Provision of physical security contract

FOI ref: FOI-2024-2051 

You asked

I would be most grateful if you would provide me, under the Freedom of Information Act, details in respect to the contract below.

Provision of Physical Security Intrusion Testing Services-2 

The details we require are:

1. What are the contractual performance KPI's for this contract?
2. Suppliers who applied for inclusion on each framework/contract and were successful & not successful at the PQQ & ITT stages
3. Actual spend on this contract/framework (and any sub lots), from the start of the contract to the current date
4. Start date & duration of framework/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 framework(s)/contract(s) and, if so, the duration of the extension?
7. Has a decision been made yet on whether the framework(s)/contract(s) are being either extended or renewed?
8. Who is the senior officer (outside of procurement) responsible for this contract?

We said

Thank you for your request. 

1. Please see the associated download, named 'FOI_2024_2051_Attachment 3 - Statement of Requirements FINAL.pdf', for the contractual KPIs for the referenced contract.

2. Unfortunately, we are not able to disclose the suppliers who applied for inclusion on each framework/contract and were successful & not successful at the PQQ & ITT. The release of this information would likely commercially prejudice the third parties involved as it would allow competitors to work out their strategies and market interest. Furthermore, for the suppliers who were not successful, their reputation would likely be damaged by the publication of this information, which in turn prejudices their chances of success at tender in the future.

Following this, the ONS's commercial interests would also be prejudiced. Disclosure of commercially prejudicial information about the third parties we work with would make these suppliers and others unwilling to work with us in the future. It would also jeopardise our existing commercial relationships, as they are unlikely to want to continue working with us over concerns that we would disclose commercially prejudicial information.

This exemption is subject to a public interest test. Whilst we recognise the desirability of information being freely available, 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 actual spend on this contract/framework (and any sub lots), from the start of the contract to the current date is £67,650.00.

4. The start date & duration of framework/contract: Contract -  01/01/2022 - 31/12/2024 (2 options to extend by 12 months each).

5. A copy of the service/product specification given to all bidders for when this contract was last advertised is in the associated download named 'FOI_2024_2051_Attachment 3 - Statement of Requirements FINAL.pdf'.

6. Yes, there is an extension clause in the framework(s)/contract(s). The duration of the extension is 2 x 12 months (each).

7. A decision has not been made yet on whether the framework(s)/contract(s) are being either extended or renewed.

8. Personal data is exempt under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). ONS has a dedicated Commercial Services team, which is responsible for Procurement, Contract Management and Commercial Intelligence. If you are interested in becoming an ONS supplier, or bidding for an ongoing Procurement, please register your details at our portal. Alternatively please email us at pu.customer.services@ons.gov.uk. All contracts over £10,000 will be added to Contracts Finder, as mandated by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.