Medical Records Scanning Tender

Summary

A request was made for details regarding the medical records scanning tender, including the outcome, list of bidders, and tender values. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that the outcome and bidder list are available online, but withheld the specific tender values citing commercial interests.

Key Facts

• The request concerned the scanning of medical records by bit8.
• Information on the tender outcome and list of bidders is accessible via a public document.
• The specific monetary values of the tenders were withheld.
• The Department cited Section 20 for information available by other means.
• The Department cited Section 30 for withholding commercial information.

Data Disclosed

• 2017-04-20
• 2017-05-15
• 03 May 2017
• November 2016
• page 27
• Section 20
• Section 30

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 (Information accessible to applicant by other means)
• Section 30 (Economy and commercial interests)

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Health and Social Care

Rheynn Slaynt as Kiarail y Theay

Page 1 of 3 FOIA/DHSC/1718/01

Chief Executive: Malcolm Couch

By email:

Freedom of Information Team Department of Health & Social Care Chief Executive’s Office Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 3QA Tel: Email: Website: Date: FOI Reference: (01624) 642621 foi.dhsc@gov.im www.gov.im/dhsc 03 May 2017 IM85-043i

Dear REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2015 (“the Act”) Thank you for your request to the Department of Health and Social Care, dated 20 April 2017 Your request You asked:

“In relation to the scanning of medical records [by bit8] can you please provide:” Question 01: “The outcome of the tender” Question 02: “The list of those that tendered for it”
Question 03: “The value of the tenders from each applicant” Response to your request While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care does not have the information you have requested. The reasons and statutory exemption sections are shown as part of the corresponding answers below.
Question 01: In relation to the scanning of medical records [by bit8] can you please provide the outcome of the tender While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested in Question 01 because of an exemption under Section 20 (absolutely exempt as ”the information is accessible to applicant by other means”) of the Act applies to that information. The information you require can be found on page 27 of the November 2016 Tender Results document found at the following link: https://www.gov.im/media/383300/notification-of-tender-results-nov-2016-cm.pdf. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact us again and we will send you a paper copy.

Page 2 of 3 FOIA/DHSC/1718/01 Question 02: In relation to the scanning of medical records [by bit8] can you please provide the list of those that tendered for it While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested in Question 01 because of an exemption under Section 20 (absolutely exempt as ”the information is accessible to applicant by other means”) of the Act applies to that information. The information you require can be found on page 27 of the November 2016 Tender Results document found at the following link: https://www.gov.im/media/383300/notification-of-tender-results-nov-2016-cm.pdf. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact us again and we will send you a paper copy. Question 03: In relation to the scanning of medical records [by bit8] can you please provide the value of the tenders from each applicant While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested in Question 03 because of an exemption under Section 30 (qualified exempt information having “economy and commercial interests”) of the Act applies to that information. As this exemption is subject to the public interest test, the Department has also considered whether the public interest falling in favour of releasing or withholding the information. Having considered all the circumstances of the exemption against this request, we believe the balance of public interest falls in favour of withholding the information exempt under section 30. On behalf of the Department, the FOI Team apologises that on this occasion we have not been able to be of more assistance. 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 to the FOI Co-ordinator, Department of Health & Social Care, Chief Executive’s Officer, Crookall House, Demesne Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3QA. An electronic version and paper version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/how-to- make-a-freedom-of-information-request/ . 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; 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.

Page 3 of 3 FOIA/DHSC/1718/01 Further information about Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at: www.inforights.im/information-centre/freedom-of-information. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact us. Yours Sincerely

Freedom of Information Team Department of Health and Social Care