Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 June 2010
226 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if she has received correspondence from a person (details supplied) in relation to the tendering process for the organ in the National Concert Hall; her views to the concerns raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24660/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have received correspondence from the person referred to in the Deputy's question regarding the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall and in particular the refurbishment of the existing organ at the hall.
In accordance with a decision of the Government, the project is being procured through a Design/Build/Finance/Maintain Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract. This means that the entire project will be contracted to one consortium. Given the size of the project it was not permitted to directly invite tenderers to participate for particular aspects of the project. Details of the project were published in the Official Journal of the European Union (available through the etenders.ie website), as required under EU procurement regulations and interested consortia were invited to respond to the request for tenders.
As part of the requirements of the project prospective teams were required to design, build and maintain a new organ and refurbish the existing organ. The selection of organ builders to join the prospective teams was left solely to the discretion of the participating consortia. Given the nature of PPP projects it was not permitted for the refurbishment of the existing organ to be the subject of a separate tender, indeed even if it were permitted, the cost would prohibit the State from seeking direct tenders from any company and such a call for tenders would have to be placed in the Official Journal of the European Union.
I understand that staff at the National Concert Hall had a number of meetings with the person concerned and outlined the PPP process in detail to him, including the fact that no one company could be directly nominated for the project. I am satisfied that the competition has been run in accordance with the Guidelines governing PPP projects.
