§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of the contract being put out to tender for the Government data network; which firms have tendered for the contract; and which firms have been short-listed.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Government data network project is now at the specification stage.
A statement of service requirement will be issued shortly to five consortia:
- Cable and Wireleess with ICL;
- Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) with British Telecom;
- Electronic Data Services (EDS) with Northern Telecom;
- Plessey with CAP;
- Racal Milgo with SCICON.
The consortia have a month to produce proposals. These will be valuated and a shortlist produced. Further and more technical discussions will be necessary to agree memoranda of agreement before tendering and award of contract, which is targeted for September this year.
The early stage of this project and the nature of the procurement leading to a service contract means that a contract value cannot yet be given.