Mary Lou McDonald
Question:192. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a procurement policy in place to examine cost savings associated with FLOSS systems. [30318/14]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 July 2014
192. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a procurement policy in place to examine cost savings associated with FLOSS systems. [30318/14]
View answerFree/ Libre/Open Source Software ( F/LOSS) is used quite widely and wherever it makes operational and economic sense in Departments and Offices. In making software choices, a Department is required to operate a procurement policy that facilitates open competition, best value for money and best technological fit to requirements in keeping with public procurement law. The evaluation of a procurement exercise is conducted on as close to a total cost of ownership (TCO) model as possible and at a minimum includes the following costs: licensing; arising hardware upgrades/ renewals/replacements; IT and user training; support and maintenance; planning, testing and migration; external expertise; and exit costs.