DDSFTW114 - British Computer Society Memberships

A shortage of SQEP (Suitably Qualified Experienced Personnel) still exists in GDD (Government, Digital, Data) & Cybersecurity, so the department continues to promote professional development as a beneficial, rewarding and necessary intervention. The SDR (Strategic Defence Review) has reinforced this need to professionalise the digital workforce. OM (Organisational Membership) with the BCS (British Computer Society) provides a route to professionalisation with the leading professional body for IT (Information Technology) professionals. There is no alternative supplier.

The requirement supports the HDIP (Head of Digital and Information Profession) continuing responsibility for developing Information Capability across Defence, including the alignment to government capability frameworks and industry recognised skill standards.

As a result, the HDIP would like to extend the MOD (Ministry of Defence) OM with BCS for a further 12 (twelve) months. The current contract term expires on the 31st July 2025 and if this is not extended the department will have to revert to an individual memberships model which is significantly more expensive.

There is therefore a need to extend the current OM capability for a further 12 (twelve) months at a membership level of 1,650 (one thousand six hundred and fifty). This includes a committed scope of 1,500 (one thousand five hundred) memberships with the capacity to increase the scope by an additional 10% as a contingency for a further 150 (one hundred and fifty) memberships.

BCS are the globally recognised British Computer Society and are the only chartered institute for IT (Information Technology) who hold a Royal Charter. There are no other professional bodies who offer the same membership support and recognised qualifications. Therefore, there are no other professional bodies that the MOD (Ministry of Defence) can approach for this service as BCS are the exclusive supplier of these specific services.

This contract renewal is to continue the service for MOD Digital professionals as part of their career pathway development with the purchase of 1,650 (one thousand six hundred and fifty) operational memberships in total. In line with wider Defence objections, the MOD are committed to supporting the 1 in 10 (one in ten) professionals being in a digital role and working with BCS to provide networking, specialist interest groups, recognised industry standard, CDP (Continuous Professional Development) and maintaining currency in qualifications.

Absence of competition for technical reasons applies here as there is no reasonable alternative. This also represents an additional repeat purchase of the same services currently supplied by BCS under the extant contract.