Kevin O'Keeffe
Ceist:536. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of the basic farm payment scheme will issue to a farmer (details supplied) in County Cork. [50764/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBasic Payment Scheme Payments
Ceisteanna (536)
Freagraí scríofa
The person named submitted a 2018 Transfer of Entitlements application to my Department seeking the transfer of Basic Payment Scheme entitlements by way of gift as transferee. The transferor under the application used a temporary transfer number made available by my Department to facilitate the transfer. The Department is currently finalising the transfer application to facilitate payment under the Basic Payment Scheme as soon as possible.
Greyhound Industry
Ceisteanna (537)
Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:537. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has raised the issue of early morning greyhound racing with Bord na gCon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50883/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. It is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, food and the Marine.
Bord na gCon has informed me that early morning racing will begin in December in Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium and in January 2019 in Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium in Waterford. The purpose of the early morning meetings is to provide greyhound racing to meet demand in international jurisdictions that operate in different time zones throughout Europe and elsewhere, in order to meet a demand from the IGB’s partner, SIS (Sports Information Services).
SIS are already offering 30,000 greyhound races a year in the UK and Ireland, making it the most comprehensive offering on the market. The morning meetings are an expansion of the current arrangement with SIS whereby seven afternoon/evening greyhound race meetings are taken on a weekly basis.
The morning races are for a six month trial period. Bord na gCon's Strategic Plan 2018-2022 has a key emphasis on varying the product for a modern Irish audience. The greyhound industry, like lots of other industries, has had to change and adapt in a number of different ways in recent years. The staging of races is a commercial decision for Bord Na gCon.
GLAS Payments
Ceisteanna (538)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:538. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason GLAS plus payments are not issuing to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if the application will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50944/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This participant's GLAS payments are on hold due to a failure to submit the required Commonage Management Plan (CMP).
This participant is not entitled to the GLAS+ payment. The land parcel entered as Chough into GLAS is not a designated Chough area therefore does not qualify for the Chough action.
National Broadband Plan Administration
Ceisteanna (539)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:539. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the role the National Development Finance Agency has played in the procurement process for the national broadband plan; the role it is playing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50840/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In light of the technical and once off nature of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention, my Department appointed a specialist international advisory team including external financial advisors (KPMG and PwC) to assist with the development and procurement of the NBP State led intervention.
The National Development Finance Agency’s role as financial adviser to my Department on the NBP was limited to providing independent feedback on certain financial aspects of the NBP that had been developed by my Department and its specialist advisers. NDFA representatives have also participated as members of the NBP Evaluation Review Panel and NBP Procurement Board.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (540)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:540. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of funding and-or grant aid his Department has made to an association (details supplied) from 1 January 2008 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the purpose for which the funding and-or grant aid was released to the association; if the way in which the funding and-or grant aid is used is audited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50061/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has not awarded any funding or grant aid to the association in question.
Broadband Service Provision
Ceisteanna (541)
Thomas Byrne
Ceist:541. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will be supplied to an area (details supplied). [50077/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As stated in reply Question No. 471 of 13 November 2018, the referenced area is in the BLUE area on the High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The BLUE areas are where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. Notwithstanding this, I am aware that the area referenced contains newly built homes where broadband infrastructure from commercial operators may not yet be in place.
Decisions made by private telecommunication operators relating to the roll out and siting of infrastructure to provide high speed broadband services throughout Ireland are undertaken on a commercial basis by competing service providers operating in a liberalised market. I have no statutory role or function to intervene in the commercial decisions of private operators, and therefore cannot direct operators regarding infrastructure installation or delivery of services.
Where a citizen living in a Blue area is unable to obtain a high speed broadband service, I would encourage them to email my Department at broadband@dccae.gov.ie with their Eircode, details of the service providers they have contacted and the issues encountered in respect of accessing high speed broadband.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements.
Departmental Contracts Data
Ceisteanna (542)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:542. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the external consultant reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years March 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the cost of same; the company involved; and the title and publication date by report in tabular form. [50091/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Waste Disposal Charges
Ceisteanna (543)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:543. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for the regulation of pricing in the domestic bin collection sector to ensure that customers' rights are protected; and his views on the recommendations in the recent report from the Competition and Consumer Protection Council on the domestic waste collection sector. [50119/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) report recommended that existing national waste management policy, as set out in “A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland" should be reviewed.
