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The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) released a consultation paper today (February 23) to invite views from the information technology (IT) industry on the Government's procurement arrangement for IT professional services.
"Given the rapid changes in IT and its service market, it is imperative that procurement of such services should be efficient, responsive and able to provide timely solutions to address the business and operational needs of government departments," a spokesman for the OGCIO said.
The current Standing Offer Agreement for Quality Professional Services 3 (SOA-QPS3) will expire in July 2017. To draw up a new procurement arrangement, the OGCIO is now consulting the IT industry to solicit its views and comments on improvements to the present arrangement.
"The Government also strives to continue fostering the development of the local IT industry, particularly the participation of small and medium enterprises in government IT projects, through the new procurement arrangement."
Over the years, the Government has adopted a bulk supply arrangement for procuring IT professional services. The Government enters into a number of standing offer agreements (SOAs) with suppliers that have been selected through open tendering for the provision of quality IT professional services in different categories. Within the validity period of the SOAs, departments can invite proposals for individual IT projects from contractors in the relevant service categories and select the contractors to undertake assignments based on technical and price assessments. The arrangement enhances efficiency in procurement by sparing departments from going through tendering procedures for each and every acquisition.
Up to December 2015, more than 700 service contracts were awarded under SOA-QPS3 with an accumulated contract value of over $600 million, covering a wide range of services including feasibility studies, systems analysis and design, system implementation, system maintenance, information security and independent testing.
The consultation paper can be downloaded from the OGCIO website at www.ogcio.gov.hk/en/news_and_publications/consultations/. A briefing session on the consultation will be held on March 8. Interested parties may refer to the consultation paper for details.
Comments and suggestions can be sent to the OGCIO by email to qps_consultation@ogcio.gov.hk, by fax to 2574 3670, or by post or by hand to 6/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong. The consultation will end on March 15.
Ends/Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Issued at HKT 10:56
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