How Ian Blair's friend won Scotland Yard contract despite 'three times dearer' bid

Some have already called for an official inquiry after the firm owned by Sir Ian Blair's friend Andy Miller, was awarded over £3million of police work.

Mr Miller's company Impact Plus won the first of its contracts, worth £150,000, for a consultancy role in upgrading the 999 system.

Sir Ian Blair is accused of helping a close personal friend win a £3m contract

But it has emerged that the other company involved, said to have been of 'equal quality', offered to do the work for between £47,000 and £57,000

There may be other reasons why a more expensive bid is accepted. But the discrepancy in the figures has raised serious concerns.

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has denied acting improperly.

He says he declared his friendship with skiing companion Mr Miller before the contract was awarded.

But details of the differing financial bids for the initial contract in 2002, raise fresh concerns over a potential conflict of interest.

The contract led to £3million-worth of business with the Met over the next six years.

And the revelation intensifies pressure on Sir Ian, following a series of high-profile gaffes.

Investigators have also recovered a handwritten note by Sir Ian from a file on the force's dealings with Impact Plus, it is understood. In it, he heaped praise on his friend's company.

Last night, it was unclear when the note was written. But sources indicated that it referred to the first contract.

It previously emerged that in 2002, as deputy commissioner, Sir Ian was involved in a bidding process that led to Impact Plus being awarded the initial contract.

Mr Miller, who has known Sir Ian for 30 years, confirmed that they had taken regular skiing trips and discussed the contract on holiday.

The controversy centres on the Met's decision to give a contract to Impact Plus, a consultancy firm based in Teddington, South West London. It was jointly founded and owned by Mr Miller, 54.

Sir Ian was responsible for overseeing a computer programme known as C3i to link together London's borough control rooms.

MPA records show that Sir Ian 'identified' the need for outside help, to ensure the £275million project was properly managed.

He told colleagues that he needed someone to act as a 'programme conscience' to check it was run properly.

Four companies were asked to tender for the contract. Two bid - and Impact Plus was successful.

The Met confirmed that Sir Ian was on an evaluation panel when presentations were made by the contract bidders. It said: 'At no time did the Commissioner participate in the evaluation.'

Sir Ian said in a statement: 'I was open and straightforward in informing both the Metropolitan Police Service and MPA about my friendship with Andy Miller prior to any contract being awarded. I strongly reject any suggestion I have behave inappropriately in any way and consider I have acted with absolute probity in these matters.'

The granting of the contract ' followed appropriate procurement processes. As part of a programme governance, a subsequent review in 2005 confirmed this'.

Mr Miller, who lives in Esher, Surrey, retired as joint managing director of Impact Plus in 2007.

Last weekend, when asked about the contract, he said: 'If the angle you're trying to get is "Naughty Ian Blair gave contracts to a company which employed me", that's fairly creative stuff because it's won on a competitive tender basis. And Ian Blair deliberately removed himself from a vast majority of the activity.'

Scotland Yard said last night: 'The Commissioner has made it clear that he was open and straightforward in informing the MPS and the MPA about his friendship with someone who was subsequently awarded a contract with the MPS.'

This week, Lord Harris of Haringey, chairman of the MPA's corporate governance committee said he would call for an inquiry. The file is also being investigated by the director of audit.