names of the companies who have put in a bid for the tender of Family Placement Service.

Summary

A request was made for the names of companies that bid for the Family Placement Service tender, but the Department of Health and Social Care responded that the information is not held because no Invitation to Tender was issued.

Key Facts

• The request was received on 2018-03-08 and responded to on 2018-04-03.
• The Department of Health and Social Care stated they do not hold the requested information.
• No Invitation to Tender was issued for the Family Placement Service, meaning no bids exist.
• The refusal was based on section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The requester was informed of their right to an internal review or appeal to the Information Commissioner.

Data Disclosed

• 2018-03-08
• 2018-04-03
• 361212
• section 11(3)a
• IM4 4RJ
• (01624) 642621

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information not held)

Original Request

I would like to know the names of the companies who have put in a bid for the tender of Family Placement Service. I do not require any financial information just the names. If this information is protected by commercial confidentiality please provide the relevant clause which refers to it in the tender process documents.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Email: fionabudd86@gmail.com Chief Executive: Malcolm Couch Freedom of Information Team DHSC Digital Cronk Coar Strang IM4 4RJ

(01624) 642621 dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Your ref: ### Our ref: 361212 3 April 2018

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 8 March 2018 and which states:

"I would like to know the names of the companies who have put in a bid for the tender of Family Placement Service. I do not require any financial information just the names. If this information is protected by commercial confidentiality please provide the relevant clause which refers to it in the tender process documents."

This request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the information you have requested. This is in line with section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. This is on the grounds that the Department has not issued an Invitation to Tender and therefore do not hold any information in regard to any ‘bid’.

Please quote the reference number 361212 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 to us at
Chief Executive: Malcolm Couch Freedom of Information Team DHSC Digital Cronk Coar Strang IM4 4RJ

(01624) 642621 dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

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 me and I 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 me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours faithfully