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SKILLS FUNDING AGENCY AWARDS BAE SYSTEMS APPLIED INTELLIGENCE CONTRACT TO MANAGE ITS IT ESTATE NATIONWIDE(ENP Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ENP Newswire - 28 July 2014 Release date- 25072014 - BAE Systems Applied Intelligence today announced that the Skills Funding Agency has signed a framework contract for the company to deliver Service Management and Integration (SMI) services across the whole of the Agency's national infrastructure in England. BAE Systems Applied Intelligence will be responsible for supporting delivery of the Agency's end-to-end services in line with its ICT strategy. It will also support the Agency through the transition phase of its supply change transformation programme, as it moves from a single outsourced IT provider to a multi-source tower model. The move to this new sourcing model reflects the drive across government to make technology cheaper and more transparent, innovative and flexible. The role of the SMI provider is to oversee the delivery of all the outsourced IT service providers, ensuring that services are delivered in a high quality, timely and cost effective manner and that they are properly integrated to ensure that the Agency and its end users benefit from seamless networks and platforms. By helping to improve efficiency and maintain continuity across these critical IT systems, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence will help the Agency to continue to deliver its core role of funding vocational training and apprenticeship opportunities across the country. Paul McGuire, Chief Operating Officer, Skills Funding Agency commented: 'The Operations Division of the Skills Funding Agency provides a range of critical ICT services to the Agency, Education Funding Agency and the wider further education (FE) and skills sector. The Agency is currently re-configuring the service and supply arrangements of its ICT services into a number of separate contracts. 'BAE Systems will, in its role as SMI provider, act as the coordinating partner for all of these ICT Services, which will enable the Agency to work in an agile way and react to rapid changes within the FE and skills sector.' Julian Cracknell, Managing Director of UK Services at BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, commented: 'We are delighted that we have been chosen by the Skills Funding Agency to provide the essential SMI role that will drive all of its IT services, providing the Agency with essential business continuity through a period of extensive change. The contract win reinforces the position of BAE Systems Applied Intelligence as a leading provider of SMI services. 'This contract brings together our heritage in delivering ICT services at scale with our experience of providing strategic consultancy to clients across the public sector. We will work with the Agency to take advantage of the full range of opportunities presented by digital transformation, ultimately improving the service to citizens across the country.' The contract win builds upon BAE Systems Applied Intelligence's appointment as provider of SMI services for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Re-use of the framework, which is open to other Government departments and agencies, also enables the Agency to reduce procurement time and costs and meet the timelines of the supply chain transformation strategy. The operational service is due to go live in Autumn 2014. (c) 2014 Electronic News Publishing - |