Departmental Contracts

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2022

Thursday, 1 December 2022

Ceisteanna (174)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

174. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the contracts that have been granted without having to go to public tender; the companies that were granted these contracts and nature of the work involved; the qualifying criteria that was applied to any company awarded such a contract in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60081/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (Deputy Eamon Ryan)

In general, competitive tendering is used by my Department unless exceptional circumstances exist which justifies the use of an alternative approach. Circumstances where competitive tendering may not be appropriate, feasible or cost-effective is provided for in Circular 40/02 on Public Procurement. Examples of the exceptions covered by this Circular include sole supplier scenarios, proprietary goods or services, licensing renewals and instances where specialist knowledge/previous experience is essential or where urgency is a factor. Non-competitive contracts are contracts for which competitive tendering is not considered appropriate under the circumstances.

In line with the requirements of Circular 40/02, my Department makes annual returns to the Comptroller and Auditor General in respect of contracts in excess of €25,000 which are awarded without a competitive tender process. Contracts awarded by my Department in accordance with Circular 40/02 in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 are in the table below.

Year	Company	Nature of work	Exception Criteria Under Circular 40/02
			2020
2020	Micromail	Windows 7 - Extended security updates	Urgency
2020	Confidential	Software for the National Cyber Security Centre	Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2020	Independent contractor	Legal advisory services relating to the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill	Urgency
2020	Confidential	Software for the National Cyber Security Centre	Sole Rights, Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2020	Confidential	Software for the National Cyber Security Centre	Sole Rights
2020	Confidential	Software for the National Cyber Security Centre	Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2020	McKinsey & Co	Sensitivity planning to assess potential sectoral costs of achieving more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions targets out to 2030	Previous experience/ specialist knowledge./ Urgency
2020	Independent contractor	Just Transition	The commissioner was appointed in light of his specific expertise.
2020	New Decade TV	Outreach & promotion of research	Sole Rights /AV services
2020	Mason Hayes & Curran	Legal advisory services in support of the National Broadband Plan	Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2020	KPMG	Financial and procurement advisory services in support of the National Broadband Plan	Previous experience/ specialist knowledge.
2020	Integrity 360	Software Licences	Urgency
2020	PFH Technology	Software Licences	Urgency
2020	NDRC	Operation of the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC)	Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2020	Reveal Data Corporation Ltd	IT software and related services	Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2020	Hayes Solicitors	Legal Services	Urgency, Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2020	Independent contractors	Legal Services	Urgency, Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
			2021
2021	London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine	Health impact evaluation of the Warmth and Wellbeing scheme	Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2021	Vodafone	Mobile telephony services	Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2021	Eir	Landline telephony services	Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2021	Confidential	Software for the National Cyber Security Centre	Only one suitably qualified specialist. Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2021	Confidential	Software for the National Cyber Security Centre	Proprietary product
2021	Confidential	Software for the National Cyber Security Centre	Proprietary product
2021	Independent contractor	Just Transition	Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2021	Confidential	Software for the National Cyber Security Centre	Proprietary product
2021	Confidential	Consultancy services for the National Cyber Security Centre	Only one suitably qualified specialist
2021	IHS Markit	IT licences	Proprietary product
2021	An Post	IT software	Sole rights
2021	Unit4	IT licences	Sole rights
2021	Integrify	IT software	Sole rights
2021	ESRI Ireland	IT licences and maintenance	Sole rights
2021	SGS Ireland Limited	Corestore management and operations	Urgency
2021	Arthur Cox	Legal services	Only one suitably qualified specialist. Specialist expertise
2021	National Council for the Blind Ireland	Telephone switch operator services	Specialist expertise
2021	Precision Box Company	Storage solution	Proprietary product
2021	Vodafone	IT services	Proprietary product
			2022 to Date
2022	Baringa	Consultancy services	Urgency
2022	Arthur Cox	Legal advisory services	Urgency
2022	eir	Landline telephony services	Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2022	Ernst & Young (EY)	Project Management Support - security of supply actions in support of CRU’s Programme of Action	Urgency
2022	IPA	Secretariat Support - Security of Electricity Supply Review	Urgency
2022	Kiwa Gastec	Laboratory Services	Where there is only one suitably qualified specialist in the relevant field
2022	Matheson	Legal advisory services	Previous experience/ specialist knowledge
2022	McKinsey & Company Ireland Inc	Technical Advisory Services	Where there is only one suitably qualified specialist in the relevant field.
2022	An Post	Reduce Your Use – Winter National Door Drop	Where there is only one suitably qualified specialist in the relevant field.
2022	Confidential	Software for the National Cyber Security Centre	sole rights