§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts for goods or services have been awarded by his Department and its executive agencies on the basis of single negotiated contracts in each of the last three years; if he will list the companies involved and the value of the contract in each case; what percentage this represented of contracts awarded by his Department and its agencies after competitive tendering; and, in each case, why the contracts were awarded on the basis of a single negotiated tender. [22865]
§ Mr. NorrisThe information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines are currently in force in his Department and its executive agencies relating to competitive tendering and the use of single negotiated tenders; on what grounds single negotiated tenders can be used; and what procedures are in place within his Department to ensure that the use of single negotiated tenders in competitive tendering processes is justified in all cases. [22849]
§ Mr. NorrisGeneral guidance on procurement is contained in the Department of Transport's procurement manual. Goods, works and services are acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. Single tender action may be justified where the proposed supplier was successful in a competitive exercise within the previous 12 months by tendering the best price and is prepared to offer the same or lower prices; it is known that goods or services can be provided only by one supplier; repairs to specialist equipment is required which can be carried out only by the original supplier; specialist spares are required which may be obtained only from the original supplier; essential compatibility with existing equipment or previous service is required. Single tender cases which exceed the relevant EC threshold are dealt with under the negotiated procedure. All procurement takes place within a framework of contractual delegations. Delegation holders are responsible for the proper exercise of delegations within their areas of responsibility and ensuring that delegation limits are not breached. Delegations are set lower for single tender cases than for competition.