FOI release

FOI2024_00001S

Published 24 July 2024

© Crown copyright 2024

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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - REQUEST REF: FOI2024/00001S

Thank you for your email of 18 April 2024 asking for information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. You asked:

The details I require are:

Spend on Office supplies and associated products for the below financial years.

1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023

1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024

Start date & duration of Contract?

Is there an extension clause in the contract and, if so, the duration of the extension?

Has a decision been made yet on whether the contract is to be either extended or renewed?

Who is the senior officer (outside of procurement) responsible for the contract?

Name of Incumbent Supplier?

How long have you traded with them?

If you publish your register of contracts and purchasing, can you please provide a website link.

In addition, can you confirm if you have a contract in place for Tail End Spend.

I am writing to confirm that we have now completed the search for the information which you requested. 

I can confirm that FCDO Services does hold information relevant to your request, as set out below.

  1. Total spend for financial year 2022/23 is £16,223.73 incl VAT.

Total spend for financial year 2023/24 is £20,745.58 incl VAT.

  1. This information is exempt under section 21 of the FOIA, as we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. The information you have asked for is already published on GOV.UK at the following link:

Office Stationery and Electronic Office Supplies - Contracts Finder

  1. Yes, there were 2 x 1 year extension clauses, which have both been applied.

  2. As per question 3, both 1-year extensions have been used. As this contract is part of an approved Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework, the decision to renew will be made by the CCS.

  3. Not applicable, as the contract is managed by Procurement.

  4. See reply to question 2 above.

  5. In line with our retention schedule, we hold records for the incumbent supplier as far back as May 2016.

  6. We publish our contracts on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder. Furthermore, we publish our Transparency data on GOV.UK.

  7. As this contract has been awarded as part of a CCS framework, CCS would be responsible for Tail End Spend.

Once an FOI request is answered, it is considered to be in the public domain.  To promote transparency, FCDO Services may now publish the response and any material released on GOV.UK in the FOI releases section.  All personal information in the letter will be removed before publishing.

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If you would like to request a review of our decision, you should write to the Data Protection Officer (DPO), Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) Team, FCDO Services, Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes, England, MK19 7BH (e-mail: FCDOServices.DataProtectionOfficer@fcdo.gov.uk).  Please note you have 40 working days to do so from the date of this letter. Please quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.  Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the FCDO. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF, or online at: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/

Yours sincerely,

FOI Officer

Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) Team

FCDO Services

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