asked the Minister for Finance the procedure involved in tendering for the supply of stationery and printed matter to the Government and Public Service generally; if there is a closed list from which tenders are requested; if so, the frequency with which this list is reviewed; the criteria for inclusion on the list; if others may apply for inclusion on the list; the number of firms on the list, and a breakdown, by percentage over the last two years, of the volume of work per printer allocated in accordance with whatever criteria are used for assigning such tenders.
Written Answers. - Stationery and Printing Tenders.
171.
The answer to the question, which it was necessary to divide into a number of parts, is as follows:
(i) The procedure involved in tendering for the supply of (A) stationery and (B) printed matter to the Government and Public Service generally: if there is a closed list from which tenders are requested; if so, the frequency with which this list is reviewed
(A) Stationery: For example, envelopes, carbons, stencils. All orders for stationery placed by the Stationery Office are based on competitive tendering, tenders being invited from all known manufacturers. The list of such firms is kept under continual review and new firms, as they come to be known, are added.
(B) Printed matter: With the exception of a relatively small number of cases where because of extreme urgency normal contractual procedure must be departed from to ensure delivery, all contracts are based on competitive tendering, tenders being invited from all firms considered capable of carrying out the work in question. As well, the great majority of term contracts, that is contracts ranging from one to five years' duration, are advertised in the daily press.
(ii) The criteria for inclusion on the list
The list of firms from whom tenders are sought is based on the information available as to their capability to undertake the work required.
(iii) If others may apply for inclusion on the list
Yes: the list is reviewed on an ongoing basis and is extended to include any new firm which asks to be included and which satisfies the Stationery Office that its equipment and staff are adequate.
(iv) The number of firms on the list
The number of firms on the Stationery Office list from which tenders are sought is 84 for printing and 20 for stationery.
(v) The breakdown by percentage over the last two years of the volume of work per printer allocated in accordance with whatever criteria are used for assigning such tenders
It is not the Stationery Office practice to disclose the names of Government contractors. Because of the variety of types of printing and binding contracts a breakdown by volume is not possible. However, by value over the two years 1977-78, 90 per cent of the printing work was allocated to a total of 18 firms and the amount per firm ranged from under 0.1 per cent to 29 per cent of the total.
In relation to the remaining 10 per cent, the printing of ballot papers and of the Register of Electors, representing 6 per cent of total expenditure in the period, was assigned to 34 firms, and approximately 4 per cent representing special contracts was spread over a further 18 firms.