More than £6 million worth of tenders have been awarded by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council with almost £3m going to companies outside the area, it can be revealed.

An analysis by The Impartial Reporter of procurement documents between January and September of this year show that some of the largest tenders, covering services such as waste management and major software agreements, were allocated to firms from other parts of Northern Ireland and the UK, including counties Londonderry and Antrim, as well as Surrey.

The total amount spent across the tenders is £6,088,055.26, with the contracts covering a wide range of public projects in Fermanagh and Omagh. These include improvements to leisure centres, playgrounds, and waste collection services.

However, a significant number of the contracts went to companies based outside the district, particularly for highly specialised services. These include: Collection and Treatment of Residual Waste: £1,656,250 awarded to RiverRidge Recycling (Portadown) Ltd, based in Garvagh, County Londonderry.

Microsoft Software Enterprise Agreement Subscription: £381,223.48 awarded to Phoenix Software Ltd, based in Leatherhead, Surrey.

Supply and Delivery of Two 3600 Wheeled Excavators: £453,800 awarded to Dennison Commercials Ltd, based in Ballyclare, County Antrim.

LED Lighting Upgrade at Omagh Leisure Centre: £169,528 awarded to H.M Electrics Ltd, based in Maghera, County Londonderry.

These contracts alone account for nearly half of the council’s total tender spending, showing that while local businesses were involved, outside expertise was heavily relied upon for certain key services.

Despite the amount going outside the district, local firms also secured significant contracts. Fermanagh and Omagh-based businesses were successful in a range of public works projects.

Some of the key local contracts include: Grange Retrofit Project: £571,489.45 awarded to McCusker Contracts Ltd, based in Dromore, County Tyrone.

Upgrade of Hunters Crescent and Mullaghmore Play Parks: £132,236.54 also awarded to McCusker Contracts Ltd.

Upgrade of Old Rossory Road and Sallys Wood Play Parks: £183,522.45 awarded to SFMCE Ltd, based in Derrygonnelly, County Fermanagh.

Provision of Advice Services in Fermanagh and Omagh District: £270,000 per annum to Fermanagh and Omagh Advice Consortium, Enniskillen.

Waste management, IT services, and heavy machinery were among the areas where the council turned to companies from other parts of Northern Ireland and the UK.

In a competitive bidding process, several companies were unsuccessful in securing contracts. Some of the notable unsuccessful bidders included F.A.L. Contracts in Enniskillen, BT92 2DX which was was unsuccessful in bids for projects such as the Irvinestown Household Waste Recycling Centre Drainage Works and the Derryvullan (Irvinestown) Old Church Ruins.

According to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Milligan Bros Ltd submitted an incomplete bid for the Small Settlement Programme in Donagh and was not considered further in the process. Woodvale Construction Company Ltd from Omagh was also unsuccessful.

Other companies that missed out included Maurice Flynn and Sons Ltd, from Belfast, and Quarry and Recycling Solutions Ltd, from Dungannon.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Council said it procures a “varied range of supplies, services and works to meet the needs of the Council area”.

“All procurement is undertaken in line with the Council’s procurement policy which ensures the procurement process is clear, open, fair and transparent, that there is consistency in approach and that overall value for money is achieved while maximising social benefits, minimising environmental impacts and ensuring the ethical treatment of people throughout its supply chains. To ensure value for money is achieved, procurement is carried out in a competitive manner by either a Request for Quotation (RFQ) or Tender, depending on the level of expenditure, in line with the Council’s procurement limits.”

Further information to assist businesses who wish to supply goods and services to the Council is available on the Council website at https://www.fermanaghomagh.com/tenders/doing-business-with-the-council/.