TfL Ref: 2310-1920

Thank you for your request received by us on 2 November 2019 asking for information about the cost of a zip Oyster photocard.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:

What is the cost to TFL of producing a zip card?

I can advise that zip photocard production including enablement costs is £0.80 per card. A separate postage cost is incurred at £0.49 per card issued to a customer.

Please be aware that, in accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the additional costs for card fulfilment, personalisation, method of request via phone or website, plus overheads as they are subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2) - commercial interests. Disclosure of this information would be likely to affect the contractor’s ability to compete effectively in current and future tender exercises, as well as the commercial interests of TfL. Prejudice would be likely to occur when we go out to tender for such services in the future, because it would be likely to result in a clustering of bids based on previously negotiated payment rates and the company’s specific service delivery. Releasing this information would also be prejudicial to the company’s ability to compete for tendering opportunities with TfL and other companies in the future by placing detail of their technical operations into the public domain.

The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, particularly where the expenditure of public money is concerned, but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that we are able to obtain the best value for public money outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Jasmine Howard
FOI Case Officer
Information Governance
Transport For London