Separate service integration from service provision
If a supplier has a contract for service provision, it must not also do the service integration for that service
To meet this commitment as part of Digital and Data function’s strategic commitments your plans must show how you will avoid your service integrator also providing services for the same area.
Government must encourage competition by not purchasing a service and service integration through the same framework. If a supplier has a contract for service provision, it must not also do the service integration for that service.
Service integration is the management of service providers. It makes sure that performance meets user needs across a portfolio of multi-sourced goods and services. This means that a supplier providing service integration should not manage its own performance.
Some parts of service integration should be done by government organisations in-house, and there may be occasions when everything can be done in-house. Other government organisations may combine in-house support for end to end operation and then buy in specific services where needed.
When defining the approach to service integration, you should carry out a robust insource and outsource benefits analysis.
If you’re going through the spend control process you must explain how you’re meeting this commitment if your spend request has been rated high on the Risk and Importance Framework or has an assurance rating of control.
Answering ‘no’ will not lead to an automatic rejection and you will need to explain why your spend cannot align to the commitment.