Aggregate recycling contract (FOI)

​Request

This request is concerning the decision by the Department for Infrastructure (DFI) to award the incumbent aggregate recycling contractor (AAL Limited) an additional six year extension to their aggregate recycling contract without putting the matter out to public tender or scrutiny.

Historically, this contract to provide the Islands aggregate recycling services, on behalf of the Government of Jersey (GOJ) has been subject to an invitation to tender process.

My questions are as follows:

A

Was the GOJ aggregate recycling contract put out to tender when AAL’s contract came to the end of its last contract period?

B

If the GOJ aggregate recycling contract was not put out to tender, please explain why?

C

Was the process which DFI undertook granting the last contract or extension to provide the Islands aggregate recycling services in accordance with the Public Finances Manual ensuring its compliance with the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019?

D

What is the total value of financial support provided by GOJ by way of grants, subsidies, aid, loans or any other monetary assistance, for whatever purpose, provided to AAL, the incumbent aggregate and recycling services contractor, during their tenure since the year 2000?

Response

A

The contract was tendered in 2006 and again in 2014. The existing 2014 contract has been extended and varied to allow enhanced recycling and to prolong the lifespan of the La Collette site inert waste function. The extension was granted prior to the expiry of the existing contract which was not due to expire until July 2021.

B

At the present rate of fill the La Collette site will be full during 2021. The 2014 contract was due to end in July 2021. Tendering for a site that will be full is impractical so the existing contract has been extended for a period of up to five years and varied to include enhanced recycling equipment which, when installed, will increase the level of materials that can be recycled. This will assist with extending the lifespan of the La Collette site.

C

Yes the extension was granted in accordance with the Public Finances Manual and Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019.

D

In normal operating years there are no grants, subsidies, aid, loans or any other monetary assistance given to the current aggregate recycling contractor. However in relation to financial support via schemes implemented in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, data is due to be published within the next 12 weeks. This data will include Company names, number of employees and the value of the support. This information will be available via www.gov.je.  This information is therefore exempt under Article 36 - Information intended for future publication.

Article(s) applied:

36 Information intended for future publication

(1) Information is qualified exempt information if, at the time when the request for the information is made, the information is being held by a public authority with a view to its being published within 12 weeks of the date of the request.

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

(a) of the date when the information will be published;

(b) of the manner in which it will be published; and

(c) by whom it will be published.

(3) In this Article, “published” means published –

(a) by a public authority