FOI/202600515115 · FOI · partially withheld
Contract Award Letters and Documentation for specific projects: FOI release
Information requested
I am seeking to request the following information through Freedom of Information laws.
Please can you provide the successful pitch from 3X1 Group for the procurement of reference number FEB550128 which commenced on 1.3.26.
Please can you provide the successful pitch from 3X1 Group for the procurement of reference number JUL390235 which commenced on 1.8.20.
Please can you provide the successful pitch from 3X1 Group for the procurement of reference number OCT461318 which commenced on 1.10.22.
Please can you provide the successful pitch from 3X1 Group for the procurement of reference number SEP295397 which commenced on 13.9.17.
Please can you provide the successful pitch from 3X1 Group for the procurement of reference number AUG363655 which commenced on 20.8.19.
Please also provide the notification from yourselves to the successful bidder on these occasions.
Response
Thank you for your request detailed above.
We confirm that we hold the information you have requested and are releasing the relevant documents.
Please note that all documents have been subject to redaction to remove personal data in accordance with our obligations under Section 38 (1)(b) – Personal Information - of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) and the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Furthermore, the pricing schedule in document 6 has been redacted as this material falls outside the scope of your Freedom of Information request.
Finally, documents 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 have been partially redacted under section 33(1)(b) - substantial prejudice to commercial interests. of FOISA. The reasons for applying this exemption are set out below.
Application of Section 33(1)(b) – Commercial Interests Section 33(1)(b) applies where disclosure of information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of any person or organisation. This is a qualified exemption and is therefore subject to the public interest test.
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Contract Award Letter- Poverty and Inequality Commission - Redacted - Document 1: Some information has been withheld where disclosure would reveal details of a company’s cyber security accreditation. Making this information public could prejudice the company’s commercial interests by exposing sensitive operational information, potentially weakening its competitive position and increasing vulnerability to targeted risks.
While there is a general public interest in transparency and accountability in public procurement processes, this must be balanced against the risk of harm. In this case, we consider that the public interest in protecting companies from unfair commercial disadvantage outweighs that in favour of disclosure. Disclosure could deter companies from participating in public sector procurement, reducing competition and ultimately impacting value for money.
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Poverty and Inequality Commission - Proposal - Redacted - Document 6: Information in this document has been redacted where it would disclose commercially sensitive material relating to the company’s methodologies, strategic approach, and service delivery model, including communications planning, media handling, and content production.
This material formed part of a recently awarded tender (February 2026) and remains commercially active. Disclosure would be likely to prejudice the company’s ability to compete in future procurements by enabling competitors to replicate or counter its approach.
While transparency in procurement is an important public interest, we consider that this is outweighed in this instance by the need to protect fair competition and prevent commercial harm.Ensuring that suppliers are not disadvantaged supports a competitive marketplace and helps secure best value for public funds.
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Hospitals Inquiry - Proposal - Redacted - Document 7: Redactions have been applied to information concerning internal security controls and data protection processes. This information forms part of the company’s competitive offering and its disclosure would be likely to prejudice its commercial interests.
Release could allow competitors to replicate operational approaches or undermine the effectiveness of the company’s security arrangements. There is a strong public interest in safeguarding commercially sensitive information, particularly where it relates to security and data protection.
On balance, we consider that the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs that in disclosure, as failing to do so could harm competition in public procurement and reduce overall value for money.
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Citizen's Assembly - Proposal- Redacted - Document 8: Information in this document has been redacted where it would disclose commercially sensitive material relating to the company’s methodologies, strategic approach, and service delivery model, including communications planning, media handling, and content production.
While transparency in procurement is an important public interest, we consider that this is outweighed in this instance by the need to protect fair competition and prevent commercial harm. Ensuring that suppliers are not disadvantaged supports a competitive marketplace and helps secure best value for public funds.
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Tram Inquiry PR Services - Proposal - Redacted - Document 9: Information in this document has been redacted where it would disclose commercially sensitive material relating to the company’s methodologies, strategic approach, and service delivery model, including communications planning, media handling, and content production.
While transparency in procurement is an important public interest, we consider that this is outweighed in this instance by the need to protect fair competition and prevent commercial harm. Ensuring that suppliers are not disadvantaged supports a competitive marketplace and helps secure best value for public funds.
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - International Public Relations - Proposal - Redacted - Document 10: Information in this document has been redacted where it would disclose commercially sensitive material relating to the company’s methodologies, strategic approach, and service delivery model, including communications planning, media handling, and content production.
While transparency in procurement is an important public interest, we consider that this is outweighed in this instance by the need to protect fair competition and prevent commercial harm. Ensuring that suppliers are not disadvantaged supports a competitive marketplace and helps secure best value for public funds.
The information you have asked for can be found in the below named documents attached to this letter:
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Contract Award Letter- Poverty and Inequality Commission - Redacted - Document 1
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Contract Award Letter - International Public Relations - Redacted - Document 2
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Contract Award Letter - Citizen's Assembly - Redacted - Document 3
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Contract Award Letter - Hospitals Inquiry - Redacted - Document 4
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Contract Award Letter - Tram Inquiry PR Services - Redacted - Document 5
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Poverty and Inequality Commission - Proposal - Redacted - Document 6
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Hospitals Inquiry - Proposal - Redacted - Document 7
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Citizen's Assembly - Proposal- Redacted - Document 8
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - Tram Inquiry PR Services - Proposal - Redacted - Document 9
FOI 202600515115 - 3x1 Group - International Public Relations - Proposal - Redacted - Document 10
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
Please note that all documents have been subject to redaction to remove personal data in accordance with our obligations under Section 38 (1)(b) – Personal Information - of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) and the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Finally, documents 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 have been partially redacted under section 33(1)(b) - substantial prejudice to commercial interests. The reasons for applying this exemption are set out below. Application of Section 33(1)(b) – Commercial Interests Section 33(1)(b) applies where disclosure of information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of any person or organisation. This is a qualified exemption and is therefore subject to the public interest test.