I confirm that Ordnance Survey does hold some of the information you have requested. Where the information is not held or is exempt from disclosure this is stated.
Taking each question in turn, I confirm the following:
1. What are the biggest challenges your organisation currently faces in surveying and geospatial activity?
We do not consider this question to contain a valid request for information under section 8 of the FOIA as it does not include a specific request for recorded information and/or adequately describe the recorded information required. Instead, you are asking for a statement of opinion.
We are therefore entitled to refuse to respond to this question.
2. Are you confident in your full knowledge of the condition and knowledge of your impact on our local environment?
We do not consider this question to contain a valid request for information under section 8 of the FOIA as it does not include a specific request for recorded information and/or adequately describe the recorded information required. Instead, you are asking for a statement of opinion.
We are therefore entitled to refuse to respond to this question.
3. What are your organisation’s key strategic objectives for the next 12-24 months, and how does surveying and geospatial fit into these?
I confirm that Ordnance Survey does hold the information you have requested. However, we consider this information to be exempt from disclosure under section 21(Information accessible to the applicant by other means) of the FOIA as our strategy is routinely published on Ordnance Survey’s website OS annual reports | About us | OS.
Section 21 is an absolute exemption, and we are not required to consider the public interest test.
4. Please detail any planned development of sites or assets
I confirm we do not hold this information. OS does not have any planned development of sites or assets.
5. Do you have a supplier for drainage mapping and surveying?
I confirm we do not hold this information.
6. If so, please can you supply details of the contractual arrangements in place including date of award, details of any Framework used or link to the advertisement, contract value and duration
Not appliable.
7. If not, please can you indicate what evaluation of the requirement for surveying and geospatial works have been undertaken?
I confirm we do not hold this information.
8. Please share your planned procurement pipeline for surveying and geospatial works for the next 12 months
I confirm we do not hold this Information.
However, under the duty to provide information and assistance in accordance with section 16 of FOIA, we can advise that any future procurement matters can be found on our website General procurement and tender opportunities | Home | OS.
Details of future tenders will also be publicly available via the Central Digital Platform: Search results - Find a Tender search under Keywords for Ordnance Survey.
9. How do you engage with potential new suppliers—through open tenders, direct engagement, or supplier days?
I confirm OS holds the information requested. However, we consider this information to be exempt from disclosure under section 21 (information accessible to the applicant by other means) of the FOIA, as it is already in the public domain and accessible to you.
The information is published on our website in our procurement pages:
Guide for suppliers | Procurement | OS
Guidance for government customers working with Ordnance Survey (PDF)
Section 21 is an absolute exemption, and we are not required to consider the public interest test.
10. Please can you confirm the individual responsible for managing your surveying and geospatial contracts or wider development contracts and provide their contact details and role title?
I confirm the information is held.
However, we consider the contact details of the relevant individuals to be exempt from disclosure under section 40(2) (personal information) of the FOIA, as the information constitutes personal data.
Section 40(2) provides that personal data is exempt information if one of the conditions set out in section 40(3) is satisfied. In our view, disclosure of this information would breach the data protection principles contained in the General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018.
In reaching this decision, we have particularly considered:
- the reasonable expectations of the employees: given their positions, Ordnance Survey considered that none of the individuals would have a reasonable expectation that their personal data would be disclosed;
- the consequences of disclosure; and
- any legitimate public interest in disclosure.
Section 40(2) is an absolute exemption and therefore not subject to the public interest test.
However, under the duty to provide information and assistance in accordance with section 16 of FOIA, we can advise that for general enquiries, you can contact the procurement department using our Contact us | Home | OS
Contact details for future contracts will be published on Search results - Find a Tender the Central Digital Platform which is a government portal for all public tenders (as part of the tender notice).
11. Please provide a list of frameworks that you procure related services through
I confirm this information is held. The only Framework we have used to procure related services within the surveying and geospatial area is the YPO Drones and Associated Services DPS Framework.
12. Do you plan to repurpose any sites for renewable energy or solar farms?
No, we do not plan to repurpose any sites for renewable energy or solar farms.
13. Do you have any issues with subsidence in your properties? If so, where?
Minor ground movement to the north stack damper, which is being monitored, and we have no recorded movement in 2 years.
14. When developing/purchasing/selling a site, how do you verify that the boundaries are correct?
We do not consider this question to contain a valid request for information under section 8 of the FOIA as it does not include a specific request for recorded information and/or adequately describe the recorded information required. Instead, you are asking for an explanation.
We are therefore entitled to refuse to respond to this question.