This review process, which will be initiated in 2019, in tandem with other initiatives, such as the European circular economy waste and plastics legislation framework and reports from the CCPC and the Price Monitoring Group, will inform the development of a future national waste management policy, including our environmental goals, regulatory and market structures, and policy instruments and tools.
Fuel Prices
Ceisteanna (544)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:544. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason the drop in world oil prices is not being felt at the pump for Irish consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50144/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Irish retail oil sector is an open and competitive market. As such, I have no role in the setting of fuel prices.
The retail price of gasoline and diesel at the pumps is determined by a number of factors, including the price of crude oil and refined product on the international markets, market supply and demand levels, and as oil is traded almost exclusively in US Dollars, the strength of that currency against the Euro.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC, under the aegis of the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation) is responsible for ensuring that the market is functioning correctly and that consumers are not being unfairly disadvantaged.
Energy Resources
Ceisteanna (545)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:545. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the location of Ireland’s oil reserves; and his plans to move these reserves onto the island of Ireland in the event of Brexit. [50145/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland holds 90 days of emergency oil stocks, managed by the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA), the non-commercial state body established to manage Ireland's oil reserve. These stocks are held to ensure Ireland’s compliance with International Energy Agency (IEA) rules, and EU obligations under Directive 2009/119/EC, and are intended to be used in the event of a supply disruption.
57% of Ireland’s stockholding is held in Ireland, 21% in the UK (9% in Northern Ireland and 12% in Scotland) and 22% within other EU member states. Ireland has entered into bilateral agreements with those member states, including the UK, where our emergency stocks are held.
The preference to hold stocks on the island of Ireland is in line with the Government’s policy as outlined in the Energy White Paper of December 2015; however finite storage capacity within Ireland necessitates the holding of some stocks outside the jurisdiction, which is permitted under international obligations. Recognising that under Directive 2009/119/EC, when the UK leaves the EU, stocks held in the UK, including in Northern Ireland, may not be counted as part of our EU 90 day obligation, this issue has been raised with the European Commission in the context of Ireland's engagement with Brexit preparation. Post the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, our strong preference would be that the current position remains, whereby emergency oil stocks held in the UK count as part of our EU obligation. This however depends on the detail of any final Brexit agreement between the EU and the UK. It should be noted that stocks held outside Ireland are not impacted by Brexit in terms of Ireland's IEA obligations.
Broadband Service Provision
Ceisteanna (546)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Ceist:546. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason homes (details supplied) in County Kildare have been excluded from the fibre broadband roll-out; and when they can expect to be included. [50175/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The premises referred to by the Deputy are in the AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
The Deputy makes reference to the premises' proximity to a commercial deployment of high speed broadband. This deployment is part of eir's commercial roll out of high speed broadband to 300,000 predominantly rural premises, in line with a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017.
Decisions made by private telecommunication operators relating to the roll out and siting of infrastructure to provide high speed broadband services throughout Ireland are undertaken on a commercial basis by competing service providers operating in a liberalised market. I have no statutory role or function to intervene in the commercial decisions of private operators, and therefore cannot direct operators regarding infrastructure installation or delivery of services.
My priority is bringing the NBP procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible. My Department will now conclude its assessment of the final tender submission received by the bidder on 18 September 2018 and I will bring a recommendation to Government in the coming weeks.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements.
Metropolitan Area Networks Programme
Ceisteanna (547, 548, 549, 550)
Timmy Dooley
Ceist:547. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the process by which he oversees the metropolitan area networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50189/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTimmy Dooley
Ceist:548. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of all reports commissioned by or completed by his Department regarding the metropolitan area networks; the author of each report; if the report is public; if not, the rationale in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50190/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTimmy Dooley
Ceist:549. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if following the submission of quarterly reports regarding the metropolitan area networks, meetings take place between representatives of his Department and a company (details supplied); the dates of these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50191/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTimmy Dooley
Ceist:550. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a number of external consultants reports were commissioned regarding the extension of the MANs concession agreement; the rationale for commissioning each individual report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50192/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 547 to 550, inclusive, together.
The Management Services Entity (MSE) for the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) is contractually obliged to manage, maintain, operate and market the MANs on behalf of the State.
There are a number of provisions in the Concession Agreements to ensure that the MSE complies with these obligations.
