Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Huntingdonshire District council have published a tender for a contract to replace their current financial systems.

The move is part of a wider programme between the partners to create shared front and back office services across a number of delivery areas – including ICT services.

The tender says: “The councils have identified the need to use a common financial management system to enable sharing and to maximise cashable and non-cashable benefits.

“It has therefore been decided to replace all three councils current financial systems with a modern and flexible system common across the three councils.”

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The councils are looking for an externally-hosted solution which will allow self-service functionality and “intuitive enquiry and reporting capabilities”.

It is planned to split the contract into two phases – the supply, configuration, implementation and testing of the system, followed by ongoing hosting, support and maintenance services.

The support and maintenance period will run for five years from the ‘go live’ date of the final council’s system going live.

A one off capital cost to each council is expected to collectively total between £514,000 and £624,000, although the project is expected to pay for itself within five years.

Responses from potential suppliers to the tender must be submitted by 30 November.