Tender decision making process
Case reference FOI2025/02442
Received 11 December 2025
Published 23 December 2025
Request
Provision of Principle Contractor for Construction and Development of Land at Ross Enterprise Park:
We formally request a copy of the excel format spreadsheet with formulas present of the scoring matrix used in the decision making process of the award of the Provision of Principle Contractor for Construction and Development of Land at Ross Enterprise Park, showing the bid process comparison between MFFreeman Ltd and the chosen winner bidder for the project.
Response
Provision of Principle Contractor for Construction and Development of Land at Ross Enterprise Park:
We formally request a copy of the excel format spreadsheet with formulas present of the scoring matrix used in the decision making process of the award of the Provision of Principle Contractor for Construction and Development of Land at Ross Enterprise Park, showing the bid process comparison between MFFreeman Ltd and the chosen winner bidder for the project.
Answer: The requested information is a composite document which details the evaluation results for all bidders (compiled from information contained in the moderated evaluation spreadsheet).
This document has been withheld under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because disclosure would, or would be likely, to prejudice the commercial interests of Herefordshire Council.
In reaching this decision I have taken into account relevant guidance provided by the Information Commissioner's Office including whether the information in question is commercial or industrial.
Herefordshire Council is satisfied that the information to which the exemption has been applied contains information which could constitutes commercial interest-related material.
Disclosure of the withheld information would adversely affect future procurements. The withheld information contains details of the application of the scoring and evaluation process and areas considered during a specific tender evaluation. The council feels that confidentiality is required to protect its position as purchaser. Disclosing this information would be likely to affect the ability of the council to negotiate best value and to effectively procure services in the future.The council accepts the legitimate economic interests of the company would be likely to be prejudiced by disclosure of the information.
In coming to this decision, I have weighed up the public interest for disclosure against the public interest in not disclosing the information and the commercial interests of the Council as follows:
The public interest in disclosure:
· Open and transparent procurement process to demonstrate that the council is achieving best value for the public purse.
· May promote public understanding of the procurement processes.
The public interest in not disclosing the information and the commercial interests of Herefordshire Council
· Disclosure of reasoning and outcomes from a specific tender process would be likely to affect the ability of the council to negotiate best value and to effectively procure similar services in the future.
· Publishing information relating to consideration of specific tender submissions could deter companies from submitting tender applications for future procurement projects which would affect the council’s ability to procure best value services.
· Information on the local authority procurement processes is publicly available and allows for understanding and scrutiny of the process.
Taking the above into consideration, I have found the public interest in disclosing the information in this case is outweighed by the public interest in not disclosing the information. Please therefore take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.