Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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431. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of contracts granted by her Department, or by agencies under the auspices of her Department, from 1 January 2012 to date in 2013; the total value of these contracts; the percentage value of these for which no tenders were required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27351/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The annual expenditure in respect of goods and services of the Department is in the order of €400 million, €40 million in respect of Citizens Information Board and €1.3 million in respect of the Pensions Board. The quarterly Prompt Payments Report to Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation is available on the Department's website . This return includes all commercial payments from the Department and its agencies, including payments to transport providers under the Free Travel Scheme and utility providers under the Household Benefits Package.

The Department participates fully in on-going initiatives of the National Procurement Service (NPS) based in the Office of Public Works (OPW), focusing especially at achieving procurement savings, including the use of shared framework agreements for the provision of an increasing number of categories of supplies and services.

Award of tenders without a competitive process is only permitted in exceptional circumstance and then only in conformity with criteria set down in EU directive 18/2004. In compliance with Department of Finance Circular 40/02, any proposal to award a contract above €25,000 (exclusive of VAT) without a competitive process is reviewed in advance by the Department's Internal Audit Unit. In accordance with Circular 40/02 full returns of such procurements are signed off by the Secretary General and submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General before 31 March in the following year and copied to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

In addition, all such procurements above €25,000 must first be approved by the Project Governance Committee (PGC), a committee of the Department's Management Board, chaired by the Secretary General. Where procurement is specifically for IT external service provision, or consultancy, all such contracts are approved by the governance committee.

With regard to the Citizens Information Board any proposal to award a contract above €25,000 (exclusive of VAT) without a competitive process is reviewed in advance by the Board's Senior Management Team and by the Audit and Risk Committee which is a committee of the Board. The Board applies, in all cases, very restrictive conditions for use of single or restricted tendering for procurements of goods or services.

It is the policy of the Pensions Board to use open tendering process for all contracts. All contracts greater than €20,000 not being awarded by competitive tender must be authorised by the Chairperson of the Finance & Audit Committee or Chief Executive.

The total value of contracts awarded on foot of a competitive tender advertised on eTenders, including contracts awarded under DSP framework agreements, since 01 January 2012 is €22.9 million. The total value of contracts awarded by way of a non-competitive or single tender process was €0.94 million or 4% of the competitively tendered contracts.

The Department is committed to achieving value for money in the procurement of supplies and services essential to support its work in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the attached tables and I am satisfied the Department applies, in all cases, very restrictive conditions for use of single or restricted tendering for procurements of goods or services.

Department of Social Protection (DSP) Tenders Advertised on eTenders and where Contracts Awarded since 01 January 2012

(includes all IT procurements valued over €10,000 and all other procurements valued over €25,000 ex VAT)

TenderRFT publication dateContract Commencement DateValue of Contract  (incl VAT)Contract Awarded toIT consultancy services for the support & maintenance of the department's corporate portal23-Nov-1204-Mar-13€600,000Hewlett Packard Ireland LtdProvision of IT managed services for the Civil Registration Service.15-Nov-1204-Feb-13€621,687Hewlett Packard Ireland LtdProvision of expert advice & assistance with the design and delivery of an employment service model05-Nov-1230-Nov-2012€114,260Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion LondonTraining Services for Special Investigation Unit and Central Prosecutions05-Oct-1230-Apr-13€27,750La Touche Bond Solon Training LimitedSupply of A4 Scanners11-Jul-1201-Aug-12€69,184Digital Imaging ServicesIT consultancy support for the design, development & implementation of a new www.welfare.ie website31-May-127-Sept-2012€569,958Hewlett Packard Ireland Ltd Provision of a Media Monitoring Service for the Department Of Social Protection28-May-1212-Oct-2012€48,708Media World LtdDelivery of Projects to Support the Department's Service Delivery Modernisation (SDM) Programme16-May-12Framework Agreement€1,227,284See details below contracts  within DSP frameworkProvision of Security Services at the Department of Social Protection01-May-1216-Dec-2012€1,814,000At Risk Security Production Support & Consultancy for Payment & Agency Reconciliation Project (PARP) and  Oracle Financials & Business Objects23-Mar-1201-Aug-2012€2,750,000Fujitsu (Ireland) LimitedProvision of Grounds Maintenance Services 15-Mar-1201-Jun-2012€60,660Steve Noone LandscapingProvision and Deployment of Hardware Security Modules24-Feb-1206-Sept-2012€60,265SafeNet UK LimitedRepair and Maintenance of Data Processing (Computer) equipment21-Feb-1201-July-2012      €1,331,197Hewlett Packard Ireland Ltd Repair and Maintenance of Data Processing (Computer) equipment21-Feb-1201-July-2012€73,889Unity Technology SolutionsTransport Services23-Jan-1215-Oct-2012   €376,000William Tracey & SonsProvision of Pest Control Services 13-Jan-1201-Jul-2012€21,429RentokilActuarial Review of Social Insurance Fund8-Dec-201102-Mar-2012€153,750KPMG IrelandHygiene Maintenance/Washroom Services 14-Nov-20111-Apr-2012€40,000OCS Cannon HygieneAppointment of Security Partner to provide on-going Information Security support08-Nov-201101-Apr-2012€83,025Deloitte & ToucheEvaluation of JobBridge -National Internship Scheme 1-Nov-201118-Apr-2012€60,725IndeconSupply of Facial Image Matching Software (SAFE Programme)01-Jul-201127-Apr-2012€259,3303M Ireland Limited

