Four Companies Shortlisted To Deliver Services In Buckinghamshire

The Buckinghamshire Pathfinder project to develop Shared Support Services for five local authorities has chosen the companies who will go forward to the next stage of the procurement process.

The Pathfinder Shared Support Services partnership, which includes Aylesbury Vale District Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority, South Bucks District Council and Wycombe District Council, agreed at its Board meeting on Thursday to select four companies to go forward to the next stage.

Senior Managers from partner authorities evaluated initial submissions from bidders. Trade Union and Staff representatives were also provided with copies of the workforce-related elements of these initial submissions from bidders and invited to submit their comments. All comments received were carefully considered before the Board made its final decision on who should be shortlisted.

The shortlisted companies are:

• British Telecommunications,
• Capita Business Services,
• IBM United Kingdom and
• Mouchel.

What happens next?
These four companies will now be invited to meet with representatives of the Partner authorities and to submit their outline proposals by 17 November. Trade Union and Staff representatives will also be invited to attend a meeting with shortlisted companies in October. The final decision on which of these four will be awarded a contract is expected in Autumn 2010, following the evaluation of detailed proposals from bidders. The services they will be asked to provide include Finance, Human Resources, ICT and Property Services & Facilities Management.

Nick Cave, Pathfinder Director said "Selecting the four companies to go forward to the next stage is an early but important step towards delivering significant efficiencies in back-office services in support of those services delivered direct to the public".