health and Children if a company is not tax compliant during the tendering process, if this affects their ability to win the contract; and the typical length of time contracts are awarded by his Department. [14443/03]
A firm whose tender is recommended for acceptance must, before it is awarded the contract, demonstrate that it complies with tax clearance pro cedures, circular 22/95, Tax Clearance Procedures – Public Sector Contracts, issued by the Department of Finance.
Contracts are awarded for varying lengths of time depending on the nature of the contract.
333 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Health and Children the criteria for companies for State contracts with hospitals and other services in his portfolio; and if a company applying will have to be tax compliant. [14444/03]
Contracts with hospitals are let by the health boards or by the voluntary hospitals. They are required, when procuring goods of any nature, to comply with the requirements of public procurement rules as set out in the Government publication, Public Procurement. Companies are checked for tax compliance before the award of a contract, that is, demonstrate that they comply with tax clearance procedures, circular 22/95, Tax Clearance Procedures – Public Sector Contracts, issued by the Department of Finance.
334 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Health and Children the method used to publicise the contract tenders for the installation of public phones in the various hospitals in the Dublin area; and the size of the bids received for the tendering. [14445/03]
Tendering for all equipment in the Eastern Regional Health Authority is carried out by the area health boards or the voluntary hospital authorities. They are required, when procuring goods of any nature, to comply with the requirements of public procurement rules as set out in the Government publication, Public Procurement. Such procurement will typically be by "open" or "restricted" tender procedures following a public notice in either the press or the e-tenders website. Save in exceptional circumstances, at least three firms should be invited to tender. If the estimated value of the proposed contract exceeds the EU procurement threshold it is a mandatory requirement that a contract notice be placed in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJEU.
