Request ID: FOI-4432-2324 Date published: 25 March 2024
You asked
Good Afternoon
I am writing to you to make a freedom of information request in relation to the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS).
I am aware that the management of the FORS scheme has been outsourced to a company called Sopra Steria Ltd. It has come to my attention that there has been an unfair awarding process of FORS auditing contracts and I wish to be given information on the companies that have been awarded contracts and under what provisions - IE. what process was followed in order for these contracts to be granted to the companies in question.
I believe that the public procurement policy has not been followed in awarding these contracts and as such, the awarding of contracts should be done in such a way that is fair to all possible providers and should not be subject to a “closed shop”.
We answered
TfL Ref: 4432-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 28 February 2024 asking for information about FORS audit contract providers.
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: I am writing to you to make a freedom of information request in relation to the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS). I am aware that the management of the FORS scheme has been outsourced to a company called Sopra Steria Ltd. It has come to my attention that there has been an unfair awarding process of FORS auditing contracts and I wish to be given information on the companies that have been awarded contracts and under what provisions - IE. what process was followed in order for these contracts to be granted to the companies in question. I believe that the public procurement policy has not been followed in awarding these contracts and as such, the awarding of contracts should be done in such a way that is fair to all possible providers and should not be subject to a “closed shop”.
The concession / contract is in the public domain which is referenced on the TfL public website, which is currently awarded to Sopra Steria who were appointed in 2021: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/contracts-awarded-tfl.pdf. They currently have sufficient capacity to cover audits at the present time. Should the current audit provision not be sufficient in the future, then the appointment of new audit providers will be considered to meet the increased demand. There is a requirement in the public concession contract, TfL’s contract with Sopra Steria (which was awarded by TfL under CCR2015 regulations), for a clear and transparent process for the appointment of auditors, of which potential audit providers submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) , the Concessionaire will then review these, make a decision based on the submission and the future audit capacity required. Sopra Steria (the Concessionaire) are required to make a fair and reasonable decision on assessing all Expressions of Interest by potential suppliers for audit provision.
TfL’s contract to SSL was awarded under CCR2015, but Sopra Steria is not bound by the procurement or concession regulations themselves.
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
Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
