Decision details

That the award of contract, via exemption to competitive tendering, to continue the current arrangements for IT hosting for the corporate website and associated systems to Blue Sky Hosting Limited be approved.  The proposed contract award is for a period of 2 years with a commencement date of 1 April 2018, at a total cost of £88,818 which is recovered from Liberata UK Ltd through the Customer Services contract.

Liberata’s proposal in 2013 to add Customer Services to the core Exchequer Contract was on the basis that the IT services and support remained in ownership of the Council, as is the arrangement with for other systems.  Whilst the IT contracts within Customer Services could transfer to Liberata, this would not add value and would be of no cost benefit.  Liberata support the approach recommended - renewing the arrangements with Blue Sky Hosting Ltd.

It is therefore recommended to proceed to award a new contract to Blue Sky Hosting Ltd, given the critical stage we are at with the website upgrade, and wrap the long-term requirement into the re-procurement of Customer Services from 2020.