Purpose

To request authority to award a contract for the provision of a Data Platform Delivery Partner.

Decision

That the Director of Communications, Insight and Innovation:

i)               Approves the award of a Call Off Contract from the Government Commercial Agency Framework Digital Outcomes and Specialists 7 RM1043.9, Lot 1: Digital Outcomes for the provision of Data Platform Delivery Partner, to Simpson Associates Information Services Limited for a period of two (2) years with no option to extend.

Reasons for the decision

The Council seeks to appoint a Data Platform Delivery Partner to support the design and implementation of modern data platform. The recommended compliant route to market is a mini-competition under the Framework, enabling the Council to select a suitably qualified technical partner through a focused process based on the requirements set out in the specification.

Council officers have completed a procurement exercise and identified Simpson Associates Information Services Limited as the contractor offering the most economically advantageous tender, in line with the relevant evaluation criteria. Officers therefore recommend awarding the contract for a Data Platform Delivery Partner to Simpson Associates Information Services Limited.

Alternative options considered

Officers have considered delivery of a modern data platform using internal resources, but concluded that the required specialist expertise means this work is best provided by an external contractor.

Officers have reviewed a range of procurement options, including conducting an open tender process, but have concluded that the use of the Framework is the most appropriate means of procuring a contractor given the reduction in timescales, costs and resources involved.