Assembly business could be put at risk by failings in ICT contract

The long-term success of the contract to provide ICT and business change services for the Assembly is at risk because of the variable quality of service it provides, according to a new Audit Committee report. The report on the Merlin contract, published today (Wednesday September 13) says that the procurement of the contract was well-managed, with clear accountability and leadership of the project. However, integrated IT and telephony equipment and new software was to be provided for all users within the first eighteen months of the contract (known as the transformation project), and there has been significant slippage: the roll-out of new equipment is now due to be completed by September 2006, fifteen months later than originally planned.   Assembly Government officials admit that they underestimated the risk associated with slippage in the transformation project and the Committee is very concerned that this now represents a serious risk for the Assembly’s business. In addition to this slippage, ICT service standards have not always been met and the contract does not meet the needs of Assembly Members. The report makes a number of recommendations relating to future procurement exercises and improving the performance of the Merlin contract. Janet Davies AM, Chair of the Audit Committee, said: “We are very concerned that the standard of ICT services is not yet providing the quality of service that Merlin users have a right to expect.  The separation of the Assembly Parliamentary Service from the Welsh Assembly Government in April 2007 provides an opportunity to develop new service standards which reflect the needs of AMs and their staff, and it is important that this opportunity is fully exploited.”