Schools software provider procurement

The request was successful.

Hi,

Could you please supply me the following procurement information in your capacity as a Local Education Authority under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

For each of the categories that follow, could you please answer the questions below as they relate to schools. If individual schools have their own arrangements please make that clear and provide information for each where that is available.

A. Finance systems for schools (financial management systems, FMS)
B. Budgets systems for schools (budget monitoring/planning systems)
C. School management information systems (MIS)
D. Payroll software or provider for schools
E. HR software or service for schools

Questions:

1. Who is the current software or service provider?*
2. What is the existing contract spend separated into annual spend and maintenance costs, if applicable?*
3. What is the contract’s length, when does it end, how long is the procurement notice period and process length, what is the procurement system used?
4. Who is the procurement process decision maker? Please specify their name and role.
5. Do you, as a local authority, mandate (i.e. through an SLA) that your schools use a service package or supplier arranged by yourselves, or are they able to choose?
6. If schools are able to choose a software and services provider, are there any categories in which choice is mandated by you as a local authority while others are left for schools to choose, i.e. a mix and match basis?
7. If applicable, what is the system implementation provider, shared service provider or technical support provider?
8. Is there a system replacement or transformation project being planned, and if so is it to be outsourced?
9. Is there any system integration in between any of the categories mentioned?

Could you also please tell me how many schools your local authority supports, i.e. the number of local authority-maintained schools.

I would like to pre-empt any possible objections against releasing information under points marked with a star (*). In the case of disclosing information about local authority suppliers, including the amount an authority is paying, I refer to the clearly established public interest in disclosing information about transparency in the spending of public money. It is vital that public bodies are getting value for money when entering into contracts. The disclosure of how much an authority is paying for a service, particularly in the competitive market for educational software, promotes competition and makes it possible for a local authority to pay a lower rate for services. No cost needs to be broken down to the extent to which it may harm a supplier's commercial abilities.

Thank you for your help. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to reach out to me by email and I will happily clarify any points you raise.

Best,
Jack Roberts

Gloucestershire CC, Gloucestershire County Council

Information request
Our reference: 23630183

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Dear ‎Jack Roberts‏
 
Request for Information (Reference: 23630183 )
 
Thank you for your request for information, received on 19 November 2021.
 
Request summary: For each of the categories that follow, could you please
answer the questions below as they relate to schools. If individual
schools have their own arrangements please make that clear and provide
information for each where that is available.
A. Finance systems for schools (financial management systems, FMS)
B. Budgets systems for schools (budget monitoring/planning systems)
C. School management information systems (MIS)
D. Payroll software or provider for schools
E. HR software or service for schools
Questions:
1. Who is the current software or service provider?*
2. What is the existing contract spend separated into annual spend and
maintenance costs, if applicable?*
3. What is the contract's length, when does it end, how long is the
procurement notice period and process length, what is the procurement
system used?
4. Who is the procurement process decision maker? Please specify their
name and role.
5. Do you, as a local authority, mandate (i.e. through an SLA) that your
schools use a service package or supplier arranged by yourselves, or are
they able to choose?
6. If schools are able to choose a software and services provider, are
there any categories in which choice is mandated by you as a local
authority while others are left for schools to choose, i.e. a mix and
match basis?
7. If applicable, what is the system implementation provider, shared
service provider or technical support provider?
8. Is there a system replacement or transformation project being planned,
and if so is it to be outsourced?
9. Is there any system integration in between any of the categories
mentioned?
Could you also please tell me how many schools your local authority
supports, i.e. the number of local authority-maintained schools.
 
Due to the ongoing uncertainty of the full impact of COVID-19 there are
likely to be disruptions to our services. At the moment, we are focussing
on high priority work and the remainder will be subject to delays. We
appreciate your patience during these unprecedented times.
 
We aim to respond to your request no later than midnight on 17 December
2021 (the statutory timescale of 20 working days, starting on the working
day following receipt of your request). We may need to contact you if the
request needs to be clarified; this is to ensure we provide you with the
information you require.
 
If the information you have requested is held by another public authority,
we will inform you of this so that you can contact them directly.
 
Gloucestershire County Council is committed to the principles of
information disclosure and will, wherever possible, provide all
information requested. However, some information you have requested may
not be provided to you; this will only be information that can be withheld
by law, and, in most cases, the reason will be explained to you when we
send out any information that can be released. We will also inform you as
soon as possible if we do not hold the information you have requested.
 
You may find answers to your questions on our frequently asked questions
page -
[1]https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/counc...
 
Our response to your request may be published in our disclosure log, with
your personal details removed. Our new disclosure log can be found on our
website at: [2]www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/foi.  In future, you may find
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published.
 
Yours faithfully

Request Support Assistant
Information Management Services

01452 324000

References

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Gloucestershire CC, Gloucestershire County Council

1 Attachment

Information request
Our reference: 23630183

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Dear  Jack Roberts
 
Thank you for your request for information received on  19 November 2021 .
 
Please find attached our response to your request.
 
Yours faithfully
Ethan Hawkins
Information Requests Officer
Information Management Service [[email address]]

01452 324000

 
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