Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 May 2018
99. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the process of establishing a framework under which service providers provide a range of third party investigations and recipient service to public bodies seeking to meet their obligations under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20283/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraProcurement is a key element of the Government's Reform agenda. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) was established to drive the reform agenda, adopt a strategic approach to public procurement, leverage the State's spending power and deliver savings for the State.
Framework agreements are one of a number of ways in which the OGP engages with the market to achieve value for money in the delivery of much-needed public goods and services. Framework agreements are established through competitive procurement processes and are agreements with suppliers or service providers which set out terms and conditions under which specific contracts can be made during the term of the agreement.
There is ongoing engagement between the OGP and our public sector clients so that the necessary contracts and frameworks are put in place to meet their requirements.
The OGP conducted a tender process to establish a Framework Agreement for Receipt and Investigation of Protected Disclosures. This framework includes service providers that can provide third party investigative and recipient services to public bodies seeking to meet their obligations under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. The Framework Agreement was established in April this year and is comprised of three separate lots:
Lot 1 : Full Investigative Services into an alleged wrong-doing purported to be disclosed under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 including the review of such investigations;
Lot 2 : Full Investigative Services of allegations of penalisation or adverse treatment as a result of having made a disclosure of a wrongdoing purported to be made pursuant to the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 including the review of such investigations; and
Lot 3 : Provision of a third party Confidential Recipient service pursuant to section 6(2) of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014.
