GB-Bedford: BF0637 Provision of a SharePoint Online Solution

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority ("BFRA') has been a Microsoft Office house for many years, holding an Enterprise licence, and has also had a SharePoint Platform in place since 2005, updated to SharePoint 2007 in 2009, with no updates since. SharePoint is a major business operational system and will remain so, as it enables key aspects of the BFRA Community Risk Management Plan strategy around managing our people, our assets and our Digital Transformation aims.

As part of the BFRA Digital and Data Transformation Strategy, the decision has been made to implement Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Office 365, and to switch from on premise to a cloud-based SharePoint Online 'Out-of-the-Box' solution within Office 365, with a phased project delivery. The Service wishes to continue using SharePoint as the de facto platform for document storage, collaborative working, and much more. Microsoft SharePoint is recorded in the BFRA ICT Services Catalogue as a Service Criticality Business Operational System.

BFRA will initially run two systems in parallel for a minimum period of 6 months; the old legacy system will run alongside the new SharePoint Online. There will be no data migration, but will allow time for SharePoint Online to be configured, include functions and content for the service functional areas. A cut-off point to the legacy system is to be determined, once the scope of work to analyse and manage content is completed. This will enable a review and refresh of data taxonomy rules, security and governance.

The contract shall be let for an initial term of three (3) years with an option to extend for any period or periods of up to two (2) years in twelve (12) or twenty-four (24) month blocks, such extension to be exercised at the Authority's discretion depending on internal funding availability and the Contractor's performance during the main three (3) year contract term. For the avoidance of any doubt, the three (3) year initial term ("Services Phase") shall commence upon completion of the Implementation Period, such period comprising of the following phases: •Phase 1: Discovery Phase •Phase 2: System Design and Configuration Phase (includes Testing, Training) •Phase 3: Reporting Collaboration and Mobile Working The maximum duration of the Services Phase of the contract shall be five (5) years.

During the Services Phase, the Contarctor will be required to provide support and maintenance services.

Additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.