CCTA, the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency, has launched the Government Telecommunications Contracts (GTC) Services.

GTC is a series of framework contracts for the provision of telemetric infrastructure services. Predominantly based on telecommunications and value added network services, these frameworks provide the benefits of aggregated procurement power to obtain value for money and the provision of services under government terms and conditions.

GTC Services are currently arranged in 15 Service Categories, including network services such as WAN, LAN, PSTN, Cabling, Mobile, Paging and Internet services. In addition there are value-added services such as Maintenance, Network Management, Video-conferencing, Bureau (including call centres), E-commerce, EDI, News and Web hosting services. To ensure a long term strategic approach the suppliers and service categories will be refreshed periodically.

GTC is a Modern Procurement for Modern Government. The government's Modernising Agenda has set a wide range of challenges for the whole of the public sector. This major change programme will increase need for the telemetric services that lie at the heart of modern business systems. In the public sector the increased tempo of both technical and commercial change requires a more flexible approach to the procurement of telemetric services. GTC contracts can deliver the infrastructure on which government will be modernised.

How does GTC work?

CCTA has invited Service Providers to enter into Framework Agreements. After the completion of contractual formalities CCTA will have concluded the procurement process from advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Communities and pre-qualification, to selection of contractors. Once they have signed a Code of Practice, all public sector contracting organisations may enter a Service Provision Agreement with one or more GTC Contractors.

All public sector contracting organisations will have access to the GTC Register of Services which will be arranged to reflect the 15 Categories and underlying Sub-Categories. Using the Register of Services, they may identify service providers for standard services, for services which cross-cut the main categories, and for specific variations in services and tariffs unique to their requirements.

Key GTC concepts

GTC enables Multi-Vendor Competitions that allow public sector contracting organisations to have a choice of the best GTC Service Provider to meet their requirement. As GTC Service Providers are not obliged to provide services in every category they can concentrate on delivering and bidding for what they excel at.

GTC encourages Inter-working for GTC Service Providers to work together, when contracted, to deliver end to end solutions and seamless communications internally and between different parts of the public sector. This will encourage joined-up services throughout the public sector.

What are the benefits of using GTC?

Public sector contracting organisations that utilise GTC Services will benefit from the provision of services under government terms and conditions and obtain value for money from aggregated procurement power. In addition use of GTC Services reduces the complexity and cost of procurement. Using GTC should more than halve procurement timetables.

Telephone:
(GTN 3040 4878)
Fax:
(GTN 3040 4755)
Email:
CCTA - Rosebery Court, St Andrews Business Park, Norwich, NR7 0HS
CCTA - Steel House, 11 Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NF
CCTA Reception Telephone:
General Fax:
Email: info
Website: www.ccta.gov.uk