§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidelines are currently in force in her 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 her Department to ensure that the use of single negotiated tenders in competitive tendering processes is justified in all cases. [22847]
§ Mr. Robin SquireWritten guidance is fully in accordance with Government procurement policies, including the principles set out in the recent White Papers "Competing for Quality" and "Setting New Standards" and compliant with the EC procurement directive has been disseminated to staff.
620WTendering processes are designed to ensure that the Department achieves best value for money when entering into contracts. Single tender action is undertaken only after justification has been provided to, and written agreement received from, senior management.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many contracts for goods or services have been awarded by her Department and its executive agencies on the basis of single negotiated contracts in each of the last three years; if she will list the companies involved and the value of the contract in each case; what percentage this represented of contracts awarded by her Department and its agencies after competitive tendering; and, in each case, why the contracts were awarded on the basis of a single negotiated tender. [22861]
§ Mr. SquireInformation in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.