Mr Robin Singleton, the managing director of a security camera systems company in Arklow, is asking Irish MEPs for help in his attempt to discover why his tender for a new 24-camera security system for Tralee, Co Kerry, was rejected by the Department of Justice. Mr Singleton told The Irish Times that in his tender he complied with all the technical requirements.
He said that from information from within the industry, his tender of £430,000 was the lowest, and could have been up to more than £50,000 lower than the other tenders.
He further claims that the infrared system he had proposed would have been safer and more cost-effective than the microwave system which the Garda authorities have now decided to deploy.
Mr Singleton also said that Irish labour as well as sub-contractors in the Republic would have been used to install, operate and service the system, but that the successful company out of the nine which tendered, Westinghouse of Northern Ireland, has no office or personnel in the Republic.
"I find it hard to understand how a company operating in the Irish Republic, which met all the criteria and which was cheaper in price than anyone else, could be rejected.
"My company, CCTV, also tendered for a similar project in Dublin but was beaten on price. I did not mind that, but on this occasion every technical requirement was met and we came in lower than any of the other companies who tendered.
"I feel very aggrieved, and I am going to go further about this. My intention is to enlist the help of Irish MEPs and to seek a decision at European level as to whether the Department of Justice has acted fairly in this matter."
A spokesman for the Department of Justice confirmed to The Irish Times last night that the contract had been awarded to Westinghouse of Northern Ireland and said that all the correct procedures had been followed.
He said that the proposals contained in each of the tender documents had been assessed by Garda experts in telecommunications of senior rank. On completion, the proposals were passed to the Government Contracts Committee, and it was at this stage that the tender was awarded.
It was common practice, the spokesman added, for tender documents to contain a clause alluding to the fact that the lowest bidder would not necessarily get the contract.
"As far as the Department of Justice is concerned, the best decision was made in terms of its requirements. When a number of companies tender for a contract, one will win and the others will lose. It is understandable that the companies which are not successful might feel less than happy, but that's the way it is," the spokesman said.