Only one Cork firm in running for city offices contract

JUST one Cork firm has been shortlisted to bid for a €1 million-plus contract to furnish the city’s new civic offices.

Of the seven Cork firms who expressed an interest in tendering for the two-pronged contract, only one is still in the running.

The huge office block is under construction next to City Hall on Anglesea Street and, once complete, will be one of the city’s most modern buildings.

It will house the council’s entire staff and will provide a one-stop-shop for members of the public availing of council services.

However, councillor Damian Wallace said he had concerns that just one Cork firm has been selected to bid for one of the two furnishing contracts.

Sources estimate the entire contract could be valued somewhere between €1.25m and €1.5m.

Mr Wallace questioned the city manager Joe Gavin on the issue.

Mr Gavin said the council advertised in the EU Journal for expressions of interest for the provision of office furniture for the new offices.

“The advertisement was for two lots and stated that it was envisaged that between five and eight firms would be shortlisted to submit tenders for the project,” Mr Gavin said.

Twenty-six firms in total expressed an interest in tendering for lot one - of those six were Cork firms.

Seven firms expressed an interest in tendering for lot two - one of which was a Cork firm.

However, the Dublin-based architects of the new building, Ahrends, Burton and Koralek, selected just one of the Cork firms to go on to the bidding process.

No Cork firm was shortlisted for lot one. Just one was shortlisted for the lot two contract.

Mr Wallace said he didn’t want to cut across the tendering process.

“But the concern I have is that six Cork firms weren’t even allowed to quote,” he said.

Mr Gavin said the architects were retained to prepare furniture layouts, and advise on furniture quality and its purchase.

They examined all expressions of interests and selected the firms after considering a range of issues, including financial and economic standing, technical capability and organisation structure, he said.

It was not clear last night when firms will be asked to bid for the two contracts but the building is on target to open towards the end of next year.