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Wilson welcomes procurement of an independent counselling service for schools

Friday, 14 August 2009

Three small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been awarded contracts, worth £5.4million to supply an Independent Counselling Service for Post-Primary Schools.

The Service is aimed at assisting young people during difficult and vulnerable periods in their lives.

Welcoming the award of the contracts, Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson said: “It is always encouraging to see local firms, especially Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), bid for and secure Government procurement contracts, of which the Executive commits approximately £2.2billion to each year.

“This project, managed by my Department’s Central Procurement Directorate on behalf of the Department of Education, is an example of the breadth of contracts aimed at procuring supplies and services for the public sector. It will provide young people in post-primary schools across Northern Ireland with access to a counselling service at difficult times in their lives.

“SMEs are ideally placed to avail of opportunities such as this and, indeed, secure the lion’s share of the work.”

Contracts, valued at approximately £1.8million annually for a period of up to three years, were awarded to three SMEs, New Life Counselling, Belfast; North Down Family Works, Newtownards; and Counselling for Youth, Bangor.

The new contracts will permit the Department of Education to increase the levels of Counselling Services available to Schools across the province.

Notes to Editors:

  1. Details of all up-coming opportunities are available at the Central Procurement Directorate e-sourcing portal at the eSourcing NI websitelink to external website or visit the DFP websitelink to external website for links to all Centres of Procurement Expertise.
  2. All those interested in seeking to tender for government opportunities can register their details on the site at no cost.
  3. Media enquiries to DFP Communications Office on 028 9052 7644 or 028 9052 27375. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.