Tender applications for Public Relations Framework: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/17/01999
Date received: 30 August 2017
Date responded: 27 September 2017

Information requested

I enclose a copy of the information you requested within the attached documents:

Title	Attachment	File Type	Size
3x1 Group Tender	Annex A	PDF	9.1MB
Stripe PR Tender	Annex B	PDF	9.4MB
Smart Communicate Tender	Annex C	PDF	6.2MB
Muckle Media Tender	Annex D	PDF	3.2MB
Pagoda Porter Novelli Tender	Annex E	PDF	4.4MB
Four Communications Tender	Annex F	PDF	6.4MB
Citypress Tender	Annex G	PDF	3.1MB
Clark Communications Tender	Annex H	PDF	8.1MB
Wire Media Ltd Tender	Annex I	PDF	5.3MB
The Big Partnership Tender	Annex J	PDF	6.6MB

Due to the file size of the documents released, copies can be provided on request by emailing ceu@gov.scot, quoting the FOI reference number FOI/17/01999

We do endeavour to provide all information whenever possible. However, in this instance exemptions under section 33(1)(b) (Commercial Interests) and section 38(1)(b) (Personal Information) of FOISA apply to some of the information requested. Disclosure of some of this information is withheld under s33(1)(b) [Commercial interest], as disclosure of it is likely to prejudice substantially the commercial interest of the bidders and the Scottish Government.

As these exemptions are conditional we have applied the public interest test' to the information. This means we have, in all circumstances of this case, considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding exemption. We recognise there is a public interest in having transparent tendering processes. On the other hand, commercially sensitive information will be made public, and it is likely to damage the commercial interests of the companies whose information is released. This, in turn, could mean that the Scottish Government may be unable to generate genuine and effective competitive tendering processes, and that, in our view, would not be in the public interest.

Finally, parts of the tender documents are also exempt from disclosure under s38 (1)(b) of the Act [Personal Information], which does not require consideration of the public interest test.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses