Lincolnshire County Council is seeking a new outsourcing partner following the issue of a tender for services, expected to weigh in at between 85m and 110m.
The contract is expected to be awarded in April 2014, with the winning bidder taking over from the existing contractor, currently held by Mouchel, whose contract expires in 2015.
Further reading
Computing research: Outsourcing, cloud computing and job security Government CIO role abolished as era of big outsourcing deals draws to a close Outsourcing a 'major component' of two-thirds of IT security lapses
Mouchel has run the council's back-office services for a total of 15 years - a 10-year initial contract followed by a five years renewal.
If it is won by a new bidder, there will be a 12-month transitional period, with the deal lasting for five years, and the option of an additional two years.
IT forms a major part of the package, with outsourced services including technology infrastructure and support; running, managing and supporting key software applications, and the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and its associated management and support.
The council currently runs on SAP, and customer services may also be included in the scope of the deal, either before or after the contract award.
According to councillor Kelly Smith, executive member for finance and human resources, the contract may be broken up into smaller chunks, rather than a large, all-encompassing contract. The aim, she said, is to provide greater flexibility, as well as opening up opportunities for smaller suppliers.
More information can be found on the council's website, and potential bidders are invited to attend a bidders' day in Lincoln on 9 April for more details.
