HC Deb 09 November 1999 vol 337 cc527-8W
Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list those firms approved as registered providers of ICT to schools under the National Grid for Learning. [97771]

Mr. Wills

[holding reply 8 November 1999]: There is no register of firms qualified to provide ICT to schools under the National Grid for Learning. There is a list of NGfL Certified Managed Service Providers who have been awarded Framework Contracts by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTa) for the supply of managed information system services to a wide range of educational bodies. These are:

  • Akhter Computers Ltd.
  • Bull Information Systems Ltd.
  • Centerprise International Ltd.
  • Clifton Reed Consultants Ltd.
  • Comtec Business Systems Ltd.
  • EIS Kent
  • Elonex Plc.
  • Hugh Symons Group Plc.
  • IBM United Kingdom Ltd.
  • Research Machines Plc.
  • Apple Xemplar Education Ltd.
  • XMA Ltd.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the criteria used to determine which firms qualify to be registered providers of ICT in schools under the National Grid for Learning. [97772]

Mr. Wills

[holding answer 8 November 1999]: There is no register of firms qualified to provide ICT to schools under the National Grid for Learning. There is a list of NGfL Certified Managed Service Providers who have been awarded Framework Contracts by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTa) for the supply of managed information system services to a wide range of educational bodies.

The process of awarding these contracts was as follows: Advertising In accordance with the United Kingdom Public Services Contracts Regulations a Tender Notice was placed in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Invitation to Tender The criteria used to select firms to be invited to tender from amongst those submitting a Request to Participate are Economic and Financial Standing and Technical Ability.

Tendering Suppliers submit tenders in response to a statement of requirements which includes minimum technical and service specifications.

Testing of Sample Services Suppliers whose tenders appear to meet the minimum requirements are invited to submit Sample Services for testing.

Supplier Selection The criteria for selection for award of a framework contract are the most Economically Advantageous Tenders in terms of Price, Quality, Aesthetics and Functionality, Technical Merit, Technical Back-up, After-sales Service, Running Costs and Delivery. BECTa is running a competition with a view to awarding further contacts on the basis of broadly the same criteria.