No16 Mannin Steam Locomotive

Summary

A request was made for updates on the restoration of the No16 Mannin steam locomotive, specifically regarding asbestos removal, costs, and operational timelines. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed asbestos removal and provided partial cost data but withheld the total project budget citing commercial interests.

Key Facts

• Asbestos has been successfully removed from the locomotive.
• The locomotive requires a new boiler and extensive restoration of the pony truck, chassis, and running gear.
• The Department of Infrastructure manages the project using government guidelines.
• The total budget for the project was withheld to protect commercial interests during future tendering.
• Operational status for the 2023 season cannot be confirmed due to external factors.

Data Disclosed

• 2022-01-11
• 2022-02-01
• 2019/2020
• 2023
• £38.7k
• £14.4k
• £27.5k
• £31.8k
• December 2020
• June 2020
• IoMR-MSz-QQ-020
• IoMR-MSz-QQ-016
• 7 bidders
• 1 bidder

Exemptions Cited

• Section 30(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act (prejudice to commercial interests)

Original Request

It has come to my attention through previous FOI requests and searches in relation to the No 16 Mannin locomotive, that there has been no real term updates since 2019/2020 in relation to the current status of this locomotive. As a result of this I have some questions: 1) Is there any update on how the asbestos removal has progressed on this locomotive? If so- 1) What was the verdict in regards to any remedial and/or restoration works that was to be completed on this locomotive? 2) Who was/is responsible for giving any further works the 'go ahead' and how is the project managed? If any remedial and/or restoration works has commenced- 1) How much has this work cost to date? 2) How much is budgeted for the project in it's entirety? 3) Will the locomotive be operational for the 2023 season, as per news articles dated 19/20? 4) Is there or will there be a warranty against defects of workmanship, materials or otherwise provided with the finished article? 5) How was the project tendered, and on what basis was the project awarded?

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team/AC/PN Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 2186601 1 February 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 11 January 2022 and which states:

‘It has come to my attention through previous FOI requests and searches in relation to the No 16 Mannin locomotive, that there has been no real term updates since 2019/2020 in relation to the current status of this locomotive. As a result of this I have some questions: 1. Is there any update on how the asbestos removal has progressed on this locomotive? If so- What was the verdict in regards to any remedial and/or restoration works that was to be completed on this locomotive? 2. Who was/is responsible for giving any further works the 'go ahead' and how is the project managed? 3. If any remedial and/or restoration works has commenced- How much has this work cost to date? 4. How much is budgeted for the project in it's entirety? 5. Will the locomotive be operational for the 2023 season, as per news articles dated 19/20? 6. Is there or will there be a warranty against defects of workmanship, materials or otherwise provided with the finished article? 7. How was the project tendered, and on what basis was the project awarded?’ Our response to your request is as follows:

1. The asbestos has been removed from the locomotive. The locomotive would require a new boiler and extensive restoration of the pony truck, chassis and running gear.
2. The Department of Infrastructure would manage the project. The project would be managed in line with government guidelines and using best practice project management techniques.
3. Asbestos removal - £38.7k; Dis-assembly and assessment - £14.4k; Chassis - £27.5k; Parts - £31.8k.
4. Some aspects have not yet been or are not currently contracted. Under Section S30(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act, The Department believe that Disclosure of the information would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of the Department in obtaining best value for work yet to be quoted. As section 30 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test which is summarised below. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large. Factors in favour of disclosure • Transparency and openness by disclosing the information; • Accountability to the general public in respect of public expenditure. Factors in favour of withholding • Harm to the commercial interests of the Department; • Reputational damage to the DOI arising from disclosure of the information; • Damage to the working relationship and trust between contractors and the DOI; • Damage to the economy of the IOM by releasing the information, if in future the tender exercise needed to be repeated this could put some contractors at an unfair advantage, and/or at a disadvantage. In taking these factors into account the Department determined that the factors favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information.
5. We are unable to confirm if the locomotive will be available as this depends on a number of external factors of which we do not have information or knowledge.

6. All projects have provision for the correction of defects by the contractor.

7. The work was tendered via the Isle of Man Government Procurement portal in line with financial regulation FPN c.06 General Procurement. The asbestos removal work was tendered via the IoM Government Procurement portal (Ref IoMR-MSz- QQ-020), in line with financial regulations on December 2020. A single bidder submitted a quotation. The work of dismantling and assessing the loco was tendered via the IoM Government Procurement portal (Ref IoMR-MSz-QQ-016), in line with financial regulations in June 2020. Seven bidders submitted quotations. The project was awarded to the suppliers providing the best value solution based on price and quality submissions. Please quote the reference number 2186601 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact us. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. We will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely FOI Response Team FOI Response Team