Provision of ICT Traded Services

BACKGROUND

Thurrock currently offers ICT services to approximately 55nr. Thurrock schools under a Thurrock Broadband Services banner. Thurrock Council has a key focus and responsibility to ensure services offered are of best value in terms of cost and quality, and meet the needs of Schools in Thurrock, in their drive to enhance teaching and learning. Thurrock, like other councils has a financial challenge to reduce costs, whilst minimising impact on services. Developing new revenue streams is a key element of Thurrock's cost saving strategy, and hence ICT Traded Services needs to be able to deliver margin to support this.

Thurrock Council is planning to expand the scope and range of its current branded service offering to form a comprehensive and complete ICT service to schools, using a partner to help promote, deliver and monitor this arrangement. Some capabilities will be provided direct by Thurrock Council some by a partner third party organisation and some may be provided in partnership with the third party organisation. They will all be offered under the Thurrock Broadband Services banner by Thurrock Council. Schools will have the option to \"pick & mix\" in respect of the ICT service capabilities offered.

This activity is part of a wider strategic programme of projects which focus on making Thurrock a more digitally connected borough. As the introduction of a wider canopy of WAN and Dark Fibre infrastructure develops and matures, it is envisaged that the scope of these traded ICT services may be extended to neighbouring schools, other public, not-for-profit, and certain private sector organisations (in particular micro and SME businesses located in or bordering the geographical area of the local authority).

The Council therefore reserves the right to share and make this arrangement and any wider ICT traded activity available to other public, not-for-profit, and local SMEs private sector organisations at its discretion and subject to demand.

It is important to emphasise that partnership is key and the winning bidder will need to demonstrate a willingness to be flexible and to work closely with Thurrock Council for mutual benefit. The Council's requirement under this Contract is for the provision and support of ICT capabilities for Thurrock Council's Traded Service Offer to schools. It is envisaged that the resultant contract with Thurrock Council will have a duration of three years with an option to extend by up to a further three years on a one plus one plus one basis. The intended commencement date for a new contract is April 2018.