The government has appointed 47 suppliers to a new framework for the provision of local government software which is aimed at driving down prices through greater clarity over supplier charges.
The Local Authority Software Applications framework (LASA) is now live and available for customers to access, the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has announced.
LASA will be based on a catalogue-style arrangement, with suppliers required to provide details of how much they will charge for particular services.
The four-year framework will replace the current Local Government Software Application Solutions (LGSAS) framework.
A statement from CCS said: “The agreement offers customers an easy route to purchase software and related services for core local authority business areas, these goods and services include design, development, installation and commissioning of systems, ongoing support and maintenance and some related business process services.”
The framework was developed with local authority customers and stakeholders including the Local Government Association (LGA) and procurement coalition Pro5.
It is intended to assist in the delivery of the LGAs National ICT Commercial Category Strategy for Local Government.
The CCS said that of the 47 suppliers selected, two thirds are small and medium enterprises.
The framework is for purchasing common line of business application solutions for councils, along with supporting services such as implementation, enhancement, integration and application support services.
In addition to the catalogue approach, and open book pricing it removes automatic price increases linked to indexation.
There are also terms to allow customers to be fully open with each other about the prices are receiving under the framework.
The LGA estimates local authorities spend up to £2.5bn each year in ICT markets, with £1bn (40%) of this spent on sourcing & supporting all software applications.
According to CCS, analysis of supplier incomes showed revenues of approximately £500m from the UK local government market for the applications intended to be covered by this procurement.
The framework will run for two years, with the option to extend for a further two periods of a year.
The full list of LASA suppliers is:
Aareon UK
Abaco SpA
Arcus Global
Astun Technology
Azeus UK
Bartec Auto ID
BJSS
Bramble Hub
Capita
CareWorks
Civica UK
CloudBuy (formerly @UK)
Coactiva
Corelogic
CSC Computer Sciences
DEF Software
ESRI (UK) LTD
EST Solutions
Fivium
Halarose
IDOX PLC
Infor
Kypera
Liberata UK
Liquidlogic
Lovell Johns
Methods Consulting
MIS Active Management Systems
OLM Systems
Open Sky Data Systems
Orchard Information Systems
Ordnance Survey Great Britain
Oxford Computer Consultants
Pendragon Consultants
Probrand
Quickheart
Rokk Media
Shaping Cloud
Swift DataPro Software
System Associates
Tascomi
TATA Consultancy Services
TotalMobile
Tribal Education
Valueworks
Verizon UK
VisionWare
