COVID-19 testing services (FOI)

Request

Please would you set out a full description of the company or companies with which the government has contracted for the provision of covid-19 testing services and any ancillary services in the same sphere, including the company registration number(s). Please provide a copy of the relevant contract(s) along with the answer, and a statement of the due process undertaken by the government before the contract was (or the contracts were) let.

Response

The Government has contracted with Biotech Research Park Ltd (trading as OpenCell) to support the provision of its On Island Testing programme.

A separate agreement exists with MicroPathology Ltd to carry out testing off island.

Qiagen have been contracted to provide the equipment and consumables that enable the Government of Jersey to deliver an on-island service.

Full company descriptions are available on the respective company websites:

Open Cell Labs

Micropathology

About Qiagen

Company registration numbers are available on the Companies House website. Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 therefore applies.

Companies House - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Whilst we accept that the public may have an interest in Government of Jersey contracts, we believe that providing the details of the contracts at this time, is commercially sensitive and that the release of this data could affect the negotiation of future contracts.

Article 33(b) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

The agreements between the Government of Jersey with Biotech Research Ltd (OpenCell) and MicroPathology Ltd, were established under Jersey Public Finance Manual Exemption procedures to deviate from the competitive process due to the exceptional circumstances in 2020.

In May 2021 the Government published its intention to directly provide its own testing service and launched an open procurement process through which QIAGEN were engaged.

Articles applied

Article 23 - Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.

Article 33 (b) - Commercial interests

Information is qualified exempt information if –

(b) its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of a person (including the scheduled public authority holding the information).