Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure the procurement and tendering process for rapid testing for covid-19 is fair and transparent.

Contracting authorities are allowed to procure goods, services and works with extreme urgency in exceptional circumstances under the Public Contract Regulations 2015. Under the regulations contracting authorities may enter into contracts without competing or advertising the requirement. Suppliers will be evaluated by Departmental officials on their financial standing, compliance with minimum product and service specifications and ability to perform the contract. Contracts are placed in line with Departmental terms and conditions which include clauses for contract management to ensure that supplier performance and the delivery of value for money can be properly assessed throughout the lifetime of the contract.

Where contracts with commercial partners have been finalised the Department is publishing contract award notices on the Contracts Finder service on GOV.UK at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder