IT Services Review Work Based Learning

Descriptions

At a meeting of the NTfW Board in May 2011, JISC RSC Wales initiated a discussion related to the provision of technical infrastructure support services to the Work Based Learning sector in Wales. Discussion focused on the availability (or otherwise) of JANET(UK) Network services to the sector, as well as how practices related to the procurement of technical related services might be better managed from an NTfW Network perspective, as opposed to single providers doing it individually. It is proposed that using NTfW to negotiate and procure technical related services may lead to sector wide efficiency savings.Based on this discussion, NTfW have requested that JISC RSC Wales undertake an IT Services Review across the 13 Independent Providers which are contracted by Welsh Government as part of the Work Based Learning provision in Wales. The full scope of the review will be provided following receipt of expression of interest, but the review will consider broadband costs, desktop / laptop hardware costs, software costs, organisational data system costs, mobile devise costs, server / infrastructure network costs, server maintenance costs, web system hosting arrangements and costs, as well as a range of costs associated with business planning activities related to replacement cycles and disaster recovery planning. The review will result in a factual report from which NTfW will be able to identify actual sector wide costs.The review will consider the current overheads of IT Infrastructure and related licence agreements for the 13 Independent main contract holders, but will also be cognisant of their consortia members and sub-contractors.The review will take place during January and February 2012, and the final report will be ready for publish by Wednesday 29th February.