Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will expand on Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 19 May 2009, and provide details on each formal complaint received by the Office of Public Works on tender processes; the date each complaint was first received; the product or service that each complaint referred to; the steps the OPW is taking to resolve each complaint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21835/09]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) has thousands of contracts throughout the country in any one year. A trawl of OPW offices throughout the country found three formal complaints were received since 2007 on tender processes organised by the OPW.

In February 2009, a complaint was received on a tender for the supply of envelopes to Government Departments and Offices. A challenge was made by a competitor to the award of the contract, and, following investigation, the challenge was upheld and a new tender competition is to be organised. The Office of Public Works took legal advice on the matter from the Chief State Solicitor's Office and Attorney General's Office, informed the complainant of the outcome, and are in negotiations with the complainant to agree a way forward.

Two other complaints were received in 2008. One, received in July 2008, relates to the manner in which a contract was awarded for a security system. The contract that initiated the complaint had been well completed by that time, and there was therefore no redress for the complaint in that particular regard. There were various correspondences on the matter, and there was also a FOI request, which was dealt with under the legislation.

The third complaint was received in November 2008. The subject was a tender for security systems, and, in particular, the period of time allowed for tender. The contract was not placed, due to the cost of the tenders received, and the scheme was revised and re-tendered subsequently.