Purpose

The Council’s current contract for the provision of End User Devices is due to end 31 December 2025.

The authority is in the process of implementing a Customer Experience Programme (CEP).  The initiative aims to enhance service delivery, improve customer interactions, and achieve operational efficiencies. As part of the CEP, end user devices is a key project where all staff devices will need to be replaced. 

Decision

Approved:

To award a contract for the purchase of 220 End User Devices to Phoenix Software LTD, using the NHS Shared Business Framework.

The Council’s current contract for the provision of End User Devices is due to end 31 December 2025.

The authority is in the process of implementing a Customer Experience Programme (CEP).  The initiative aims to enhance service delivery, improve customer interactions, and achieve operational efficiencies. As part of the CEP, end user devices is a key project where all staff devices will need to be replaced.

The first 220 devices procured will be distributed within Digital Tameside, to Digital Champions, members of SLT & Executive Cabinet to assist with the build, test and deploy process. This will enable the fine tuning of rollout processes and assist with the creation of support materials for end users before rolling out the devices to the rest of the authority. Whilst this work is completed, a full tender exercise will take place to award the full end user device contract.

Digital Tameside have an approved capital budget for End User Devices available, and the total budget is £2m. 

Alternative options considered

1. Do nothing. With no contract in place, we would be unable to purchase end user devices as part of the Customer Experience Program approved plan. This would leave staff members with older devices that have decreased productivity, increased security risks, higher IT support costs, compatibility issues, and potential regulatory non-compliance.

2. Go to tender. Although we plan to go to tender for the long-term contract for devices, in this instance we require 220 devices whilst the tender process takes place to ensure we can run the pilot phase and use returned current devices to build a batch of devices available for redeployment to new starters or to support with replacing faulty or damaged devices.