Placement of a systems integrator contract for the C3I project

Report: 5
Date: 07 May 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

In accordance with the agreed and accepted Procurement Strategy, the C3i Project appointed an Evaluation Panel to conduct an OJEC competition and to consider tenders for the supply of System Integration services. This competition has been run and a preferred candidate has been selected. The Office of Government Commerce reviewed the process and formally reported that it was conducted with propriety, diligence and observance of best procurement practice. The C3i Project seeks to place the contract for the provision of System Integration services and seeks MPA approval to do so.

A. Recommendation

Members are asked to:

1. Note the contents of this report
2. Endorse the recommendations as set out in the exempt report.

B. Supporting information

Background

1. The C3i Project is a major change programme for the MPS that requires a new build of a complex and mission critical Command and Control (C&C) service.

2. With the inception of the new C3i service, command, control, communications and information (C3i) the activities currently undertaken by the MPS's Central Communications OCU at NSY, Borough Operational Command Units (BOCUs) and specialist units will be brought together in three new centres.

3. The MPA has approved the three centre option for the MPS-led C3i Project and subsequently approved the Outline Business Case and the Procurement Strategy. To facilitate the implementation, and to reduce risk as far as possible, the C3i Project determined that the services of a Systems Integrator (SI) should be sought.

System Integration Services

4. An SI has been sought through competitive tendering to take responsibility for the integration of C3i Project components in order to assure the delivery of a coherent, working system.

5. As the principal objective of the SI is to reduce risk to the project, it was determined that the SI should take responsibility for:

• configuration and quality management of the build and integration effort
• requirements management and the specification of acceptance criteria
• testing the implementability of the business system solution
• testing and evaluation of all MPS furnished technology component options
• transition and migration planning.

Current situation

6. The requirement for the provision of Systems Integration services was costed and included in the Business Case and the C3i Procurement Strategy. This was formulated to ensure a rigorous and effective procurement. The Procurement Strategy was reviewed and approved by the Office of Government Commerce and approved by the MPA in September 2001.

7. A competition in accordance with OJEC rules was conducted.

8. The selection of the SI contractor is nearly complete. Competitive tendering through a pre-qualification questionnaire, an invitation to tender and formal presentations has been undertaken in order to lead the C3i Project towards a clearly preferred contractor with whom to place a contract.

C. Financial implications

The costs for the Systems Integrator services were estimated and included in the Original Business Case as a capital cost. The value of the contract for System Integration services is set out in the exempt report.

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

Report author: Sean Coughlan, C3I Project Director, MPS.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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