Norfolk Constabulary
Mr John Walker
Freedom of Information Department
Jubilee House
[xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx]
Falconers Chase
Wymondham
Norfolk NR18 0WW
Tel: 01953 42 4487
Fax: 01953 42 4080
Email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xxxxxx.xx
1
2th September 2008
www.norfolk.police.uk Non-Emergency Tel: 0845 456 4567
Dear Mr Walker
Freedom of Information Request Reference No
Freedom of Information Request Reference N : FOI/353
o
/08
I write in connection w
I write in
i
connection w th your request for
th your req
inf
uest for
o
inf rmation received by the Norfolk Constabulary. I
rmation received by the Norfolk
apologise fo
apologise r the latene
fo
ss of our
r the latene
re
ss of our
sponse, which is due to
re
the sheer v
sponse, which is due to
olume of requests we h
the sheer v
ave
olume of requests we h
received in recent weeks. I hope this has not caused signifi
received in recent weeks. I hope this has not caused signif cant inconvenience. I n
cant inconv
ote you seek
enience. I n
access to th
access
e following information:
to th
1. Details of the general procedures involved in selecting external training providers
for you
for y
r
r organisation
2. Details of the tendering procedures involved in selecting external training
providers for yo
y ur org
r
anisation
3. Copies of the tenders issued for all training courses which
hi
w
ch ere eventuall
ere
y
y won by
on
by
Common Purpose
4. Copies of any and al
y
l contracts between y
ee
o
n y ur organisation and Common Purpose
5. Details of how you
5. Details of how y
r
r organisation audits the integrity
organisation audits the integrity and value of courses run by
y
external training providers
I can confirm that information relevant to your request is
I can confir
held
he by the Norfolk Constabulary.
rfolk Consta
Extent of Searches to Locate Information:
arches to Lo
To locate the information relevant to your request, searches were conducted within the Human
Resources and Finance Departments of the Norfolk Constabulary.
Result of the Searches to Locate Information Relevant to your Request.
Part 1.
There is no specific external training provider selection process – we use the normal Constabulary
procurement procedure. Therefore, there is no information held in response to this part of your
request, but I refer you to the response to Part 2 below.
Part 2.
Where the goods or services are not available using an existing framework contract such as
OGC/ACPO or ESPO the tendering procedures are as follows:-
1. The route taken varies dependant on value.
2. Under £30,000 up to five written quotations are required and user departments have
delegated authority to obtain these in accordance with Contract Standing Orders.
3. Over £30,000 and up to £139,893 a formal tender document is prepared by the Corporate
Procurement Unit and advertised on
www.Bluelight.gov.uk Selection is made to the provider that can demonstrate the most economically
advantageous tender based on a pre set list of criteria.
4. Over £139.893 again, a formal tender document is prepared by the Corporate
Procurement Unit and advertised in The Supplement to the Official Journal of the European
Union. Procedures may be Restricted, Open or Negotiated dependant on the requirement.
All tender documentation would be available electronically on
www.Bluelight.gov.uk. The
tendering method we use most is Restricted.
5. Once the advertisement is issued, all respondents who express an interest are sent a pre-
qualification questionnaire which, once completed and returned , are evaluated by
“Committee” in order to draw up a short list of a minimum of five potential bidders.
6. Only those that are short-listed receive a copy of the Tender document.
7. Once the tender has been completed and is returned either electronically or physically, it is
opened under strictly controlled conditions. We prefer the electronic method as this
provides the most accurate audit trail with each step electronically tagged.
8. Award is made usually to the Most Economically Advantageous Tender, by a “Committee”
of three. Again, this is usually made up by one member of the procurement team and two
senior user/customers. They score each submission received, based on a defined set of
criteria. For example: Price, Service Delivery, On Going Support, References, Financial
Standing, Technical ability. The criteria for award is not the same as the pre-qualification
selection criteria.
Each score is then applied to a matrix and averaged in accordance with EU requirements
and best practice.
Part 3
Norfolk Constabulary has not awarded a contract to the Common Purpose organisation. Therefore,
the response to this part of your request is no information held.
Part 4
See response to Part 3.
Part 5
The evaluation method will depend on the type of training and through what route it has been
obtained. Where training is provided as part of a Constabulary-wide programme, evaluation is
conducted by the Training and Development Department and involves asking delegates whether
the training was fit for purpose, met their training needs and they are confident they could transfer
the new knowledge/skills to their workplace. It also monitors the quality and equity of the training
provision to make sure it meets the aims of our diversity strategy, equality schemes and relevant
Race Relations legislation. Where training is obtained by individual Departments to meet the
personal and career development needs of individual staff members evaluation will occur through
the Personal Development Review process on an individual basis.
I would like to thank you for your interest in the Norfolk Constabulary, and I can confirm that a copy
of this response will be published in the “
Disclosure Log” section of the Norfolk Constabulary’s
web-site under the category “
Administrative Process”. You can access the disclosure log via the
following web-link:
http://www.norfolk.police.uk/foi_disclosurelog.cfm?bctrail=0,540
Should you have any further queries concerning this request, please contact me quoting the
reference number shown above.
Yours sincerely,
Dawn Clarke
Data Protection & Freedom of Information Manager
Professional Standards Department
A full copy of the Freedom of Information Act (2000) can be viewed on the ‘Office of Public Sector
Information’ web-site;
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/
The Norfolk Constabulary is not responsible for the content, or the reliability, of the website referenced. The
Constabulary cannot guarantee that this link will work all of the time, and we have no control over the
availability of the linked pages.
Your Right to Request a Review of Decisions Made Under the Terms of the Freedom of
Information Act (2000).
If you are unhappy with how your request has been handled, or if you think the decision is
incorrect,
you have the right to ask the Norfolk Constabulary to review their decision.
Prior to lodging a formal request for a review, you are welcome, and encouraged, to discuss the
decision with the case officer that dealt with your request.
Ask the Norfolk Constabulary to look at the decision again.
If you are dissatisfied with the decision made by the Norfolk Constabulary under the Freedom of
Information Act (2000), regarding access to information, you must notify the Norfolk Constabulary
that you are requesting a review within
2 months of the date of its response to your Freedom of
Information request.
Requests for a review should be made in writing and addressed to:
Freedom of Information Decision Maker
Professional Standards Department
Norfolk Constabulary
Operations and Communications Centre
Jubilee House
Falconers Chase
Wymondham
Norfolk NR18 0WW
In all possible circumstances the Norfolk Constabulary will aim to respond to your complaint within
2 months.
The Information Commissioner.
After lodging a request for a review with the Norfolk Constabulary, if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision, you can apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision on whether the request
for information has been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Act.
For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner please visit their
website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk or contact them at the address shown below:
The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
