Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2019
113. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of contracts of €25,000 or more that have been awarded by his Department or bodies under his aegis that were found to be non-compliant with procurement guidelines in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45065/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) currently operates in a number of locations in Ireland and in over 80 locations overseas.
The policy of the Department is to operate competitive tendering as standard procedure. In order to achieve best value for money, a Central Procurement Section operates to co-ordinate all contracting activity and to promote best practice in procurement through management and monitoring of corporate contracts.
Procurement takes place in the context of Directive 2014/24/EU and supported by Procurement Guidelines published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). The Department participates fully in on-going initiatives of the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) focusing especially at achieving procurement savings, including the use of shared framework agreements for the provision of different categories of supplies and services.
On occasion, a small number of Department contracts do not undergo a competitive process due to exceptional market or other circumstances. Below are details of non-compliant contracts for 2017 and 2018 only as returns for 2019 are not yet available at this time. However, 2019 tenders are being monitored and managed by the Department on an ongoing basis throughout the year.
To comply with DPER Circular 40/02 the Department prepares an annual statement of contracts awarded without a competitive process where the value of the contract exceeded €25,000 (excluding VAT). This is submitted to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, and to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on an annual basis by 31 March of the following year as part of the appropriation accounts.
In some cases non-compliant contracts arise where the original tender contract period has expired and a new tender process has not yet been completed for whatever reason. The Department actively monitors and seeks to minimise such cases.
Non-Compliant Contracts/Purchases of more than €25,000 (excl. of VAT) undertaken without a competitive process Year ending 2017
|
Subject of Contract/Purchase |
Contract Value |
|
Provision of healthcare insurance for Departmental staff overseas (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€1,489,869 |
|
Provision of mobile services (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€184,460 |
|
Provision of support and maintenance services for web-based collaborative platform (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€135,165 |
|
Provision of leadership development management programme (LDMP) for AP & equivalent grades |
€38,224 |
|
Provision of services for the supply of passport application forms (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€500,000 |
|
Provision of services to facilitate office relocations including fit-out and removals |
€87,880 |
|
Professional fees relating to the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat Office fit-out in Belfast |
€67,790 |
|
Development of strategy for regional development plan in Mozambique |
€41,634 |
|
Provision of security services for Mexico City Mission |
€26,499 |
|
Provision of security services for New Delhi Mission (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€56,000 |
|
Provision of legal services for the Consulate General New York Mission |
€67,233 |
|
Provision of catering services for official promotional activities at the Consulate General New York Mission |
€59,761 |
|
Provision of security services for Pretoria Mission (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€25,690 |
|
Provision of cleaning services for the Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels Mission (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€77,000 |
|
Provision of security services for the Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels Mission (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€178,000 |
|
Provision of grounds maintenance services for the Canberra Mission (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€40,000 |
Non-Compliant Contracts/Purchases of more than €25,000 (excl. of VAT) undertaken without a competitive process Year ending 2018
|
Subject of Contract/Purchase |
Contract Value |
|
Provision of healthcare insurance for Departmental staff overseas (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€1,527,116 |
|
Provision of mobile services (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€173,363 |
|
Provision of services to facilitate office relocations including fit-out and removals |
€104,827 |
|
Provision of security services for the Brasilia Mission (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€107,000 |
|
Provision of security services for the Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels Mission (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€211,588 |
|
Provision of cleaning services for the bilateral Belgium Mission (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€59,368 |
|
Provision of security services for the Jakarta Mission (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€43,097 |
|
Provision of security services for the Mexico City Mission |
€27,704 |
|
Provision of catering services for official promotional activities at the at the Consulate General New York Mission |
€64,093 |
|
Provision of cleaning services for The Hague Mission (extension of previous contract pending new tender) |
€25,143 |
