Written answers

Tuesday, 5 November 2019

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Departmental Contracts Data

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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113. To ask the 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]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The 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

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