The MSE submits Quarterly Reports on Key Performance Indicators of the MANs, maintenance of MANs network, Revenues, Costs etc. There are also Quarterly Liaison Committee meetings which representatives from enet, officials from my Department and a representative from the local authorities attend. Any items arising from the Quarterly Reports are discussed at the Liaison Committee Meetings or followed up separately as the need arises.
Under the provisions of the Concession Agreements, the Department is free to carry out audits on any part of the MSE’s functions. The Department carried out a review of the MANs in 2015 and engaged with a number of telecoms operators who use the MANs. More recently, the Department engaged Analysys Mason Consultants to carry out a review of pricing and access arrangements for the MANs.
The following table shows the reports completed in relation to the Metropolitan Area Networks. Norcontel was the only external consultant engaged to advise on extending or retendering the MSE I and MSE II Concession Agreements.
|
Title of Report |
Author |
Published |
Reason not published |
|
Cost Benefit Analysis of Proposed Investment in Broadband Infrastructure under the MANs Programme |
Peter Bacon |
Yes |
N/A |
|
Value for Money and Policy Review of the Metropolitan Area Networks (Phase I) |
The Department |
Yes |
N/A |
|
Valuation Report and advice on Waterford & Dungarvan Networks |
Eamonn Halpin & Co. Ltd. |
No |
This report forms part of an ongoing legal process. |
|
Report on the Metropolitan Area Networks Programme |
The Department |
No |
The report contains commercially sensitive information |
|
Report on extending/ retendering the MSE for the MANs |
Norcontel |
Redacted version available on the FOI disclosure log 2018 on the Department's website |
N/A |
|
Review of pricing and access arrangements for the MANs |
Analysys Mason |
Due to be published by end 2018 |
N/A |
Post Office Closures
Ceisteanna (551)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:551. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of permanent, part-time and seasonal workers, respectively, who would be made redundant with regard to the proposal to close one of the four An Post mail centres by centre; the number and categories of staff that will be relocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50236/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I have responsibility for the postal sector, including the governance of An Post to ensure that the company is fully compliant with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and the governance functions included in the statutory framework underpinning An Post.
An Post is a commercial State company with a mandate to deliver a postal delivery service and a viable post office and mails centre network. Day to day operational matters, including decisions in relation to restructuring of An Post and the operation of the mail centre network, are matters for the Board and the management of the company and not ones in which I have a statutory function.
The information requested by the Deputy is an operational matter for An Post directly.
Ministerial Meetings
Ceisteanna (552)
Niall Collins
Ceist:552. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the public events he attended by county since 1 May 2018 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50278/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is my practice that my diary is published online on my Department's website at regular intervals.
My diary since my appointment as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, covering November 2018 and for October 2018, will be published on my Department's website shortly.
Departmental Contracts Data
Ceisteanna (553)
Kate O'Connell
Ceist:553. Deputy Kate O'Connell asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of contracts and-or tenders that have been awarded to a company (details supplied); the value of these contracts, that is, the amount the company has been paid; the services the contracts were for; and the number of public sector and-or publicly funded catering facilities being run by the company. [50358/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Aramark provided catering services for two conferences held by my Department in April and June 2018 at a total cost of €2,046.20. As per procurement procedures, formal tendering and the award of a written contract is only required where the supply of services is in excess of €25,000. Given the low value of the services provided to my Department, no contract was awarded in either of these cases.
Aramark are also the Department’s energy partner under the Optimising Power @ Work campaign, an Office of Public Works (OPW) staff energy conservation campaign for Central Government. My Department receives monthly and weekly energy reports and meets regularly with Aramark with a view to maximising the energy efficiency of our buildings. The cost of this scheme is borne by OPW and no payments have been made directly by my Department to Aramark for these services.
Broadband Service Provision
Ceisteanna (554)
Declan Breathnach
Ceist:554. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high speed broadband will be rolled out to homes and businesses in remote parts of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50380/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland - regardless of how remote or rural - has access to high speed broadband. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment across Ireland; and a State intervention in those areas, mostly rural areas, where commercial companies are unlikely to invest.
The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. In 2012, less than 700,000, or 30% of all 2.3 million Irish premises had access to high speed broadband. Today, 74% of premises can access high speed broadband.
In April 2017 my Department published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan. The Map is colour coded and searchable by address/Eircode:
- The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
- The BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The LIGHT BLUE areas represent Eir's commercial rural deployment plans to rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017.
