Local Area Network (LAN) Contract
Where applicable, we publish responses to requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This one, Local Area Network (LAN) Contract, is detailed below.
Other FOI's
WMFS OFFICIAL – NEW – FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST – FOI23103
Ref: FOI/23103
RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 REQUEST
I am writing to confirm that the West Midlands Fire Service has now completed its search for the information you requested further to your freedom of information request.
Please find below a summary of our findings.
Request
Please can you send me the organisation’s Local Area Network (LAN) contract, which may include the following:
· Support and Maintenance- e.g. switches, router, software etc
· Managed- If this includes services than just LAN.
1. Contract Type: Managed or Maintenance
2. Existing Supplier: Who is the current supplier?
3. Annual Spend for each supplier: What is the annual average spending on the supplier above? If there is more than one supplier, please split the annual averages spent for each supplier.
4. Number of Users: Please can you provide me with the number of users this contract covers. Approximate number of users will also be acceptable.
5. Number of Sites: The number of sites, where equipment is supported by each contract.
6. Hardware Brand: What is the hardware brand of the LAN equipment?
7. Contract Description: Please provide me with a brief description of the overall contract.
8. Contract Duration: What is the duration of the contract and can you please also include any extensions this may include.
9. Contract Expiry Date: When does the contract expire?
10. Contract Review Date: When will the organisation be planning to review the contract?
11. Responsible Officer: Contact details including name, job title, contact number and email address
Reply
1. Maintenance
2. Charterhouse (Formally known as CVD Group)
3. This information is exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as this information is reasonably accessible to the requestor. The information can be found on the West Midlands Fire Service website at the following link:
https://www.wmfs.net/documents/transparency-report/
4. 2000
5. 41
6. As a major emergency service provider, you will appreciate that releasing information about hardware brands has wider implications that we must consider. By this we mean that disclosing this information may prejudice our ability to maintain our own and national security. We believe that maintaining security and ensuring public safety in a national and local context takes precedence over this request. Therefore, we refuse the request to release hardware brands under S24 National Security of the Freedom of Information Act.
We accept that this type of information is of interest to commercial companies and to researchers but believe that it is not in the greater public good to release detailed information on the versions of products we use.
7. LAN Support
8. 5 years
9. 2025
10. 2025
11. With regards for the contact details of responsible persons, WMFS operates a single point of contact policy and callers are directed via HQ general contacts on 0330 058 9000. The call will be directed to the person with responsibility for the specific service. There is a direct email address for suppliers making sales enquires email: procurement.enquires@wmfs.net. Furthermore, guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office is as follows:
- The presumption is in favour of protecting privacy, so the release of personal information will only be fair if there is a genuine reason to disclose. This involves a three-stage test. A public authority will generally have to satisfy itself that:
- There is a legitimate interest in disclosure;
- The legitimate interest can only be met, or fully met, by the disclosure of information which identifies individuals (i.e. the disclosure is necessary to that purpose); and, the disclosure would not involve unwarranted detriment to the individual’s privacy or other rights and legitimate interests.
- You can find out more about FOI exemptions from the Information Commissioner’s Office. This will explain which one or more of the FOI exemptions applies, and tell you how to appeal if you disagree with our decision.
Request
If the LAN maintenance is included in-house please include the following information:
1. Hardware Brand: What is the hardware brand of the LAN equipment?
2. Number of Users: Please can you provide me with the number of users this contract covers. Approximate number of users will also be acceptable.
3. Number of Sites: Estimated/Actual number of sites the LAN covers.
4. Responsible Officer: Who within the organisation is responsible for LAN please provide me with contact details including name, job title, contact number and email address?
Reply
1. As a major emergency service provider, you will appreciate that releasing information about hardware brands has wider implications that we must consider. By this we mean that disclosing this information may prejudice our ability to maintain our own and national security. We believe that maintaining security and ensuring public safety in a national and local context takes precedence over this request. Therefore, we refuse the request to release hardware brands under S24 National Security of the Freedom of Information Act.
We accept that this type of information is of interest to commercial companies and to researchers but believe that it is not in the greater public good to release detailed information on the versions of products we use.
2. 2000
3. 41
4. With regards for the contact details of responsible persons, WMFS operates a single point of contact policy and callers are directed via HQ general contacts on 0330 058 9000. The call will be directed to the person with responsibility for the specific service. There is a direct email address for suppliers making sales enquires email: procurement.enquires@wmfs.net. Furthermore, guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office is as follows:
- The presumption is in favour of protecting privacy, so the release of personal information will only be fair if there is a genuine reason to disclose. This involves a three-stage test. A public authority will generally have to satisfy itself that:
- There is a legitimate interest in disclosure;
- The legitimate interest can only be met, or fully met, by the disclosure of information which identifies individuals (i.e. the disclosure is necessary to that purpose); and, the disclosure would not involve unwarranted detriment to the individual’s privacy or other rights and legitimate interests.
- You can find out more about FOI exemptions from the Information Commissioner’s Office. This will explain which one or more of the FOI exemptions applies, and tell you how to appeal if you disagree with our decision.
Request
If the contract is managed by a 3rd party e.g. Can you please provide me with
1. Existing Supplier: Who is the current supplier?
2. Number of Users: Please can you provide me with the number of users this contract covers. Approximate number of users will also be acceptable.
3. Number of Sites: Estimated/Actual number of sites the LAN covers.
4. Contract Type: Managed, Maintenance, Installation, Software
5. Hardware Brand: What is the hardware brand of the LAN equipment?
6. Contract Description: Please provide me with a brief description of the overall contract.
7. Contract Duration: What is the duration of the contract and can you please also include any extensions this may include.
8. Contract Expiry Date: When does the contract expire?
9. Contract Review Date: When will the organisation be planning to review the contract?
10. Responsible Officer: Who within the organisation is responsible for each of these contract(s) please provide me with contact details including name, job title, contact number and email address?
Reply
N/A
If you have any queries about this Freedom of Information request, please contact us. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
For service complaints, issues or comments regarding this request please contact The Public Relations Department, West Midlands Fire Service, 99 Vauxhall Road, Birmingham, B7 4HW
Further information concerning Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner website at either the following link: https://ico.org.uk/ or at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.