Contracts awarded within DSP Framework Agreements since 01 January 2012

TenderContract Commencement DateValue of Contract (VAT incl)Contract Awarded toPayment and Generic Scheme30-Aug-2012€1,687,612AccentureProvision of ICT Resources for Regional Service Development 16-May-2013€1,272,000DeloitteProvision of ICT Resources  for BOM Modelling Development Team16-May-2013€826,560DeloitteContinuing operation and development of the Central Test function in the BOMi environment7-Jan-2013€1,199,250BearingPoint Ireland LimitedSupport and Continuing development and operation of the Release and Environment Management Processes 07-Jan-2013€1,445,250BearingPoint Ireland LimitedBusiness Change/Enhancement on the Business Object Model Implementation (BOMi) 07-Jan-2013€2,386,200BearingPoint Ireland LimitedProduction support and essential Maintenance of the Business Object Model Implementation (BOMi) 07-Jan-2013€3,693,075BearingPoint Ireland LimitedReview of Pension Priority Order  14-Aug-2012€18,150Mercer

DSP Contracts Awarded without a competitive process (single tenders) since 01 January 2012

TenderValue of  Contract (VAT inclusive) ContractorReason for not undertaking a Competitive ProcessAnalysis & Measurement of Deprivation & Poverty Project €321,322ESRIThe specialised expertise required is not available elsewhere Maintenance of the Social Welfare Appeals Office system€54,090IBMThe Social Welfare Appeals Office relies on a custom built computer application to support its core business activities.  Renewal of the contract was regarded as the most viable option in order to ensure continuity of provision of this essential service Strategic input to the DSP technical architecture group€43,000MicrosoftMicrosoft representation on the Departments Technical Architecture Group (TAG) providing specific assistance in relation to how the Department might adopt the Microsoft tools and techniques to take account of DSP technical architecture. Mobile Opportunity Exploration€33,388AccentureProject to inform the development of mobile applications on Microsoft's Windows 8 and Windows 8 mobile platform to support DSP Inspectors which utilised the Accenture/Avanade knowledge and experience and had to be completed in advance of a significant exploratory project.Profiling of Live Register customers for the Pathways to Work Programme€33,745ESRIESRI worked with DSP in development of Customer profiling and has all the software & data relating to the development of that model and are therefore the only body in a position to do the profiling in the time period.Gartner Subscription Service€162,600Gartner Ireland LtdThe Gartner subscription service provides a unique source of information, insight and advice that assists ISD to formulate its strategy and architecture as well as providing detailed technical information to support the Department's adoption of new and evolving technologies Review of Long-Term Pensions Policy in Ireland€130,000OECDThe OECD is uniquely qualified to conduct this review.Upgrade of CoreExpense (T&S System) and CoreTime (T&A) systems€80,980Core InternationalNecessary upgrade of proprietary Core systems.Maintenance of the Toshiba CTX telephone system€60,323ATSATS is the only provider of the required maintenance service.Purchase additional Daon licences for Public Service Card €23,092DaonDaon is the only suppliers of such licences

