Norfolk County Council is seeking bidders for an IT framework that could be worth up to £100m.
The council is seeking an agreement with a single operator for a duration that "exceeds four years".
In the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) notice, the council said that the duration of the contract is necessary so that the council and other users of the framework can ensure a continuity of services with the same provider, enabling them to make their own investments in ICT and business processes, which can integrate with the services provided under the framework.
The council and its partners, which include schools, want to work with a strategic technology partner, not an outsourcer, that can:
implement a secure, resilient cloud-based environment to host the council's systems; roll out a modern client computing infrastructure to provide end users with access to a choice of devices including laptops and tablets, and access to the latest office software, email, social media services, modern remote working capabilities and collaborative working facilities; implement a ‘federated identity management service', and an information centre that will integrate information using data visualisation and predictive analytics across the council, its partners and public sources to improve decision making; provide strategic advice and support to ensure that the council can make best use of an enhanced analytical capability to drive costs down and improve outcomes.
The five-year contract could be extended by the council by up to two years. It is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) and is worth between £18m and £100m.
"The lower figure is the estimated value of the spend for Norfolk County Council and the organisations (excluding schools) to whom it currently provides services (principally Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Breckland District Council and the Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee) over a five year period," the tender reads.
"The higher figure covers a seven-year period and includes schools and an estimate for use of the framework by other contracting authorities and/or by Norfolk County Council on behalf of other authorities," it adds.
