Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 Oct 1993

Vol. 434 No. 2

Written Answers. - Tenders for Garda Raincoats, etc.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

136 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of the recent placing of an order for Garda raincoats outside the State; the number of tenders submitted; the number of which were from within the country, other EC countries, and other foreign countries; if details of tenders can be given; if the figures cannot be given, if he will give the percentage above cheapest price; if the cheapest tender was successful; if the full contract was given to one tenderer; if all tenders were accepted as valid; the grounds on which they were unsuccessful; if, in view of the fact that EC Journal contracts regulations allow divergence from normal regulations where security issues are at stake, he will give the reason the contract was sent abroad; and if the Department of Justice expressed concern about Garda crests, insignia, labels, badges and other such items being made or used abroad.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Dempsey)

The procurement of clothing for the Garda Síochána is the responsibility of the Government Supplies Agency. All procurement of Supplies and Services undertaken by the Agency on behalf of Departments and Offices is done in accordance with the Government Contracts Procedures laid down by the Department of Finance and in compliance with all relevant EC Directives on procurement.

Under the EC Services and Supplies Directives all requirements for goods and services of a certain limit (approx. £100,000) at present must be advertised in the EC Journal.

A requirement for supply of 2,365 Garda patrol suits (weatherproof) in 1993 was placed with the Agency by the Department of Justice. As the estimated value of the suits was in excess of £100,000 the contract had to be advertised in the EC Journal.

The patrol suit was first introduced in 1991 as a replacement for the ordinary weatherproof overcoat worn by the gardaí. An open tender competition for that supply was advertised in the EC Journal. The recent advertisement for the supply of suits in 1993 has been a follow on to that procedure.

In the competition held a total of thirteen valid tenders were received (six Irish and seven UK). A total of seven tenders were received for Goretex material which was the original fabric selected by the Department of Justice in the manufacture of the patrol suits in the years 1991 and 1992. The Garda authorities decided that Goretex was the only suitable fabric on this occasion also. The lowest tender was submitted by Blagden Annis Ltd., Glasgow, who were awarded the contract for a revised requirement of 1,100 suits. In addition to price, this firm satisfied the other criteria set out in the conditions of contract. The prices tendered for the Goretex material ranged up to 22.5 per cent over the lowest.

A contract for 265 patrol suits in two alternative fabrics i.e. Cyclone and Aquatex was placed with Hydrophast Weatherwear Ltd., Dublin. These suits will be test-worn over a period of twelve months to evaluate their suitability.

The basic patrol suit is not an item in respect of which security considerations could be invoked for tender purposes. The accessories supplied for the patrol suit are made in Ireland. The items issued to manufacturers are closely monitored and at the end of production reconciliation procedures are carried out to ensure that any surplus stock is returned to the Agency's stores.