§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State For Northern how many contracts for goods or services have been awarded by his Department and its64W 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. [22870]
§ Sir John WheelerWithin the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments the information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [22855]
§ Sir John WheelerIn relation to competitive tendering and the use of single negotiated tenders the Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Office and their executive agencies operate under the principles of Government accounting as set out in "Government Accounting" and "Government Accounting Northern Ireland"; the provisions of the following procurement legislation:
- The Public Supply Contracts Regulations 1995—SI 1995 No. 201
- The Public Services Contracts Regulations 1993—SI 1993 No. 3228
- The Public Works Contracts Regulations 1991—SI 1991 No. 2680;
and the series of supplementary guidance notes on purchasing and supply procedures issued by the central unit on procurement HM Treasury.
These publications set out the grounds on which single negotiated tenders may be used and the procedures to justify their use.