Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
We can confirm that Essex County Fire & Rescue Service does hold part of the information you have requested.
Questions and final response:
Question 1 – I would like to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for information regarding the Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) systems used by your service, as well as related technologies.
To ensure I receive as comprehensive a response as possible,
I kindly request the following details: Given the scope of this request, if processing time becomes an issue, I have listed my request in priority order and would appreciate it if the contractual information related to Mobile Data Terminals (Section
1) could be prioritized please. The name of the current supplier for your MDT software (e.g., Airbus, 3tc, or others).
Airbus Defence and Space Limited
Question 2 – The start and end dates of the contract.
01/02/2024 – 31/01/2026
Question 3 – The total value of the contract, as well as the number of licenses currently in use.
£124,970 is the total value of the contract
The number of licences is exempt from disclosure. The exemption that we have applied is as follows:
I can confirm that Essex County Fire & Rescue Service does hold this information, however the information is exempt from disclosure to you.
The exemption applicable to the information you have requested is:
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (legislation.gov.uk) Section 43 of the Act - Commercial Interests
This exemption carries a public interest test, and I have set out below the factors I have considered when applying the exemption:
Prejudice
The prejudice to the commercial interests would relate to: Would otherwise prejudice or be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any person (S.43(2))
Factors in favour of disclosure
The efficiency and effectiveness of the Authority
Transparency when spending public money
Transparency over decision making Informing public debate
In favour of non-disclosure
There is a public interest in ensuring that companies are able to compete fairly, in an open market along with being able to trade competitively.
Any reputational damage that disclosure might cause the public authority or third party.
Companies may be discouraged from participating in the scheme if they felt it could result in the disclosure of information relating to their general business.
Public Interest Balancing Test
Having considered the above factors, I believe the public interest is in favour of upholding this exemption.
This is our refusal notice in respect of your request.
Question 4 – The annual contract value, if available.
I can confirm that Essex County Fire & Rescue Service does hold this information, however the information is exempt from disclosure to you.
The exemption applicable to the information you have requested is: Freedom of Information Act 2000 (legislation.gov.uk) Section 43 of the Act - Commercial Interests – See answer to Question 3 for full exemption details along with the Public Interest Test.
Question 5 – If the solution was sourced through another organization (e.g., the council or a consortium), please provide details of that organization.
Not Applicable
Question 6 – 2. Contractual and Procurement Details: A copy of the original technical specification and tender documents used in the procurement of the MDT solution.
I can confirm that Essex County Fire & Rescue Service does hold this information, however the information is exempt from disclosure to you. The exemption applicable to the information you have requested is: Freedom of Information Act 2000 (legislation.gov.uk) Section 43 of the Act - Commercial Interests – See answer to Question 3 for full exemption details along with the Public Interest Test.
Question 7 – The names of any suppliers who bid for the contract, along with how they scored across each evaluation domain (e.g., quality, cost, and overall score).
I can confirm that Essex County Fire & Rescue Service does hold this information, however the information is exempt from disclosure to you. The exemption applicable to the information you have requested is Freedom of Information Act 2000 (legislation.gov.uk) Section 43 of the Act - Commercial Interests – See answer to Question 5 for full exemption details along with the Public Interest Test.
Question 8 – A summary of the procurement process used, including the weighting of different evaluation criteria.
Direct Award via CCS RM6259 Vertical Applications Framework
Question 9 – 3. Contact Information: The name, email address, and phone number of the system owner or key contact responsible for the MDT software within your service.
contracts@essex-fire.gov.uk
Question 10 – The department in which the system owner is based.
ICT Department
Question 11 – 4. Fleet and Deployment Information: The total number of operational vehicles equipped with MDTs, and the types of vehicles (e.g., fire appliances, command vehicles, etc.).
110
Question 12 – 5. Related Technology Systems: Please provide details of any additional technology systems integrated with or complementing your MDTs,
For each system, please provide the supplier name, contract start and end dates, contract value, and renewal date such as: Incident management systems
Moditech CRS -- Airbus Defence and Space Limited -- 01/03/2024--28/02/2025 £55,892 -- 30/11/2024
Question 13 – Mobile communications platforms
Not Applicable
Question 14 – Vehicle tracking or telematics systems
Not Applicable
Question 15 – Command and control systems
Not Applicable
Question 16 – Mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Cadcorp 01/01/2024 – 31/12/2026 £129.630
Question 17 –. 6. Collaborative or Shared Procurement If your service participates in any shared or collaborative purchasing frameworks for technology (e.g., with other authorities or consortia), please provide details of these frameworks or partnerships, and the contracts awarded through them
Not Applicable
We hope you find this information useful.
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Incident and other data is published on our transparency site. Incident Data (essex- fire.gov.uk).
Please note that the response and data released to you as part of this request will be published on our website http://transparency.essex-fire.gov.uk/.
All requests will be anonymised and no personal information including contact details will be disclosed as part of this process.
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Thank you for your interest in Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, we hope this satisfies your request.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to apply for an internal review.
Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of your original email and should be sent to informationgovernance@essex-fire.gov.uk or sent to our postal address: Internal Review, Information Governance Team, Kelvedon Park, Rivenhall, Witham, Essex CM8 3HB.
Please ensure you quote the above reference number in all future communications.