Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 1 Feb 1996

Vol. 460 No. 8

Written Answers. - Public Sector Tendering Procedures.

Rory O'Hanlon

Ceist:

49 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself with the tendering procedures for capital expenditure throughout the public sector; the reason there is a selective tendering process in some departments and agencies, which excludes construction firms who have carried out major works for the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2227/96]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

The guidelines on public procurement, issued by my Department, provide that competitive tendering should always be used unless there are exceptional reasons for proceeding otherwise. Such competitive tendering may be by way of:

(a) Open tendering	open advertisement to which all interested parties may respond;
(b) Restricted tendering	(1) invitation of tenders from firms on a list
	(2) selective tendering — pre-qualification of firms for a particu-

Accordingly, contracting authorities such as Departments of State agencies may adopt a restricted tender approach —the number of firms from which tenders are sought should not be less than 5. Invitation to tender from firms on a list is permissable so long as the contracting authority is satisfied that the list is reasonably comprehensive, up-to-date and non-discriminatory in nature. I have no indication that the tendering procedures for public procurement are functioning unsatisfactorily, nor of discrimination in the competitive process.