St Helena : St Helena - Outsourcing – What’s new?
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Juanita Brock) 10.10.2007 (Article Archived on 24.10.2007)
Projects in the first round of SHG’s Outsourcing Programme will shortly be advertised.
Press Release
Outsourcing – What’s new?
Projects in the first round of SHG’s Outsourcing Programme will shortly be advertised. This is a pilot phase and projects will include the Sawmill, maintenance of Francis Plain and the grounds at Prince Andrew, St Paul’s and Harford schools, and provision of a laundry service for the Public Health and Social Services Department.
Susan O’Bey, Contracts and External Services Manager said: “Results of initial market testing have been good; there has been interest shown from both the local private sector and from offshore. It is planned that these services will be handed over to the private sector before the end of the current financial year.”
She added “The second round of the pilot phase is likely to commence in December and will include the management of the Castle Gardens, currently carried out by the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, and providing a cleaning service for the Public Health and Social Services Department.”
The outsourcing process includes a number of stages which will be followed for each outsourcing:
Stage one - Prequalification
A public notice will be issued inviting individuals and organisations to seek permission to tender for the advertised service. A pack containing information about the service and a Prequalification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be given to all who express an interest at this stage.
Stage two - Invitation to tender
Completed questionnaires will be evaluated against previously agreed criteria. Those individuals and/or organisations which qualify will be invited to tender. Tenderers will be required to submit a business plan for the services and give evidence of their financial capacity to successfully carry it to fruition. Tenderers will be required to meet a deadline set by the St Helena Government’s Tender Board.
Once all tenders have been received, they will be evaluated and a preferred tenderer (service provider) will be selected. The Department concerned will then negotiate with the preferred tenderer and a contract will be signed.
Stage three – Service Transfer and Contract Management
The service will be transferred to the new provider. SHG will monitor the service provision to ensure that the service standards are being maintained and that the terms of the contract are being upheld. This will be done in a variety of ways and could include site visits or regular progress meetings between the Service Provider and the Client; SHG. The Service Provider may also be asked to submit monthly or quarterly progress reports.
Stage four – Evaluation and Feedback
The outsourcing process and service provision will be closely monitored and the Head of Department will provide feedback to the Contracts and External Services Manager about the strategy, policy and procedures for outsourcing. In this way there is continuous improvement in the whole process.
Commencement of the St Helena Government’s Outsourcing programme follows Executive Council’s approval of the Outsourcing Plan, Policy and Procedures. Outsourcing is considered important by SHG, as it provides an opportunity to transfer a number of Government functions to the Private Sector. This enables the private sector to develop and at the same time helps to reduce the foot print of SHG as was agreed between SHG and Her Majesty’s Government when the Aide Memoire was signed earlier this year.
Public Relations/Information Office
Office of the Chief Secretary
10 October 2007
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