FOI 0316-2025/26- Network supply

Request:

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am writing to request information regarding the contracts held by your organisation for the provision of the following network services:

1. Wide Area Network (WAN)
2. Local Area Network (LAN)
3. Wi-Fi and Wireless Networks
4. Internet Connectivity For each of the above services,

I would be grateful if you could provide the following information:

• Supplier: The name of the company or organisation currently providing each the service.
• Service Details: A brief description of the services currently being provided under the contract (e.g., number of sites, bandwidth, technology used, number of access points, etc.). Please provide as much detail as possible without disclosing commercially sensitive information.
• Contract Cost: The total cost of the current contract (annual or contract term, whichever is readily available). If this information is commercially sensitive and exempt from disclosure, please explain the legal basis for the exemption.
• Contract End Date: The date on which the current contract expires with any details of any remaining extension options
• Who the senior officer or manager is for the service outside of procurement

Response: 

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police.

I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police. 

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the following information to you.

Q1. Wide Area Network (WAN) Supplier: NYNET

Managed service for provision of wide area network to all fire buildings in the county.

End Date 29/09/2029.

Infrastructure Manager.

I am exempting North Yorkshire Police’s annual spend on this contract pursuant to Section 43(2) Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Please see the exemption explanation below.

Q2. Local Area Network (LAN) In House

Q3. Wi-Fi and Wireless Networks In House

Q4. Internet Connectivity For each of the above services Included in WAN costs

Exemption Explanation

Section 43(2) – Commercial Interests

This is a qualified, class based exemption, which requires that I conduct a public interest test to balance the legitimate interests of the public in knowing the information against the interests of non-disclosure. This exemption applies because the disclosure of the requested information would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests.

Public Interest Test

Factors Favouring Disclosure

There is a strong public interest in the efficiency of public sector spending. Releasing the information would provide the public with the knowledge on what the force spend on the subject matter. Disclosure would provide openness, displaying that public funds are being spent correctly and efficiently.

Factors Favouring Non-Disclosure

Disclosure of suppliers products into the public domain would likely deter suppliers from entering future tendering processes and it would put their competition at advantage. This would also impact North Yorkshire Police’s and other force’s ability to conduct fair tendering. Trust would be lost in the forces ability to conduct business and the community would be affected by the force being unable to spend public funds as effectively.

Balancing Test

The disclosure of commercially sensitive information would prejudice the commercial interests of the company involved and may deter them and others from participating in future procurement initiatives. There is a strong public interest against disclosure where that disclosure would be likely to prejudice the Force’s own commercial interests. Disclosure of the information would be likely to adversely affect the bargaining position of North Yorkshire Police during future contractual negotiations relating to current and future contracts which would result in less effective use of public money.

The public interest would not be served where disclosure of commercial information would hinder fair and open competition for public sector contracts. As such the balance is considered in favour of non-disclosure.

Pursuant to Section 17(1) of the Act this acts as a Refusal Notice in relation to the exempted parts of your request.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.