News

OGC launches new tools to support the success of key Government IT programmes and projects

Released on 09/01/2009

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has today launched two new tools aimed at driving success in the procurement and delivery of complex public sector IT programmes and projects.

The first, a procurement Pre-Qualification Tool (PQT) aimed principally at the procurement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions, looks to strengthen the likelihood of achieving positive outcomes, providing better value for money for the taxpayer.

Developed in conjunction with the Department for Work and Pensions, the NHS and the ICT industry, the new toolkit is part of a raft of OGC measures focused on safeguarding the successful delivery of Government's projects and programmes. It provides a clear mechanism to enable contracting organisations to assess a major ICT procurement before the tendering process, measuring the preparedness of the customer, the market, and the procurement itself.

The PQT is being launched in conjunction with best practice guidance on establishing a Joint Statement of Intent (JSI) with prospective suppliers. The development of the JSI has been led by the Ministry of Defence in consultation with the ICT industry. This is an additional tool that can be used by commissioning organisations, which clearly presents agreed objectives and requirements of the programme or project. This measure provides a clear and mutual understanding of what is expected from both the supplier and contractor. It is part of a range of initiatives aimed at making Government a better client, whilst increasing capability to deliver results.

Both products were commissioned and endorsed by the CIO Council and the Government/Industry Strategic Supply Board under the Transformational Government strategy.

Launching the new tools, Nigel Smith, OGC's Chief Executive said:

"Safeguarding the successful outcomes of complex programmes and projects is vital in order to ensure value for money for the taxpayer and the continued delivery of world-class public services. Every effort must be taken by those working in public sector procurement to ensure they get it right from the outset, and mitigate any risks in achieving desired outcomes. These new tools will go some way to establishing consistently high standards across Whitehall in how ICT services are procured and managed. Our ultimate aim is to raise the capabilities and support positive outcomes of the procurement of complex programmes and projects."

Speaking about the new tools, John Higgins CBE, Director General of technology trade association Intellect said:
 
"Intellect welcomes the launch of these new tools. The Joint Statement of Intent and Pre-Qualification tool each establish an extra layer of guidance and clarity to all parties involved in the delivery of public sector programmes. The JSI and PQT were produced in close collaboration between the public sector and technology industry. We will continue to work with government to achieve more successful procurements and delivery to exploit the benefits that these processes promise. The challenge is now to get these tools embedded into the processes of the suppliers and government departments. "

The PQT and JSI tools can be accessed via the OGC website.

Notes to editor

Procurement Pre-Qualification Tool

The procurement Pre-Qualification Tool (PQT) has been developed as a self assessment tool to enable the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) to assess the status of a major ICT procurement prior to the start of a competition. Its purpose is to assist the SRO's engagement in the pre-competition stage by focussing on key areas to be addressed to ensure a successful procurement and, subsequently, delivery of outcomes.  It uses four measures: the preparedness of the customer, its business leadership, the market, and of the procurement itself. Failure in any one of these measures indicates that the planned procurement will fail to deliver the intended outcome, which at best can cause a delay in the procurement.

Joint Statement of Intent

The purpose of the Joint Statement of Intent (JSI) is to ensure that all parties involved in IT enabled business change have a common understanding of the core objectives and business outcomes that the commissioning Department requires from the initiative. It is designed to help improve the success rate of Government IT Programmes and Projects by supporting departments and their suppliers in working together to develop a shared view of:

• what a programme or project is intended to achieve, in respect of business outcomes and benefits, if it is to be regarded as a success;
• how the collective project team will work together to deliver these outcomes;
• the potential for change to the programme or project to support any evolving business needs.

The JSI also ensures that a focus on all of these views is sustained throughout the programme or project lifecycle.

Both the PQT and the JSI have been commissioned and endorsed by the CIO Council, as part of the Supplier Management Initiative (SMI) launched as part of Transformational Government. This Pan Government initiative is bringing about a significant shift in the way Government manages its IT suppliers, in order to improve supplier delivery and to make Government a world-class enterprise IT customer.

The tools have been developed in collaboration with the ICT industry and other Government Departments, under the governance of the Strategic Supply Board (SSB), a sub-set of the CIO Council and ICT industry leaders, who are working together to:

• Improve the overall quality and reliability of the delivery of critical government IT programmes;
• Deliver improved services and systems that offer better value for money for the UK citizen;
• Deliver an improved acquisition process that reduces time, costs and exploits standardisation.

The SSB commissioned joint government and industry expert teams to develop tools and processes, like the JSI and PQT, to help realise its strategic objectives by the end of the Comprehensive Spending Review period for 2007.

About the Office of Government Commerce

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is an independent office of HM Treasury, established to help Government deliver best value from its spending.  The OGC works with central Government departments and other public sector organisations to ensure the achievement of six key goals: 

• Delivery of value for money from third party spend;   
• Delivery of projects to time, quality and cost, realising benefits;   
• Getting the best from the Government's £30bn estate;  
• Improving the sustainability of the Government estate and operations, including reducing carbon emissions by 12.5% by 2010-11, through stronger performance management and guidance;  
• Helping achieve delivery of further Government policy goals, including innovation, equality, and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs);   
• And driving forward the improvement of central Government capability in procurement, project and programme management, and estates management through the development of people skills, processes and tools.

OGC provides policy standards and guidance on best practice in procurement, projects and estate management, and monitors and challenges departments' performance against these standards, grounded in an evidence base of information and assurance.  It promotes and fosters collaborative procurement across the public sector to deliver better value for money and better public services; and it provides innovative ways to develop Government's commercial and procurement capability, including leadership of the Government Procurement Service.

Media contact:
Michael Dunning, Media Relations Manager, OGC
T: 020 7271 1318
M: 07771 815245
E: michael.dunning@ogc.gsi.gov.uk

Contact details:
OGC Service Desk
Tel: 0845 000 4999
E-mail: ServiceDesk@ogc.gsi.gov.uk