The Aspire (Capgemini & Fujitsu) contract, was awarded in 2004 for 10 years and then extended under the Columbus review by three years until 30th June 2017. With the Department’s focus on BREXIT, it was felt that they did not have the capacity to handle the changes required to support exit from the EU and the change of supplier for their IT system support and development. As a consequence, current contracts have been extended on a yearly basis.
When HMRC first signalled their intention to disaggregate, QTM were interested in the Test & Release Service. However, realising that an SME was unlikely to win this business on their own, discussions ensued with several SIs around partnering. Those discussions have been ongoing for upwards of two years.
The current target set by the Cabinet Office for Government spend with SME's is 33% by the end of the current Parliament in March 2022
HMRC have stated that it is mandatory for each of the primary contractors to use an eco-system of SME suppliers with a minimum level of revenue (30%) to go to at least three SME's
The eco-system Primary contractors will not be allowed to enter into exclusive arrangements with SME suppliers - providing the opportunity for SME's to work with more than one primary contractor.
