On the move

OGCbuying.solutions' new mobile services arrangements deliver best value for local authority buyers.

Anew range of best value mobile voice and data services will be available to local authority buyers from January 2009 in an arrangement worth an estimated £170 million a year across the whole of the public sector.

The new Mobile Solutions (II) framework agreements, available through OGCbuying.solutions, feature new propositions covering the full scope of mobile voice and data requirements. These comprehensive arrangements include the ability for standard ordering off a catalogue of services - and for further competition amongst capable suppliers, where appropriate.

All suppliers on the framework agreements were subjected to a rigorous selection process and include established suppliers and suppliers new to Buying Solutions' mobile framework agreements.

About 400 local authority organisations bought mobile voice and data services through the previous Buying Solutions agreement, representing more than 25% of total public sector expenditure spend using these arrangements.

Nigel George, Buying Solutions Mobile Solutions (II) Project Manager said, "Mobile Solutions (II) secures existing benefits enjoyed by customers, provides new savings opportunities and satisfies the growing demand for more flexible mobile voice and data services designed to meet the demands of the transformational government agenda.

"Though the majority of connections provided are for basic voice services, a growing number of customers are starting to take a combination of voice and data services, typically via BlackBerry or a Smartphone for access to email, or they are taking advantage of 3G and GPRS data services via a data card, used in conjunction with a laptop, to enable remote working."

In addition to these services, there are a number of other services available to customers through these new arrangements. Examples include:

• Text based services enabling local authorities to interact more effectively with local people

• Fleet management services allowing local authorities with vehicle fleets, such as mobile libraries, maintenance vehicles and community based workers, to monitor their location and movements to aid driver security and to promote the efficient use of vehicles

• 'Lone worker' protection, featuring monitoring and alert services for staff working in remote or dangerous locations; and

• Real time traffic information and car parking availability to ease congestion and smooth traffic flow and enable employees to operate as efficiently as possible

The framework agreements aim to provide a streamlined, efficient route to market, saving time and resources, as well as access to a wide range of services and competitive pricing - which was last benchmarked by Buying Solutions at 21% below alternative commercial offerings.

The Mobile Solutions (II) framework agreements also offer robust public sector terms and conditions as well as the ongoing support of Buying Solutions in the event of any contractual issues with suppliers. Where requirements demand and there is a commercial justification for suppliers, the agreement can also be used to procure bespoke solutions.

In terms of pricing on these framework agreements, Nigel George added, "The same prices are available to all customers for core services, irrespective of their expenditure, connection base or average revenue per user to the mobile supplier. This means that the smaller authorities benefit from the aggregated spend of a wide range of organisations.

"We estimate that up to 60% of our customer base would be paying a higher tariff than those available through our agreements, were these vehicles not in place." concluded Nigel George.

The Mobile Solutions (II) framework agreements have been awarded in three lots:

• Mobile voice and data
Refining the structure of previous agreements, this lot reflects the way in which customers procure commodity mobile services and addresses key customer needs relating to service management. The suppliers in this lot are BT, 02 UK Limited, Orange Personal Communication Services Limited, TMobile (UK) Limited and Vodafone UK.

• Wide-area paging and messaging
Procured primarily for the benefit of key public sector workers working in environments where the use of messaging devices capable of transmission is restricted, this lot also provides for a range of messaging services including the delivery of bulk SMS messaging and network independent, multi-platform messaging.
The suppliers in this lot are 2ergo Limited, HTK Limited, Orange Personal Communication Services Limited,
PageOne Communications Limited and Vodafone UK.

• Bespoke mobile solutions
Intended to assist those customers who have needs not specifically addressed by commodity mobile services, including those seeking solutions to complex and bespoke requirements. The suppliers in this lot are AMT-SYBEX, BT, Detica Limited, Orange Personal Communication Services Limited and Vodafone UK.

For more information or to register an interest in the Mobile Solutions (II) framework agreements, visit the Buying
Solutions' website at www.ogcbuyingsolutions.gov.uk or contact the Buying Solutions' Service Desk on 0845 410 2222.