Tender: Department for Constitutional Affairs offers massive IT contracts

The DISC Programme is intended to replace the DCA's existing main IT contracts as they expire. The services delivered by the existing contracts were based on the organisation of the Lord Chancellor's Department (LCD) at the time the contracts were awarded. Over the life of the existing contracts the DCA has evolved significantly, but the legacy of the responsibility splits between the contracts can inhibit the most effective and efficient use of information and resources. Changes in technology have proven difficult to apply consistently. However the services that are delivered through the various contracts are critical to the business. Ensuring reliable continuity of service is essential.

While continuity of service is essential, the new contract(s) awarded as a result of the DISC programme must be flexible and enable rationalisation and modernisation of the services. DCA has identified many opportunities which may be opened up by the establishment of the right culture and partnership with new suppliers, and the correct commercial structures to encourage and reward all parties.

The proposed contract lots are summarised below and the scale and scope of each are indicated in Annex B to this notice. The intended term of each contract (see II.3 below) is up to 120 months from commencement of live service operation. DCA reserve the right to vary the term within the 120 months and the term of the different lots may differ.

Infrastructure.

DISC is intended to deliver a common infrastructure throughout DCA - not only in headquarters but in regions and local courts and other front-line offices. This infrastructure is likely to include office services. The infrastructure will also be the mechanism to access the application services, and external information services.

In addition, the infrastructure service may include a user support service to provide support not only for the infrastructure, but also a one-stop shop support service for all the services delivered over that infrastructure - managing contributions from second or third line support as appropriate. The infrastructure service must provide flexibility into the future to adopt further services and to adopt or combine emerging technologies as value for money permits (e.g. integrated voice, data and video technology).

Application services.

In addition to providing the infrastructure, the contract(s) that result from DISC must ensure continuity of service delivery for all the existing applications. These applications are continuing to be enhanced and developed under the current contracts to meet identified needs of the users, and to take account of legislative change and changes in technology. It may be possible in some cases to associate enhancement activities with the new contract(s), depending on the timing of award and migration activities.

The new contract(s) from DISC should also provide a vehicle for continuity of the many small contracts that exist throughout the related agencies and non-departmental public bodies. The application service will include the capability to develop and/or adopt new applications, either to modernise the existing application suite, or to take on new areas of business.

It is intended that the contract(s) awarded by DISC will be accessible by DCA, its associated NDPBs and agencies, and other UK public sector entities. Some services delivered via the contract(s) will be made available widely, including to the judiciary and to the general public.

Lot No: 1
Short description:
To provide continuity of service from infrastructure provision in existing IT contracts, to migrate those services into a single integrated infrastructure service across all of the DCA and its associated offices, and to provide that integrated service. The new service must provide flexibility into the future to adopt further services and to adopt or combine emerging technologies as value for money permits (e.g. integrated voice, data and video technology). The infrastructure service may also be required to host business applications directly.
Scope or quantity:
The combined new infrastructure will be required to support in excess of 25 000 desktops distributed across over 700 sites throughout the UK.

Lot No: 2
Short description:
The DISC Application Service will take over responsibility for the support and maintenance of existing IT applications (including second line incident management, problem resolution configuration management, release management, etc). The provider of the service will make those applications available as a managed service, either accessible from the infrastructure service or hosted directly by the infrastructure service provider.
The Application Service will include the capability to develop and/or adopt new applications, either to modernise the existing application suite, or to take on new areas of development.
Scope or quantity:
There are over 70 current applications within scope of which over 50 are considered as business critical. Some applications are used by as few as 10 users, while others are used by over 4500.

Conditions for obtaining contract document and additional documents:
Obtainable until: 30.5.2005.

Time-limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate:
30.5.2005. Time: 12:00.

Dispatch of invitations to tender to selected candidates:
Estimated date: 25.7.2005.

Additional information:
Candidates short-listed for each lot will be issued with a statement of requirements which will be negotiated.
The authority expressly reserves the rights: (i) not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice; and (ii) to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition; and in no circumstances will the authority be liable for any costs incurred by candidates.

Duration of the contract or time limit for completion:
120 months from the award of the contract.

Official name and address of the contracting authority:
Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA), DISC Programme, Att: Jessica Nwoko, 3rd Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, UK-London SW1E 6QT. Tel.: 020 7210 2196. Fax: 020 7210 1830. E-mail: disc.programme@dca.gsi.gov.uk. URL: www.dca.gov.uk.