CIB Tenders Advertised on eTenders and where Contracts Awarded since 01 January 2012

(includes all IT procurements valued over €10,000 and all other procurements valued over €25,000 ex VAT)

TenderRFT publication dateContract Commencement DateValue of Contract  (incl VAT)Contract Awarded toData Strategy26-Mar-12June 2012€34,440DNM TechnologyHainault House, Tallaght, internal alterations/modifications24-May-12, 21-Jun-12July 2012€54,544Simon Bernard LtdProvision of HR support and advice to CIB and network companies22-Jun-12Sept 2012€70,686Graphite HRMResearch: Qualitative Study MABS Casework02-Aug-12Oct 2012€30,135IPSOS MRBIReview of National Advocacy Service31-Jul-12Oct 2012€12,300 + subsistence where requiredRound Table SolutionsProvision of the EFQM Goldstar Service Excellence QA programme in CIB and all our Delivery Partners28-Mar-12 OJEUNov 2012€325,476Centre for CompetitivenessDesign and print management services30-Mar-12 OJEUDec 2012Demand dependantClickworks Ltd.Marketing & Media Services to promote new telephone numbers08-Oct-12Dec 2012€159,000Marketing NetworkManaged ICT Helpdesk24-Sept-12Dec 2012€309,045ArkphireResearch on the role of Employment Schemes in Service Delivery in CISs09-Nov-12Jan 2013€33,754TMA Consultancy

CIB Contracts Awarded without a competitive process (per Circular 40/02 Single Tenders) since 01 January 2012

TenderValue of  Contract (VAT inclusive) ContractorReason for not undertaking a Competitive ProcessGolden Pages & Phone Book Listing for MABS, CISs, CIPS€100,516Truvo LtdSole supplier.An accredited course delivery for a Certificate in Management Skills  for the managers of Advocacy Services€32,933Institute Technology Blanchardstown (ITB)Several companies consulted.  ITB only one capable of delivering the programme.Insurance Services 2012/13 for Citizens Information Bureau (CIB) Citizens Information Centres (CICs) and  Citizens Information Phone Services (CIPS)€143,422 IPB Insurance BrokersIn Aug 2012 there was a proposal from DPER for the State Claims Agency (SCA) to underwrite insurance but this would have excluded CISs, CIPS.  Further clarification was been sought by the time the renewal date was due and it was decided not to go to tender until the situation was clarified.Improvements to the ECMS/advocacycase.ie€35,000Engine SolutionsCompany holds intellectual property for the software to be upgradedMAIH Campaign- Radio/Online/Print€98,892 Marketing NetworkCampaign required in a tight timeframe as requested by DSP, on behalf of Interdepartmental Working Group on Mortgage Arrears.Delivery of accredited Training Programme to managers in CIS+€32,933Institute of technology, Blanchardstown [ITB]Continuation with provider as second delivery of programme.

Pensions Board Tenders Advertised on eTenders and Contracts awarded since 01 January 2012 (includes all IT procurements valued over €10,000 and all other procurements valued over €25,000 ex VAT

Name of Tender (Description/PurposeRFT Publication DateContract Commencement DateValue of Contract (including VAT)Contract Awarded toSupply of IT Infrastructure Hardware19 - Nov 20126 - Dec 2012€9,833.85DCB GroupTenders are invited for the implementation of an upgrade-solution for the Board's virtualised IT environment21 - November 20126 - Dec 2012€15,322.50Unity Technology SolutionsMS Software Licenses - Microsoft Software Licensing18 - Dec 201221 - Dec 2012€16,698.23Kelway IT Solutions Limited

Purchase of PCs under PC Framework (procured through ictprocurement.gov.ie PC framework)16-Aug-201211-Sept-2012€30,440.66PC PeripheralsSupply of Internal audit services30-May-201212-Oct-2012€25,461D'Arcy Lynch partnersAccountancy Services7-Dec-20127-Mar-2013Agreed Hourly rates contracted for services as requiredCrowleys DFK

There were no non-competitive (single tender) contracts awarded by the Pensions Board since 01 January 2012.