NFRS 2022 58 - reprographics and printing

You asked for:

I would be grateful if you would provide details of your current contract covering reprographics/print arrangements as follows

Number of MFDs (Multi-functional devices) & photocopiers at NottinghamshireFire & Rescue Service
Name of incumbent
Start/end date of contract (if expired, WHEN do you expect to revisit themarketplace)
Details of any extension options
What framework / Route to market used
Number of regular/desktop printers (in addition to above)
Is there a support contract on above, if yes state start/end date
Does the Fire Service have a Print Room
If yes, name of supplier, number of devices and start/end date of contract, also details of any extension options
Total print/copy volumes for (a) mono and (b) colour
What print software does the Fire Service run
Who supplies any outsourced print requirements
Start/end date of this contract
Name of person responsible for print at the Fire Service

Our Response:

Answer: - This information is not recorded in an easily retrievable format. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service do not routinely report on this type of data, there is therefore no report function to make the information readily available to us to determine the bulk use of (a) mono and (b) colour prints. We would need to manually assess the usage between the two and from the multiple methods of doing so to accurately provide statistics, it would require communication with the contract holder to help facilitate the data. It is therefore believed that the work necessary to identify and extract the requested information within the time period specified would certainly exceed 18 working hours. In addition, we would need to liaise with Nottinghamshire Police as we now share premises and have limited access to their print solution.

This takes the request over the cost threshold of 18 working hours and engages Section 12 (1) of the Act.

This letter constitutes a refusal notice under Section 17(5) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 with Section

12(1) of the act being applied 12. – (1) Section 1(1) does not oblige a public authority to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying with the request would exceed the appropriate limit. Should you wish for the Force to continue with your request, a more accurate figure will be provided within a fee’s notice. The cost will need to be paid by you, prior to any further investigation. Please advise if you wish to proceed.

Alternatively you are invited to refine your request to bring it within the cost threshold, Due to the large number of property stored I am unable to suggest a refinement that would bring the request within the cost threshold. In accordance with the Act, once one part of the request exceeds the cost threshold the entire request exceeds the cost threshold. However, in the spirit of the Act but outside of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Services has provided what information it has retrieved in relation to your request.

This letter constitutes a refusal notice under Section 17 (5) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Information provide under section 16:

Number of MFDs (Multi-functional devices) & photocopiers at Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service
Answer: - 29
Name of incumbent
Answer: - Exempt by virtue of section 21 Information accessible to applicant by other means.
Start/end date of contract (if expired, WHEN do you expect to revisit the marketplace)
Answer: - Exempt by virtue of section 21 Information accessible to applicant by other means.
Details of any extension options
Answer: - Exempt by virtue of section 21 Information accessible to applicant by other means.
What framework / Route to market used
Answer: - No Information could be located, open tender expected at the end of the contract.
Number of regular/desktop printers (in addition to above)
Answer: - No Information Held, there are no additional printers in addition to question one.
Is there a support contract on above, if yes state start/end date
Answer: - No Information Held, there are no additional printers in addition to question one.
Does the Fire Service have a Print Room
Answer: - No Information Held, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service does no operate a print room.
If yes, name of supplier, number of devices and start/end date of contract, also details of any extension options
Answer: - No Information Held, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service does no operate a print room.
Total print/copy volumes for (a) mono and (b) colour
Answer: - Exempt by virtue of section 12(1) Requests where the cost of compliance exceeds the appropriate limit.
What print software does the Fire Service run
Answer: - Streamline.
Who supplies any outsourced print requirements
Answer: - No Information Held, no contract for outsourced print requirements.
Start/end date of this contract
Answer: - No Information Held, no contract for outsourced print requirements.
Name of person responsible for print at the Fire Service
Answer: - Managed by our ICT department rather than an individual.

21. Information accessible to applicant by other means.

Information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant otherwise than under section 1 is exempt information.
For the purposes of subsection (1)—
1. Information may be reasonably accessible to the applicant even though it is accessible only on payment, and
2. Information is to be taken to be reasonably accessible to the applicant if it is information which the public authority or any other person is obliged by or under any enactment to communicate (otherwise than by making the information available for inspection) to members of the public on request, whether free of charge or on payment.
For the purposes of subsection (1), information which is held by a public authority and does not fall within subsection (2)(b) is not to be regarded as reasonably accessible to the applicant merely because the information is available from the public authority itself on request, unless the information is made available in accordance with the authority’s publication scheme and any payment required is specified in, or determined in accordance with, the scheme.

Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is categorised as an Absolute and Class Based type exemption and therefore does not require a public interest test to be carried nor must Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service articulate the harm in disclosure.

The information requested can be accessed at the following location procurement and resources

This Letter constitutes a refusal notice under Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.