TT & MGP fire cover

AuthorityDepartment of Home Affairs
Date received2024-08-29
OutcomeSome information sent but not all held
Outcome date2024-10-15
Case ID4089913

Summary

The requester asked for tender details and costs for fire cover at the TT and MGP events over the past five years. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed that the Fire Service does not tender for these services but provided a total cost of £128,000, while directing the requester to public websites for procurement policies.

Key Facts

  • The Isle of Man Fire & Rescue Service does not tender for pit lane cover; procurement is managed by the Department for Enterprise's Motorsport Directorate.
  • Tendering policies are governed by Financial Regulations 2023 and Procurement Policy 2017, available on gov.im.
  • The total cost for the Fire Service to provide pit lane cover for both the TT and MGP in the specified period is £128,000.
  • The authority could not provide specific records of expenses broken down by year or pre/post-event billing as requested.
  • The response was delayed due to staff capacity issues.

Data Disclosed

  • £128,000
  • 2024-08-29
  • 2024-10-15
  • 2024-09-04
  • 2023
  • 2017
  • 2021
  • 4089913

Exemptions Cited

  • Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information accessible by other means)
  • Information not held by the public authority

Original Request

Hello I would like to know how the Isle of Man Fire & Rescue Service (IOMFRS) tender for the pit lane cover for both the TT and MGP. Do they put in a price before the events? If so, how much (both events for the past 5 years) Or Do they put in a bill after the events? Again, how much has this cost in the past 5 years (both events) Further to this, I would like to know how Safety Fire and Rescue Solutions (SFRS) tender for Grandstand and paddock cover for both the TT and MGP. Do they put in a price before the events? If so, how much (both events for the past 5 years) Or Do they put in a bill after the events? Again, how much has this cost in the past 5 years (both events) Thank you

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Coordinator DHA Headquarters Tromode Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 5AP

Telephone: (01624) 687017 Web address: www.gov.im/dha
Email: DPO-DHA@dha.gov.im

Our ref: 4089913 15 October 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 29 August 2024, which states:

"I would like to know how the Isle of Man Fire & Rescue Service (IOMFRS) tender for the pit lane cover for both the TT and MGP.

Do they put in a price before the events? If so, how much (both events for the past 5 years)

Do they put in a bill after the events? Again, how much has this cost in the past 5 years (both events)

Further to this, I would like to know how Safety Fire and Rescue Solutions (SFRS) tender for Grandstand and paddock cover for both the TT and MGP.

Do they put in a price before the events? If so, how much (both events for the past 5 years)

Do they put in a bill after the events? Again, how much has this cost in the past 5 years (both events)”

We clarified your request on 04 September 2024, as follows:

“If you could provide both the tendering policy/ procedures required & The record of expenses for the costs associated before and after the events” The Department extends its apologies for the delay in responding to your request due to staff capacity at the time.
Our response to your request is as follows: 1. If you could provide both the tendering policy/procedures required

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (the “Act”) (Information accessible by other means), we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already

reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee. Tendering and procurement of third-party services is governed under the Financial Regulations 2023 and the Procurement Policy 2017, when a Public Authority wishes to tender for services, it must comply with these regulations. The information that you have requested is available from the gov.im website.

Please see Financial Regulations 2023 and the Procurement Policy 2017 (also note the Procurement Policy Review, conducted in 2021).

In accordance with our duty to provide advice and assistance under Section 15 of the Act, the tendering processes which govern the procurement of these particular services is provided for under Financial Direction C.

  1. The record of expenses for the costs associated before and after the events. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. In accordance with our duty to provide advice and assistance under Section 15 of the Act, the Fire and Rescue Service (a division of the Department of Home Affairs) does not tender for pit lane cover for the TT and MGP.
    The Department for Enterprise’s Motorsport Directorate is responsible for the procurement and administration of pit lane cover for the TT, and pit lane and additional fire cover around the course for the MGP, one of providers of these services is the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service.
    In the period specified, the total costs for the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service to provide pit lane cover both the TT and MGP is £128,000.
    Please quote the reference number 4089913 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 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.