The Link Voice Services - AWARD

The Link Consortium is a public sector consortium within the Sussex region formed of a number of public sector organisations. These organisations include East Sussex County Council (the Host Authority), Brighton & Hove City Council, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and a number of associated District and Borough Council organisations.

The consortium is primarily focused on Information Technology and Communication services, with members all accessing a shared Public Sector Network infrastructure to access a range of services and products.

Previously the Link has offered Voice services through a supplier framework agreement, with several of the Link consortium members (including East Sussex County Council) accessing service contracts through this mechanism. This framework recently ended, so the Link, based on demand from consortium members, is seeking to run a new procurement for a further Voice services framework.

Consortium members are excited by the opportunities offered by new technologies, particularly through the integration with Skype for Business services and features intended to raise automation and efficiency. Consortium members are particularly interested in the migration processes and options, the timescales attached to these activities, and the support that a potential EO can offer in enabling this migration.

For the purpose of this procurement, ESCC is acting as the Lead Partner, although many other public sector partners are expected to purchase services through any eventual framework contract. Each public sector partner that wishes to purchase services will enter into a direct contractual arrangement, under the framework, with the successful EO.