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Office of Government Procurement

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 October 2020

Wednesday, 7 October 2020

Questions (76)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

76. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding the list of OGP suppliers and the impact such a decision may have on the company will receive a response; if the most appropriate advice will be provided to the company in order to avoid potential job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29253/20]

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Written answers

The Government has set out a number of commitments in the Programme for Government in relation to public procurement including a commitment to continue to support and train Irish indigenous SMEs so that they can compete for public procurement contracts in Ireland and abroad. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP), an office within my Department, has been actively engaged in this area and will continue to enhance the significant measures and strategies already in place to support SME access to public procurement opportunities.

Public procurement is bound by EU and national law and requires that everything we do is bound by the principles of transparency, non-discrimination and equal treatment of all bidders. These principles and rules are there to ensure that all bidders are treated exactly the same, in order to allow a level playing pitch for all businesses regardless of business size or location, to avoid favouritism and localism, and to combat corruption. Transparency also ensures that the competition phases and contract awards are all conducted in public, so that taxpayers, the media, elected representatives and those who participate in these competitions can see both the competitions progressing and the outcomes. Therefore all of the procurement processes that are run by the OGP, including the new Security Services Framework Agreement, which commenced on 14 September 2020, are open and transparent and observe these important principles.

The OGP made a very concerted effort to inform the marketplace in relation to the competition for this Framework Agreement and to encourage SME participation by dividing the Framework Agreement into geographical and financial lots. In line with best practice and in adherence with EU Public Procurement legislation, the tender process for the Provision of Security Services was advertised in a transparent and open manner. In November 2019 the market was advised via a prior information notice (PIN) on eTenders of the OGP's intention to run a competition for these services, according to our records the PIN was viewed by the company in question. As part of our market research a Request for Information survey was also issued in 2019 and the company in question submitted a response to the survey. On 7 March 2020 suitably qualified service providers were invited to tender. The deadline for tender responses was originally 15 April 2020 but this was extended to 1 May 2020 to facilitate Tenderers who may have been impacted as result of Covid-19. According to our records the tender invitation was accepted and the tender documents were viewed by the company in question on 17 March 2020.

As the deadline for tender responses has passed and the Framework Agreement has commenced, it is not possible for this company, or any other company for that matter, to be appointed to the Framework Agreement as that would breach the principle of equal treatment. You may wish to note that the Framework Agreement is for contracts individually with an estimated value of over €69,500 (excl. VAT) based on a two (2) year contract and is for a period of three years, with an option to extend for a further year.

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