Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the reported award of a £108 million contract for personal protective equipment to PestFix, where and when the contract was advertised for tender; whether the contract was awarded under Regulation 32(2)c of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/102) which covers Direct Award due to reasons of extreme urgency; if so, how the Direct Award met the requirement under Regulation 32(2)(c) that the events were unforeseeable, given the contract was awarded on 10 April and the UK had reportedly been warned about a shortage of PPE supplies at a meeting with the World Health Organisation on 4 February; why a 12-month contract was awarded; whether they have supported PestFix’s cashflow, and if so, by how much; and why the contract has not yet been published.

The award of this contract is the subject of a Judicial Review which has been brought against the Department. The Department is taking legal advice and considering its response. In these circumstances it would inappropriate to respond to the issues and points raised in this question as this might prejudice the Department’s legal position.