Proposal to engage an external IS/IT consultant

Report: 6
Date: 4 June 2009
By: the Treasurer

Summary

This reports seeks approval to engage an external consultant to provide comment on the Metropolitan Police Services (MPS) Information Technology strategies and strategic plan

A. Recommendations

That Members consider and approve the engagement of an external consultant to provide comment on the MPS information technology strategies and strategic plan.

B. Supporting information

1. With an annual budget of £213M and capital funding of £380M over a seven year period, the Directorate of Information and its strategic plan have a large part to play in ensuring that MPS staff and officers are able to perform their roles more efficiently and effectively, and improve productivity.

2. Whilst the Authority has received a number of briefings on the IS/IT strategy it has not had the opportunity to properly scrutinise the strategy and ensure it is fit for purpose. Therefore it is proposed to engage a consultant to provide comment on the Metropolitan Police Services Information Technology strategies and strategic plan, including:-

1. Whether the strategy is fit for purpose
2. Comment on IT proposals included in the capital programme
3. To identify potential productivity gains offered by IT technology

3. A brief for engaging a consultant has now been developed in consultation with members and the Director of Information which is attached at Appendix 1 for consideration and approval

C. Race and equality impact

There are none specific to this report

D. Financial implications

Costs will be met from existing resources.

E. Background papers

• None

F. Contact details

Report author: Annabel Adams, Deputy Treasurer

For more information contact:

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

Appendix 1

 Request for consultancy services

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) is seeking the support of an external consultant to provide comment on the Metropolitan Police Services Information Technology strategies and strategic plan. The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate the following:

• Knowledge and experience of information technology within the police
• Experience in developing information technology strategies within the public sector, preferably the police service
• Knowledge of the national agenda with regard to police and information technology

Background information

The MPS Information, Communication and Technology Strategy, Information Management Strategy and Technology Strategy set the strategic goals for the provision of effective communications and technology in the MPS. Further detail is provided in the Directorate of Information’s Strategic Plan. These documents reflect the Directorate of Information’s long term vision to:-

• Create a unified information infrastructure and single information portal through which all staff can retrieve relevant and role specific information.
• Deliver high quality integrated and efficient ICT services that directly support police operations, help manage key future events such as the Olympics and protect the resilience and responsiveness of the MPS.

The vision contains complex challenges that will be completed in stages over the next 5-10 years.

Current investment plans included in the capital plan include funding of £380M over a seven year period for Information Technology Based Schemes. However the level of demand for investment is significantly in excess of available funding which has meant difficult decisions have needed to be made as to which projects can be delivered.

Therefore an external adviser is required:

• To review and comment on the existing IS/IT strategy to ensure it:
  • Is fit for purpose
  • Supports the Authority and Service in achieving their corporate objectives
  • Reflects best practice
  • Encompasses all aspects of IS/IT
  • Enables the Service to be properly held to account both by the Authority and other stakeholders
  • Reflects current policy
  • Is “future proofed”
• To assess whether the current investment proposals included in the capital plans will enable the IS/IT strategy to be properly implemented
• To assess the impact on the organisation of the current investment proposals not being fully delivered
• To identify which investment proposals are business critical and therefore cannot be deferred.
• To assess what impact the Olympics will have on delivering the Is/IT strategy.
• To comment on whether or not all opportunities to minimise costs are being taken, identifying further areas of opportunity where applicable
• To assess whether the strategy full reflects developing work to streamline business processes
• To identify opportunities which could free up resources through the more efficient use of resources with regard for example investigations.
• To comment on how well benefits realisation is being tracked and monitored.
• To review constraints imposed by current legislation etc
• To comment on the various standards that the MPS are required to comply with e.g. ACPO

The expectation would be that a draft report would be issued within a month of the external adviser being appointed.

Process for appointing external advisor:

• Expressions of interest are invited in writing, with a general indication of cost by XXXX 2009.
• Interested organisations will be invited to meet MPA officers to discuss the proposals.
• Any contract will be subject to MPA procurement terms and conditions.
• The contract will be awarded to the organisation deemed to be the most economically advantageous in terms of the criteria below:
  1. Price. Weighting:60
  2. Quality. Weighting 40

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