According to data for Q3 2018 submitted by Eir to my Department the company has passed almost 210,000 premises nationwide as part of its ongoing deployment to 300,000 premises. Further detail on this progress is provided on its website www.fibrerollout.ie.
My priority is bringing the procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible. My Department is concluding its assessment of the final tender submission received from the bidder on 18 September 2018 and I will bring a recommendation to Government in the coming weeks.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements.
National Broadband Plan Implementation
Ceisteanna (555)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:555. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the daily role of a person (details supplied); if the person was based in his Department on a full-time basis; the number of meetings the person held with him, his officials and his predecessor; the schedule of their meetings as outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50631/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A contract was awarded for independent process auditor services for the National Broadband Plan procurement in May 2016 to the person referenced in the Question following an open procurement process.
The process auditor’s terms of reference outline the required services, which include direct observation of the decision making process with respect to the procurement and confirming formally and independently that the operation of the procurement processes and decision making associated with the NBP are fair, objective and follow the agreed processes.
As part of his role, the process auditor, at his discretion, attended meetings of the Procurement Board and the Evaluation Review Panel. He also attended tender openings, as did his nominated replacement on two occasions when he was unavailable (As part of his contract, the process auditor was permitted to nominate an alternate process auditor to replace him in his audit role during periods of annual leave).
The individual concerned, operating in his process auditor role, visits the Department's offices to attend relevant meetings where he has had full access to the NBP team and processes as he deemed necessary.
The process auditor’s full terms of reference for his process audit services were published and are a matter of public record, and are available on my Department's website.
The procurement process to engage a company to build, maintain and operate the NBP State Intervention network is ongoing and as these meetings are part of the procurement process, it would not be appropriate to publish a schedule of the meetings held at which the process auditor was in attendance.
Broadband Service Provision
Ceisteanna (556)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Ceist:556. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to extend high-speed broadband to an area (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50633/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In April 2017, my Department published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan. The Map is colour coded and searchable by address/Eircode:
- The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
- The BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The LIGHT BLUE areas represent Eir's commercial rural deployment plans to rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017.
The following table details the percentage of premises to be covered by the State Intervention and through commercial investment in the townlands in County Kildare identified by the Deputy.
|
Townland |
Premises within the NBP Intervention Area |
Premises within Commercial Operator's Area |
Premises within Eir planned rural deployment |
|
Newtown (Ed Killinthomas) |
23% (25) |
75% (82) |
2% (2) |
|
Lullymore West |
26% (11) |
74% (31) |
0% (0) |
|
Lullymore East |
54% (15) |
46% (13) |
0% (0) |
|
Rathangan |
10% (48) |
90% (420) |
0% (0) |
Information on categories of specific premises can be accessed on my Department’s website, www.broadband.gov.ie, by entering the relevant Eircode into the High Speed Broadband Map.
According to data for Q3 2018 submitted by Eir to my Department the company has passed almost 210,000 premises nationwide as part of its ongoing deployment to 300,000 premises. Further detail on this progress is provided on its website www.fibrerollout.ie.
My priority is bringing the NBP procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible. My Department is concluding its assessment of the final tender submission received from the bidder on 18 September 2018 and I will bring a recommendation to Government in the coming weeks.
National Broadband Plan Administration
Ceisteanna (557)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:557. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the conflict of interest register regarding the bidding element of the national broadband plan will be provided; the way in which conflicts of interest were notified to senior NBP process management staff; if a person (details supplied) had full access to the register at all times; the number of entries made to the register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50642/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In line with the requirements of the Communications Protocol, section 10 on Conflicts of Interest, the key personnel, internal and external, responsible for the NBP are listed on my Department's website at: www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/state-intervention/Pages/Project-Team-Structure-and-Advisors---.aspx.
This outlines the Departmental senior management, core team and external advisors.
The NBP Communications Protocol states that all members of the NBP team sign and keep updated Conflict of Interest Declarations. This is maintained by the NBP procurement team. If a member of the NBP team becomes aware of an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest at any stage during the process, they must as soon as practicable bring this actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest to the attention of senior management on the NBP project and in the first instance their immediate Manager on the NBP project.
The rules relating to conflict of interest are set out in the procurement documentation for the process, which Mr Smyth had access to in his role as process auditor.
The process auditor was also free, at his own discretion, to review all relevant documentation held by the Department and\or to seek written or oral inputs from any relevant parties as part of his review of the NBP procurement process.