Contract with Ranstad in December 2024

FOI reference: FOI-2025-2552

You asked

Digital copy of this contract between the Office for National Statistics and Ranstad Solutions Limited for provision of ONS Field Interviewers, published on 16 December 2024.

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/727ee511-44e3-4390-96e2-fb0e9c96815d

We said

Thank you for your request. 

Please find the requested information in the associated download. 

Personal data has been redacted from the document under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). 

Some information in the document has also been redacted under Section 43(2) of FOIA, as to release this would prejudice the commercial interests of a third party and, by extension, the ONS. This information could be used by a competitor to replicate the third party's business model for a lower price, which would allow them to undercut our supplier at any future tender exercises. This information is therefore likely to lead to a reduction of income for the third party.  

Additionally, disclosure would likely cause commercial prejudice for our organisation. We would likely face disadvantage at future tendering exercises with this supplier (as well as other companies), as putting them at risk of commercial prejudice would leave them unwilling to work with us in the future. For similar reasons, our existing commercial relationships would also likely be prejudiced.

This exemption is subject to a public interest test. Whilst we recognise the desirability of information being freely available, we must acknowledge the importance of maintaining the trust and customer confidence of the companies with whom we work. Damage to this trust would impact our own capability to compete and negotiate in a commercial environment. This would lead to a reduction in the choice of quality services offered and also a reduction in competitive incentive amongst suppliers to offer us a good price. This would be detrimental to the preservation of public funds and the quality of service received by members of the public. Therefore, this hinderance to our capability to compete effectively in a commercial environment would directly and negatively impact the public interest. On balance, the public interest falls in favour of withholding this information.