Officer decision to enter into a new IT Managed Network Services contract for the Council’s Sheltered Accommodation properties with Intergence Systems Limited.
The 3 year GCloud13 Lot 1 framework contract will terminate on 30 November 2026 or can be extended to co-terminate with the existing corporate Network Managed contract on 25 February 2027.
The contract value of £99,985 (£33,283 per annum) comprises aggregated costs including some £18,000 hardware capital costs plus licensing costs for a range of third party network monitoring systems/ tools plus the service support costs themselves.
However, in this instance with the Council’s Sheltered Accommodation premises housing some of our most vulnerable residents reliability, network connectivity and business continuity of service are key award factors. Similarly, cyber security is a key factor in awarding the contract.
Primarily the IT Managed Network Services contract represents value-for-money in comparison with other listed GCloud13 Lot 1 framework contractors’ published prices (Please see the supporting report for details).
However, with the Council’s sheltered Accommodation premises housing some of our most vulnerable residents reliability, network connectivity and business continuity of service are key considered factors.
Additionally;
1)Value-add Services: Intergence are a trusted technology support partner and their proven technical specialist expertise and capabilities, their business agility and support capabilities will be utilised to modernise the supporting the Council’s sheltered Accommodation premises network infrastructure.
2)Cybersecurity and Information Governance. Intergence hold government level Security Clearance (SC) at Project, Design and Support Levels (Security Clearance conforms to BS7858). The company also has the following Security Governance and Risk Certifications: ISO:27001, ISO:9001, Cyber Essentials.
3)Partner ethos. Their willingness to work alongside council IT resources sharing knowledge/ information and assisting the development of new skill sets.
4)Business Continuity. Minimising service disruption by enabling TDC staff to make major structural changes without the dependency of using an additional (and untried) external agency.

The necessary budget has been previously identified via a separate decision made by the Leader of the Council.

To enter into a new three year IT Managed Network Services contract for the Council’s Sheltered Accommodation properties with Intergence Systems Limited on 1st December 2023.

1)Doing nothing is not an option. This would leave the Council operating the sheltered accommodation premises with a rapidly aging network solution with ever increasing business continuity issues.
Similarly, with BT giving notice of ceasing PSTN services, this would lead to operational failures unless the supporting network is not evolved over the coming months.
2)Use an alternative provider. Intergence has a proven track record and existing positive relationship with TDC, complies with required cyber regulations, and can be procured through the GCloud13 Lot 1 framework system. Using a third provider makes fault resolution, contractual compliance and support management issues considerably more complex with all parties blaming one another
3) Having established that the contract represents value-for-money procurement through this route saves valuable resources and facilitates a co-termination of this contract with the wider 'corporate' Managed Network contract with the incumbent supplier.