Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2019 to Question 242182 on MOD Boscombe Down, when the (a) review of future requirement is expected to be completed and (b) outcome of the March 2019 new competitive process will be published.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As stated previously the strategic review was initiated in February 2019 and it is anticipated to be completed by July 2019. At this point the new competition will be issued with an anticipated completion of March 2020.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the Joint Forces Command review into the Boscombe Down Airfield emergency cover tender.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
A strategic review of the requirement was initiated in February 2019, which is still being undertaken.
The original competed contract has been terminated and the future requirement is being reviewed; I envisage a new competition will be initiated and completed by March 2019.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Boscombe Down Airfield emergency cover tender is a classified as matter of national defence.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The tender for the provision of emergency ambulance cover at Ministry of Defence Boscombe Down is not classified as a matter of national defence.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contracts his Department has awarded to Healthcare Resource Group in each of the last five years.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not awarded any contracts to Healthcare Resource Group in the last five years. However, seven contracts have been awarded to Health Care Resourcing Group Limited over this period; a contract for the provision of medical services to the Army (started November 2014 and ended December 2017) and six contracts for temporary healthcare workers (started February 2017 and due to end in May 2019).
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has ever awarded a contract to an insolvent company.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Ministry of Defence assesses the legal and financial status of a company before a contract is awarded and monitors the financial health and performance of the company throughout the contract, taking action as appropriate.
It would not be normal for a contract to be placed with an insolvent company. However, if there was an overriding need to purchase goods from an insolvent company (for example, it was vital to the operational capability of the armed forces) then a detailed process would be followed, involving legal and financial experts, to evaluate the benefits against the risks before deciding whether to place a contract.
The number of contracts awarded to insolvent companies is not held centrally and this data can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department takes to ensure that all procurements satisfy qualifying criteria.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) assesses all tenders for a requirement against a range of relevant criteria to ensure that the Armed Forces get the best capability at the best value for money for the taxpayer.
Contracts are only awarded following a detailed tender assessment process and, while criteria for each procurement will vary depending on the requirements, MOD commercial officers must be satisfied that these are met before a contract is awarded.
All tender documentation will include information on how the tenders will be evaluated and scored and the evaluation criteria will vary according to the requirement. One evaluation method is the lowest price method where the lowest priced tender that is technically and commercially compliant is deemed the winner. This is typically used in simple, routine procurements. A second evaluation method is the most economically advantageous tender method. Price is just one element of the overall value for money assessment and there may be occasions where a contractor who has submitted a more expensive tender is awarded a contract, for example, where the company offers a more effective capability. This will be assessed in accordance with the evaluation criteria detailed within the tender documentation
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on awarding contracts to contractors whose tender is more expensive than the lowest quote.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) assesses all tenders for a requirement against a range of relevant criteria to ensure that the Armed Forces get the best capability at the best value for money for the taxpayer.
Contracts are only awarded following a detailed tender assessment process and, while criteria for each procurement will vary depending on the requirements, MOD commercial officers must be satisfied that these are met before a contract is awarded.
All tender documentation will include information on how the tenders will be evaluated and scored and the evaluation criteria will vary according to the requirement. One evaluation method is the lowest price method where the lowest priced tender that is technically and commercially compliant is deemed the winner. This is typically used in simple, routine procurements. A second evaluation method is the most economically advantageous tender method. Price is just one element of the overall value for money assessment and there may be occasions where a contractor who has submitted a more expensive tender is awarded a contract, for example, where the company offers a more effective capability. This will be assessed in accordance with the evaluation criteria detailed within the tender documentation
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that potential interference with air defence radar does not prevent the future development of offshore wind sites.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) remains keen to support the future developments of the offshore wind sector, as best it can. However, this needs to be balanced with its requirements to protect the UK and its airspace. MOD officials have regular liaison with representatives of the offshore wind sector on this matter, particularly through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Aviation Management Board meetings. Where appropriate we will continue to liaise across the industry sector and wider Government, including BEIS and the Department for Transport.
The MOD is undertaking further analysis to consider the strategic objectives and understand any risks with our current and future military radar capabilities. We aim to conclude the first 'understand' phase in the spring which will set the scope, structure and timelines for any further phases of work that may be required. However, a way ahead in the immediate future is challenging and requires upgraded or new technologies, which are not currently part of the equipment programme.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with representatives of the offshore wind sector on the interaction between air defence radar and potential future offshore wind sites.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) remains keen to support the future developments of the offshore wind sector, as best it can. However, this needs to be balanced with its requirements to protect the UK and its airspace. MOD officials have regular liaison with representatives of the offshore wind sector on this matter, particularly through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Aviation Management Board meetings. Where appropriate we will continue to liaise across the industry sector and wider Government, including BEIS and the Department for Transport.
The MOD is undertaking further analysis to consider the strategic objectives and understand any risks with our current and future military radar capabilities. We aim to conclude the first 'understand' phase in the spring which will set the scope, structure and timelines for any further phases of work that may be required. However, a way ahead in the immediate future is challenging and requires upgraded or new technologies, which are not currently part of the equipment programme.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received on the procurement of emergency airfield cover at Boscombe Down airfield.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Under the Long Term Partnering Agreement between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and QinetiQ, the company provides year-round emergency airfield response cover at MOD Boscombe Down, including aircraft crash rescue. In addition, during flying activity, the MOD's Defence Primary Health Care provides emergency ambulance cover using a commercial enterprise. A competition to renew this service has been completed and is currently being reviewed. I am withholding details of the tenderers as their disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.