The companies that currently ensure the operation of the SIRESP network will continue, as of January 1, guaranteeing the operation of the system until the entry into force of the new contracts, which are awaiting the approval of the Court of Auditors.
In a response sent to the Lusa agency, the company that manages the Integrated System of Emergency and Security Networks in Portugal (SIRESP) explains that the current companies will have to provide “a continuity service” for the network to continue working, from 1 January, until the contest winners start working, which will only happen after the approval of the Court of Accounts.
According to the public company SIRESP SA, which commands and coordinates the state security and emergency communications network, the contracts corresponding to the seven lots of the tender “have already been awarded, signed and presented to the Court of Accounts, for a total value of the winning answers allowed a saving of around 11 million euros compared to the value defined for the tender”.
The international public tender for the provision of services to SIRESP was launched by the Government in June, consisted of seven lots and had a value of 75 million euros over five years.
In this sense, and according to SIRESP SA, the companies that will operate the communications system for five years will receive 64 million euros.
The company that manages the SIRESP specifies that the execution of these contracts will begin after the granting of the respective visas by the Court of Accounts, which are admitted to be granted during the month of January 2023.
“From January 1 and until the entry into force of the new contracts, the continuity services of the SIRESP network will continue to be guaranteed by the companies that currently provide these services,” the company explains.
SIRESP SA also indicates that, to ensure the adequate reversal of services between current and future service providers, a maximum transition period of 180 days is foreseen, however “it is estimated that this time interval will be less than 90 days for the most batches, due to the type of processes already defined for this purpose”.
The winning companies of the international public tender were Motorola, NOS, OMTEL, No Limits, Moreme and Altice Labs.
Since July 1, 2021, the temporary management model of this emergency communications system has been in force, which has a duration of 18 months, ending on December 31 of this year. This contract was made by direct agreement for reasons of urgency.
At the time, the Court of Accounts warned of the need to start a public procurement procedure, with enough time, to avoid a repetition of the urgent conditions that led to the direct award.
In November, the Government announced that the communications networks of the Armed Forces will be used to reinforce “the resilience and availability” of the SIRESP.
Source: Observadora
