Decision details

To seek approval to the procurement plans for MS Teams Telephony and a modern and flexible core network.

(NB:     These items were originally submitted as two separate issues I097566 & I097567.)

RESOLVED that the Council access the approved frameworks, detailed in the Strategic Procurement Plans for MS Teams Telephony and the Core Network, to undertake a mini competition to select appropriate solutions and expert support for the implementations

The Executive has adopted a Digital and ICT Strategy for the period 2021-2024, which includes ensuring ‘Robust and Reliable IT’ and the implementation of a ‘Fully featured, Cloud-based Telephone System.’ These procurements enable the delivery of these strategic themes.

Utilising an existing framework allows the procurements to meet the timeframes required.

Retaining the current network infrastructure would mean carrying the risk of failing out of date components, resulting in loss of productivity and increased security risks.

Retaining the current telephony infrastructure incurs the risk of failure, as the platform becomes end of life later this year. The existing platform also prevents the move to Teams telephony, which is included in the E5 licensing agreed with Microsoft.

The alternative to the use of a framework, i.e. broader advertising, is likely to generate

numerous responses which would require significant officer time to review and may not meet

the timeframes.

None

Not applicable.

None.