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Treasury;Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency

Answer

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the largest contract is that has been placed through (a) G-cat and (b) S-cat; and if he will make a statement; [151578] (2) what assessment he has made of the benefits that Government Departments realise through the use of G-cat and S-cat; [151579] (3) what assessment he has made of the compliance of G-cat and S-cat with EC tendering legislation. [151580] Mr. Andrew Smith: [holding answer 1 March 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency. I have asked him to reply. Letter from Bob Assirati to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 15 March 2001: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply to your 3 Parliamentary Questions about GCat and S-CAT (Ref: 151578, 151579, 151580). The information you have requested is given below. You asked what assessment has been made of the compliance of GCat and S-CAT with EC tendering legislation. An assessment of compliance with the EC procurement rules was made by CCTA before the GCat and S-CAT framework contracts were awarded. Following the establishment of the Office of Government Commerce (with effect from 1 April 2000) further reviews have confirmed the view that both GCat and S-CAT are compliant with the EC rules. You also asked what the largest contracts are which have been placed through GCat and S-CAT respectively and if a statement can be made. It is a feature of these schemes that customer organisations contract direct with their selected prime contractors. It is not therefore appropriate for CCTA to give details regarding individual contracts to which we are not party as there may be commercial or contractual sensitivities of which we are unaware. However, in terms of contractual value, the largest individual customer orders placed so far through GCat and S-CAT are valued at £2.5 million and £17.8 million respectively. Finally you asked what assessments have been made of the benefits that Government departments realise through the use of GCat and S-CAT. In general the benefits gained from these framework contracts are: Compliance with EC procurement procedures Reduced procurement timescales and costs Economy-of-scale pricing Simplified ordering with e-procurement facilities Sound contractual protection The quantification and aggregation of these benefits is not a straightforward process as different customers derive differing degrees of benefit according to their own circumstances. However CCTA have estimated that savings during the first 5 years from GCat and S-CAT are approximately £30 million and £3.5 million respectively. The 1999 NAO Report on Modernising Procurement contains further detailed analysis of the CGat efficiency savings.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

365 c29-30W; 151578;151579;151580

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Contracts ICT EU law Government departments Public bodies Procurement Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency G-CAT

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk