Download original attachment
(Word document)
This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Westminster's Zipcar Scheme'.

Mr Gary Sawyer

Request - 12532 - [email address]

Customer Relations

Westminster Parking Services

Asst Director of Parking: Kevin Goad

This matter is being dealt with by:

Gordon Deas

Date: 9 August 2009

Tel No: (020) 7641 1743

Fax no: (020) 7641 1744 Email:[email address]

My ref: FOI/3860/GD

Dear Mr Sawyer,

Freedom of Information Act 2000: Request for information

Thank you for your request for information that was logged on 28 May 2009 in relation to FOI/3860. You have requested the following information:

  1. Records of how the tender was awarded to Zipcar, the assessment procedures and who had the final say on what company the Council went with. Could I have supporting documents for this, including a pre - tender RFI (Request For Information, or any equivalent) the tender returns, the points awarded to each company and the conclusions and recommendations Westminster drew from this to choose Zipcar.

  1. Copies of any due diligence reports Westminster had sought for Zipcar and the other competitors for the tender prior to awarding the contracts?

  1. A detailed list of the roll out of Parking Bays that are now provided for motor car or motorcycle use or have not been used for parking and what will be used for the car sharing scheme.

  1. Can I have forecasts for any income the scheme will bring to Westminster Council, either forecast and/or under the agreement with Zipcar.

  1. Can I have detailed forecasts for any capital spending by either Zipcar or Westminster Council on preparing those bays for car sharing use?

  1. Can I ask if Westminster have analysed the loss of income from parking charges for the 100-400 bays and how this shortfall would be made up?

In response to your request I can advise you of the following:

  1. All documents submitted by tenders were scored by a panel on the following categories:

At the end of the evaluation process the tender panel concluded that Zipcar's bid offered the most economically advantageous bid to the City Council and its customers.

The ultimate decision for the contract award was then made by the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport.

Please find enclosed with this draft, in electronic format, a blank set of electronic tender documents that were sent to each company interested in bidding for this contract. These documents consist of:

Please find attached with this response, in electronic format, a spreadsheet, which contains the final scores awarded to each tender (Appendix 5).

Please also find attached, in electronic format, a publicised version of the final submitted tender by Zipcar (Appendix 6, including attachments A & B). Please note that the following sections have been removed from Appendix 6. The document provided is therefore a re-edited version.

Section

Pages

Executive Summary

4 - 5

Summary of Price proposal

8 - 9

Mobilization

10 - 17

Vehicle Plan

19 - 22

Technical Support Plan

33 - 37

Marketing/Co Branding Plan

37 - 50

56 - 59

Business Plan

60 - 62

Performance & Monitoring

63 - 67

Handover Plan

75

Appendix 2 (Parent Company Guarantee)

-

Appendix 4 (Confidential Information)

-

Pricing Tables

-

Draft form of the Agreement submitted by Zipcar (draft Agreement)

-

Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) submitted by Zipcar

-

Grounds for non-disclosure

This data is exempt from the FOI Act in accordance with Section 43 (1) & (2) - Commercial Interests. The Information is exempt from disclosure, as it contains details of Zipcar's current processes, actions and methodologies, which would give rise to a real and significant risk of prejudice to the commercial interests of Zipcar and its affiliates as this information is still considered market -sensitive at this time. The information also contains significant trade secrets, which provide Zipcar with a commercial advantage over its competitors.

It has been determined that the public interest in maintaining the above exemptions outweighs the public interest in disclosure, at this time. As a result, this letter constitutes a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Act, in respect of the exemptions specified.

In addition, a completed copy of the PQQ is not been provided and is exempt from disclosure in accordance with Section 41 of the Act - Information provided in confidence. This exemption is absolute and not subject to the public interest test.

  1. Please refer to the electronic attachment entitled Zipcar references. Zipcar interprets this as being the requested Due Diligence Reports (Appendix 7).

  1. Please refer to Appendix 6, Appendix C: Proposed Vehicle Bay Locations. There are currently 37 locations across Westminster, assigned to Zipcars in accordance with the City Council's Car Club scheme. Further details on bay locations can also be found via the City Council's website. For further details please refer to the below highlighted web link:

http://www.westminster.gov.uk/services/transportandstreets/parking/westminster-car-club/

4. This information is exempt from the FOI Act under Section 43 (1) & (2) - Commercial Interests of the FOI Act. The disclosure of this data would be most likely to prejudice the commercial interests of Zipcar and its affiliates, as the information is considered market-sensitive at this time. Therefore, the public interest in maintaining the above exemptions outweighs the public interest in disclosure. As a result, this letter constitutes a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Act, in respect of the exemption specified.

5. Westminster City Council expenditure estimate for the current financial year is £68,250.

6. No specific analysis has been carried out in respect of the effect on income. There is sufficient available space within each parking zone to allow motorists to find an alternative space following the implementation of dedicated Car Club Bays.

If you are not satisfied with this response please set out your reasons in writing and send to:

Customer Relations

PO Box 396

Warrington

WA55 1EL

Phone: 0207 641 1743

Fax: 0207 641 1744

Email: [email address]

Should you still be dissatisfied with the outcome of any such complaint you have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner, pursuant to section 50 of the FOIA. The contact details are:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625-545-700

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Gordon Deas

Departmental Records Officer

Encl: Appendixes 1 to 7