§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the companies and organisations which submitted expressions of interest in the provision of facilities management for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory; when he will issue invitations to tender; and when tenders will be due. [848]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 27 June 2001]: The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has advertised a future requirement for facilities management services in the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC) and the MOD "Contracts Bulletin". 96W Expressions of interest detailing financial and relevant commercial experience were invited and respondents given the appropriate period in which to submit information in accordance with EC Procurement Directives. These advertisements generated significant response from potential suppliers. I am withholding details of potential suppliers under Exemption 7 of the code of practice on access to government information.
The anticipated date for release of invitation to tender documents was identified in the OJEC and MOD bulletin notices as 31 July 2001.
As Dstl is still in the process of defining its requirements of facilities management services, interested parties have been advised that invitations to tender will not be released before 1 October and that a revised date of release will be notified in due course. A four-month response period is to be allowed. Accordingly, tenders are anticipated in the period of spring 2002.
In accordance with MOD guidance, organisations invited to tender will be listed in the MOD "Contracts Bulletin" when invitations are issued.