Request ID: FOI-3153-2324 Date published: 02 January 2024
You asked
1. Do you specify any Fleet Accreditation Scheme (e.g., FORS, DVSA Earned Recognition, Van Excellence, CLOCS, Mission Zero) as a mandatory requirement on any existing contracts, or contracts that have received a recent award notification but have not yet commenced?
2. If the answer to question 1. is ‘yes’, please tell us which Fleet Accreditation Scheme(s) you specify and at what level(s) (e.g., FORS Silver)?
3. If the answer to question 1. is ‘no’, please tell us whether you are considering specifying Fleet Accreditation Scheme(s) as part of your contract requirements in the future and if so, when?
4. If you are specifying a Fleet Accreditation Scheme(s), do your contracts allow for Alternative Schemes to be accepted (e.g., Transport for London state “FORS or a scheme, which in the reasonable opinion of the Authority, is an acceptable substitute to FORS (the “Alternative Scheme”))?
5. If the answer to question 4. is ‘yes’ what is the process for accepting an Alternative Scheme(s), or do you take the position that if Transport for London recognises an “Alternative Scheme”, that this approach will also be accepted by your organisation?
6. Please provide us with details of each contract where a Fleet Accreditation Scheme(s) has been specified including Contract No. / Contract Name / Award Date / Term of Contract (including any extension periods) / Principal Contractor(s)Name / Fleet Accreditation Scheme & accreditation level specified (e.g., FORS Silver)?
7. Please tell us if your organisation (or your staff) undertake any other role for any Fleet Accreditation Scheme including but not limited to:
I. your organisation is accredited to that scheme?
II. your organisation is an official ‘Champion’ or ‘Supporter’ to that scheme?
III. your organisation, or one of your staff, is a member of that scheme’s governance board (or any other committee / body associated with that scheme)?
8. Please tell us the name of your organisations department(s) that are responsible for determining whether Fleet Accreditation Scheme(s) are specified, and / or which schemes are specified within your contracts?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-3153-2324
Thank you for your request which we received on 3 December 2023, asking for information about TfL’s fleet accreditation scheme.
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 some of the information you require. You specifically asked:
Do you specify any Fleet Accreditation Scheme (e.g., FORS, DVSA Earned Recognition, Van Excellence, CLOCS, Mission Zero) as a mandatory requirement on any existing contracts, or contracts that have received a recent award notification but have not yet commenced?
TfL specifies Work Related Road Risk (WRRR) contractual clauses wherever trucks or vans are used at any level of the supply chain. These include FORS Silver accreditation or a suitable alternative as agreed by TfL. Current approved alternatives are Direct Vision Standard (DVSA) Earned Recognition with the TfL module and Mission Zero with the WRRR module.
For contracts that have not yet commenced a commitment is made by the supplier to meet these obligations within 90 days of contract commencement.
2. If the answer to question 1. is ‘yes’, please tell us which Fleet Accreditation Scheme(s) you specify and at what level(s) (e.g., FORS Silver)?
See above.
If the answer to question 1. is ‘no’, please tell us whether you are considering specifying Fleet Accreditation Scheme(s) as part of your contract requirements in the future and if so, when?
See above.
If you are specifying a Fleet Accreditation Scheme(s), do your contracts allow for Alternative Schemes to be accepted (e.g., Transport for London state “FORS or a scheme, which in the reasonable opinion of the Authority, is an acceptable substitute to FORS (the “Alternative Scheme”))?
See above.
If the answer to question 4. is ‘yes’ what is the process for accepting an Alternative Scheme(s), or do you take the position that if Transport for London recognises an “Alternative Scheme”, that this approach will also be accepted by your organisation?
TfL conducts a review of the proposed standard and ensures it meets the minimum standard of FORS Silver. Following that, a formal accreditation agreement is signed between TfL and the accredited organisation/scheme.
Please provide us with details of each contract where a Fleet Accreditation Scheme(s) has been specified including Contract No. / Contract Name / Award Date / Term of Contract (including any extension periods) / Principal Contractor(s)Name / Fleet Accreditation Scheme & accreditation level specified (e.g., FORS Silver)?
Please find the requested information in the attached spreadsheet. Every contract where trucks or vans are used specifies fleet accreditation in our WRRR clauses.
7. Please tell us if your organisation (or your staff) undertake any other role for any Fleet Accreditation Scheme including but not limited to: I. your organisation is accredited to that scheme?
TfL holds FORS Gold accreditation under the name Transport Trading Ltd.
II. your organisation is an official ‘Champion’ or ‘Supporter’ to that scheme?
TfL is a FORS Champion organisation.
III. your organisation, or one of your staff, is a member of that scheme’s governance board (or any other committee / body associated with that scheme)?
Yes, TfL has a representative of the FORS Governance and Standard Advisory Group.
8. Please tell us the name of your organisations department(s) that are responsible for determining whether Fleet Accreditation Scheme(s) are specified, and / or which schemes are specified within your contracts?
This commitment is specified in the Freight and Servicing Action Plan and Vision Zero Action Plan.
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
Eva Hextall FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
