THE IRISH Bank Resolution Corporation has initiated a search for service providers which could lead to the outsourcing of up to 250 staff.

The corporation which was formed through the merger of Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide last year, is in the process of being wound down.

It currently employs about 1,200 people and has committed to reducing this number by 350 this year, some of whom will leave through the bank’s voluntary redundancy plan while others will not have their contracts renewed.

The transfer of up to 250 employees as a result of outsourcing would be in addition to the 350 redundancies that have been targeted.

Yesterday, the bank issued a pre-qualification questionnaire for the supply of insourced and outsourced services to the bank in Ireland and the UK.

The divisions covered in the procurement document are information technology, facilities, back-office operations and human resources.

According to the bank, the information received will be used to determine whether or not to proceed with issuing a formal tender for these services.

“No decision on insourcing or outsourcing any of the functions of the bank has been made at this time,” the bank said.

The purpose of the pre-qualification questionnaire process is to ensure that the Bank “is fully informed on the range of suitable service providers and options available in the areas of insourcing and outsourcing during the future phases of the bank’s work out”.

The bank said that if it proceeds with the process, it would ideally seek the provision of all the services from a single supplier or consortium, though it may consider alternative proposals.

The successful provider would receive a five-year contract with the IBRC, with a potential option to extend, in line with the IBRC’s business plan submitted to the Government.