Framework For The Provision Of Commercial Advisors: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
- The contracts and specification within the Framework for the Provision of Commercial Advisors.
- Any details the agreed level of confidentiality between the Scottish Government and contracted consultants such as any NDAs or impact on FOISA legislation within said framework or any award against said framework.
- Correspondence involving senior civil servants including but not limited to special advisers, ministers, or ministerial private offices, on the creation, development, award, and use of the Framework for the Provision of Commercial Advisors.
I am asking about the framework and a whole, rather than a specific contract awarded as part of the framework.
Response
1
In relation to the contracts and specification there are 6 different contracts and specifications concerning the Framework for Commercial Advisors. The Scottish Government asked if you required a specific contractor detail, to which you replied that you were requesting information about the framework as a whole rather than a specific contract awarded as part of the framework.
Some of the information you have requested is available from Framework for the Provision of Commercial Advisors - Find a Tender (find-tender.service.gov.uk). Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact us again and we will send you a paper copy.
We have provided you with information that we deem to be relevant to your request and that should, adequately answer your request.
2
In relation to the level of confidentiality applied within the framework contracts I have extracted the specific clauses in relation to this from a framework contract. These are generic clauses applied to the majority of our standard consultancy contracts. There are no non-disclosure agreements applied to the Business Consultancy Advisors framework contract as there are adequate conditions within FOISA regulations to ensure that substantial commercial sensitivities are considered when addressing FOI requests.
3
We enclose a copy of some of the information you requested. While our aim is to provide you information wherever we can, on this occasion after reviewing the information on a line-by-line basis we are unable to provide you with some of the information you have requested as statutory exemptions under FOISA apply. Details on what exemptions apply and why can be found in Annex B.
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.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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