Business continuity report

The project issues
Local Authorities are obliged under the Civil Contingencies Act to have business continuity and disaster recovery plans in place, and business continuity planning is also essential in order to ensure service delivery to the public. Swindon did not have a disaster recovery capability for its ICT business-critical applications and hosting infrastructure and needed to procure a temporary solution prior to an incoming Strategic Partner from the private sector which would provide longer term contingencies. Socitm Consulting was commissioned to help the Council procure a solution that met its interim obligations to provide technical disaster recovery services during this transitional period.

The Socitm Consulting solution
Socitm Consulting undertook a review of the Council’s requirements for ICT disaster recovery, working with both technical staff and officers from the Council’s service departments and established the facilities that would be required in order to provide adequate recovery services.

The Council were provided with advice for the procurement of the disaster recovery solution and the Statement of Requirements for the Tender document. Assistance was also provided with the production of other documents and with the tender process. Socitm Consulting then assisted with the evaluation of the tender responses and selection and appointment of the supplier.

As a result of this process, the Council contracted a supplier to implement ICT disaster recovery facilities, which were subsequently fully implemented.

The benefits to the client
The Council needed to implement a temporary disaster recovery solution in order to fulfil their obligations during a period of major transition for the Council. Socitm Consulting was able to provide a comprehensive assessment of the Council’s requirements and assist in the procurement of suitable facilities. As the Council’s ‘trusted partner’, Socitm Consulting was able to take responsibility for the process and efficiently deliver an appropriate solution on behalf of the client, providing resource at a time when the Council’s ICT staff were fully occupied with the negotiation of the new partnership contract.

Project identification
Client organisation: Swindon Borough Council
Client contact: Barry Thomas, ICT Contracts Manager, 01793 464937, bthomas@swindon.gov.uk
Lead consultant: phil.riley@socitm.gov.uk
Project no: 5723