FOI reference: FOI-2024-1790
You asked
Within the most recent modification of the contract agreed with Kantar for the running of the CSEW please can you tell me:
A)
- the total cost
- number of surveys required to be completed for this cost
- Break down of number of surveys required by modality (ie telephone or face to face)
B)
Please can you also give the anticipated cost breakdown for interview types: i.e. the estimated average cost per participant for face to face interviews and the estimated average cost per participant for telephone interviews.
If B isn't available, please can you tell me any quoted price differences between the two types of interview that was used to inform the decision making between the split of face to face and telephone interviews - (i.e face to face interviews are x number of times more expensive than telephone).
We said
Thank you for your request. Please see the following answers to your questions.
A)
Total cost: £28,849,818
number of surveys required to be completed for this cost 182,343
Break down of number of surveys required by modality (ie telephone or face to face)
F2F 155,350
Child 12,000
Telephone 14,993
B)
The requested cost breakdown for interview types has been withheld under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), as the release of this information would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).
The release of this information combined with the details provided in part A would allow for the price per interview to be calculated. If we were to put this information in the public domain, Kantar's competitors could use this to undercut them when competing at tender, which would prejudice Kantar's ability to fairly compete at future tendering exercises.
Following this, disclosure would likely commercially prejudice the ONS. Our reputation for keeping commercially sensitive information confidential would be damaged, making other companies unwilling to work with us in the future for fear that their sensitive information is released under FOI. 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 importance of transparency around the use of public funds, this requirement is fulfilled by the information published on Contracts Finder, the ONS website (Payments to suppliers of £25,000), and in answer to part A of your request.
We must also 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 hindrance to our capability to operate 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.
Please note, in answer to your final question, price did not inform the decision for the split between F2F and Telephone.