Department awards poultry contract to firm in the North

THE Department of Defence has proven that it pays to shop up North after all, as they agreed to pay €350,000 for fresh poultry products to a company based in Co Down.

Despite calls from the likes of Finance Minister Brian Lenihan for Irish shoppers to do their “patriotic duty” and spend their money this side of the border, the Defence Forces have confirmed that the poultry contract went to Crossgar Foods in Seaforde, Co Down, because it was the cheapest.

The tender award notice indicates that the contract was given to the Northern firm because it offered the lowest price of the nine companies which had expressed an interest.

The firm will provide fresh poultry products to 18 military locations around the country on a daily basis.

However, as if to prove that it wasn’t, er, putting all its eggs in the one basket, the Department of Defence has gone for the ‘shop local’ angle when it comes to making sure the armed forces have a sufficient supply of eggs.

A separate contract award notice shows that Nest Box Eggs of Castleblayney in Co Monaghan has secured the contract to provide eggs on a weekly basis to the same 18 military facilities around the country.

The cost of that contract – again awarded on the basis of most competitive prices among the six interested companies – is €118,000.

In a statement, the Department of Defence said: “All food supplies for the Defence Forces are procured centrally by the Food Procurement Section of the Defence Forces, who place contracts with suppliers for various food products.

“The Defence Forces adhere to both EU and National Procurement procedures in the procurement of products for use by the Defence Forces.

“The military authorities have clarified that the tender competition for eggs and poultry products was advertised and assessed in accordance with the standard procedures,” the statement added.