Court Fast-Tracks Legal Fight Over €9 Million Alarm Contract
A provider in County Fermanagh is challenging Meath County Council’s decision to award personal alarm services to two rival firms.
By Tunde Bailey ·
Meath County Council has asked a commercial judge to lift an automatic pause on a major public contract for personal alarms. The pause took effect when Care Direct 24/7 Ltd filed a legal challenge against the council’s award of the service.
The contract covers monitored alarms for eligible residents over the age of 65. The estimated value is up to €9 million per year for three years. The total potential value of the framework agreement is €27 million over four years.
Judge Eileen Roberts placed the case on the fast track commercial list on Monday. She set a hearing for later this month to decide whether to remove the stay. Nathy Dunleavy, counsel for the council, made the request to expedite the process.
Care Direct, based in Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh, has provided services under the Seniors Alert Scheme since 2012. The company won previous tenders for the same service in 2015, 2017, and 2021. The scheme is administered by the Pobal local inclusion agency and funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The council issued a call for tenders in June. Care Direct said it was notified on September 14 that it had been admitted to the framework but ranked third. Two other companies were selected for the initial contract: Emergency Response Ltd and Trident Associated Securities Communications Ltd.
Care Direct claims the council failed to follow its own competition rules. The company argues that the award to the two rivals was affected by manifest error. It also states that the council misinterpreted the award criteria when scoring the bids from Care Direct and the successful tenderers.
