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OGC publishes enhanced model contract for public sector ICT procurement

The Office of Government Commerce, in conjunction with its delivery partner Partnerships UK, has published an enhanced version of the Information Communication Technology Model Services Agreement and Guidance for major or complex ICT enabled business change projects. The free-to-use solution includes significant updates in the key areas of financial distress and security management.

The model contract aims to help achieve better outcomes for projects with complex ICT procurements, while at the same time saving time and money. Users of previous versions have reported a positive delivery benefit, including a reduction in negotiation time.

The updated publications follow extensive engagement with the technology trade body Intellect and other key stakeholders across industry and the public sector. This latest version marks significant progress in helping to ensure that contractual terms and conditions more effectively support joint delivery of programmes and projects, resulting in benefits for government, industry, and service users.

Speaking about the new guidance, David Shields, OGC Programme Director said:

"The success of projects or programmes requiring ICT support depend upon those services being contracted in the most appropriate and efficient way, and the ICT model contract that we have developed with industry bodies and other stakeholders can provide a great deal of assurance. Reflecting feedback, lessons learned and the changing operating environments, it demonstrates our ability to meet the demanding challenges of a fast changing industry and the ever important requirement to deliver value for money solutions."

Sureyya Cansoy, Associate Director and Head of Public Sector Programmes, Intellect said:

"This new version of the model contract has made valuable steps forward, and we look forward to continuing our work with OGC and Partnerships UK to further improve the agreement to ensure that it fully meets the needs of all parties."

The guidance is part of a series of OGC measures supporting the public sector in its ICT buying decisions, which recognise the challenging nature of the ICT market, with its constantly changing products, intense competition between vendors and steadily falling prices. OGC works with public sector organisations on a collaborative and active approach towards the ICT market, ensuring the public sector benefits from the latest technologies and highly competitive pricing.

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