§ Mr. PendryTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April(a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies who were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies who submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 27 October 1992]: The Department undertakes a wide range of computer projects, some of which may result in single purchases of low value off the shelf products and others requiring major procurements following EC/GATT procedures, possibly involving development of software as well as purchase of goods.
The provision of a tabulation covering all tenders for administrative computer systems and software cannot be made available within the existing cost limits for answering parliamentary questions. However, a more limited tabulation covering tenders for purchases exceeding £ 20,000 is set out as follows. For reasons of commercial sensitivity contract values are not shown. Procurement procedures do not allow for bids to be considered unless in response to an invitation or EC Journal advertisement. All contracts are for supply only except where stated.
industry and energy. I shall be preparing a consolidated table of their results in the next trade and industry expenditure plans report, which is due for publication in February 1993.