Civica awarded new Becta agreement for software licensing in education
Software supply deal enhances software options for education sector
Civica has been awarded a software supply contract for Britain’s schools and educational institutions by OGCbuying.solutions and Becta, the government’s education technology agency.
Civica is one of 12 suppliers to have been awarded contracts after a detailed tendering process.
Effective from 9 October 2008, the agreement gives education sector customers a quick, EU-compliant route to procure a wide range of software including:
· Operating Systems;
· Office Productivity and Database;
· Design, Development and Testing Tools;
· Network and Security Software;
· Utilities, Data Management and Storage;
· Enterprise Resource Planning and Management Information Software
Civica Services, the group’s software licensing and infrastructure division, will manage the supply of off-the-shelf software, volume licensing advice and specific professional services including migration, implementation, upgrade and technical help desk.
The programme replaces the previous Becta software licensing framework agreement which managed £49.5m of business over its three and a half year duration, yielding £25.9m worth of savings.
Dr Stephen Lucey, Executive Director, Strategic Technologies, at Becta said: "We are delighted to see the launch of this OGCbuying.solutions successor framework agreement, the first major procurement project in which Becta has collaborated closely with Buying Solutions. It will ensure that our educational users, including those in the further education and skills sector, continue to have the opportunity of achieving effective choice and value for money."
Steve Reynolds, Civica Services’ managing director, said: “We’re delighted to working with Becta and OGCbuying.solutions under the new programme. We are well placed to provide best results for education professionals and schools nation-wide. The validation process’ stringent testing of our customer service and technical advice is a strong endorsement of our expertise in the education market.”
About Becta
Becta is the government agency leading the national drive to ensure the effective and innovative use of technology throughout learning. Becta's ambition is to utilise the benefits of technology to create a more exciting, rewarding and successful experience for learners of all ages and abilities, enabling them to achieve their potential. Becta works with government to lead the delivery and development of the e-strategy, and influence the strategic direction and development of national education policy, to best take advantage of new and emerging technology. Becta also works with industry and education providers to make sure the right technology is available, and sets standards and provides tools that help establish and promote best practice.
More details are available on the website: http://www.becta.org.uk
About OGCbuying.solutions
OGCbuying.solutions is the trading arm of the Office of Government Commerce, which is itself an office of HM Treasury. It provides public sector procurement professionals with a route to the products and services they need to maximise procurement efficiency and value for money. Its contracts and framework agreements offer substantial savings through significant buying power, economies of scale and strategic partnerships. Rigorous tendering and evaluation processes ensure that products and services are checked for quality, price competitiveness, fitness for purpose and compliance with statutory requirements. These products and services are available through OGCbuying.solutions’ framework agreements, managed services and other procurement arrangements. More details are available on the website: www.ogcbuyingsolutions.gov.uk
The Office of Government Commerce 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 provide 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.
More details are available on the website: www.ogc.gov.uk