Provision of a Learning Management System Replacement contract details

FOI reference: FOI-2024-2261

You asked

I would be most grateful if you would provide me, under the Freedom of Information Act, details in respect to the contract named Provision of a Learning Management System Replacement.

The details we require are:

1. What are the contractual KPI's for this contract?

2. Suppliers who applied for inclusion on each contract and were successful & not successful at the PQQ & ITT stages

3. Actual spend on this contract, from the start of the contract to the current date

4. Start date & duration of contract?

5. Could you please provide a copy of the service/product specification given to all bidders for when this contract was last advertised?

6. Is there an extension clause in the contract and, if so, the duration of the extension?

7. Who is the senior officer (outside of procurement) responsible for this contract?

8. Which framework was this contract procured under?

We said

Thank you for your request.

Q1. Please see the associated download for the KPIs for this contract.

Q2. Catalyst IT Europe Ltd was the successful supplier.

Unsuccessful supplier details are exempt under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). This applies where disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it). We believe both our supplier and the ONS would be prejudiced by the release of this information.

Disclosing the names of unsuccessful suppliers acknowledges that their offerings to ONS have been rejected, which would likely harm their business reputation and weaken their position in the market. As a consequence, they may lose out to competitors at future tender exercises.

Disclosure would also commercially prejudice the ONS, as we would face disadvantage at future tendering exercises. Future clients would be less inclined to work with us if there was risk of exposure if unsuccessful. We would then have a reduced pool of suppliers to choose from, leading to potentially poorer quality services for a higher price.

This exemption is subject to a public interest test. Whilst we recognise the desirability of information being freely available, we note that the information withheld does not provide any insight into the responsible spending of public finances.

Furthermore, we must acknowledge the importance of maintaining the trust and customer confidence of the companies with whom we work. Damage to this trust would impact our own capability to compete and negotiate in a commercial environment. This would lead to a reduction in the choice of quality services offered and also a reduction in competitive incentive amongst suppliers to offer us a good price. This would be detrimental to the preservation of public funds and the quality of service received by members of the public. Therefore, this hinderance to our capability to compete effectively in a commercial environment would directly and negatively impact the public interest.

On balance, the public interest falls in favour of withholding this information.

3. The overall contract value is £130,800. Actual spend to-date is £84,700.

4. Start date of the contract is 04/03/24. The end date is 03/03/26.

5. Please see associated download for the requirements for this contract.

6. 12 month extension option available.

7. This information constitutes personal data and is therefore exempt under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

8. GCloud 13