Your views on the proposed new Government Procurement Service Framework

The AGI was recently sent a letter by a commercial member, Informed Solutions, regarding the proposed new Government Procurement Service Framework agreement.

This agreement is expected to replace the now lapsed Catalist framework which ended in late 2011 and is an area of interest that the AGI and its members have been closely following.

The letter expresses a number of concerns with the proposed Terms & Conditions, including their length, complexity, the potential onerous burden that they could put on commercial suppliers and the deterent effect that may have in particular for SMEs. An outcome which may not best serve the public sector buyer. To quote the letter, it states:

"The current proposed terms seem appropriate only for the very largest, multi-million pound contracts and would therefore require significant commercial effort and legal resources to ‘downsize’ for the vast majority of contract awards. This burden, on both suppliers and potential customers alike, is likely to significantly restrict the use of the framework to the detriment of all."

Following this Informed Solution's have articulated a number of suggestions that they are happy to share with the AGI membership. The letter is available HERE to view. 

The AGI would welcome any views on the subject from other AGI members to help form an AGI response, if required, to the Government Procurement Service, (for which we have established points of contact). Please send any views of the matter by email to: chris.holcroft@agi.org.uk

Chris Holcroft, AGI Director & CEO

Amendment to UK GEMINI2.1 proposed

A minor amendment is proposed to the metadata specification UK GEMINI2.1. This is based upon experience of the UK Location Programme Metadata Working Group in implementing a national geospatial metadata service. This amendment is published for comment. For details see here.

UK GEMINI is a specification for a set of metadata elements for describing geospatial data resources for discovery purposes. It has been produced and is maintained by the AGI Standards Committee. It is a free of charge resource provided by the AGI for the benefit of the GI community.

Academic bursaries for AGI GeoCommunity '12

The AGI is delighted to once again offer a number of academic bursaries to enable academic staff and postgraduate researchers who supply paper abstracts of outstanding quality to attend AGI GeoCommunity '12 at reduced rates.

This is an excellent opportunity to engage with GI professionals from all sectors and a superb showcase for academic research in an applied setting.

Paper abstracts are collected using an easy-to-use online system and the deadline is 25th April 2012.

For all the details, please click HERE.

More about AGI GeoCommunity 

AGI GeoCommunity '12: Sharing the Power of Place will be held at East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham on 18 - 20 September 2012.

AGI GeoCommunity is the largest and most comprehensive independent conference in the UK digital mapping and geospatial calendar. The conference provides real insight and leadership in current geographic information and location based issues via a range of keynote addresses and conference papers as well as by hands on training and face to face delegate networking.

The AGI GeoCommunity series has a proven reputation as a 'must-attend' event for a range of service delivery managers and information management and technology professionals. Previous delegates and speakers have been drawn from Central and Local Government, Utilities, Health, Emergency Services, Infrastructure, Insurance, Marketing, Business Intelligence, Finance and Technology sectors.

AGI GeoCommunity '12 will open on the 18th September with the popular pre-conference 'Icebreaker' evening event and offer two full days of thought leadership, practical education, knowledge transfer and real world best practice and case studies.

AGI GeoCommunity ‘11 attracted 450 delegates. The residential format, introduced in 2007, is now well established and the event has proven its growth and sustainability. Feedback from last year’s delegates indicated that 97% of those polled thought the event offered value for money and 89% felt it fulfilled their expectations. 97% said the venue was ‘good’ or ‘excellent. A full report of delegate feedback is available on the AGI website.

AGI GeoCommunity '12 will also offer a select number of sponsorship spaces to showcase new products and services and network with delegates both at the sponsors' exhibition pods and in the conference sessions and social events. Prices are frozen for existing sponsorship packages and a new category has been created for Small Business and Education Members, plus companies that are AGI members can get additional booking discounts. The conference format will offer our sponsors an unrivalled opportunity to meet and network with the key practitioners and influencers across government and the commercial sectors.

AGI GeoCommunity Website: www.agigeocommunity.com

More sponsors for AGI GeoCommunity '12

The AGI is delighted to announce a number of new, early sponsors for this year's AGI GeoCommunity Conference.

Ordnance Survey have once again taken Platinum Sponsorship. This is the premier level of support for AGI GeoCommunity and matches Ordnance Survey's contribution to all previous years of the AGI running this event.

Taking Silver Sponsorship packages are Snowflake Software, GGP Systems, UNIGIS and the UK Location Programme. 

"At this early stage in preparing for AGI GeoCommunity '12 it is marvellous to see not only early support from a range of leading suppliers' and initiatives in our sector, but also in all cases these are returning sponsors from previous years. I cannot emphasise the importance of this support enough. It allows the AGI to keep costs down for all delegates and the presence of these sponsors enriches the event considerably. The AGI is extremely grateful for this support and hopes all the sponsors have a productive and rewarding conference", said Chris Holcroft, AGI Director and CEO.

These sponsors now join Esri UK (Platinum Sponsor) and Leica Geosystems (Silver Sponsor).

As before Silver, Gold and Platinum sponsorship options are available. But new for 2012 is a Bronze package especially designed for members of the AGI from the Small Business and Education categories.

Sponsor prices are frozen at 2011 rates and AGI Sponsor and Corporate members can get discounts on Silver, Gold and Platinum options.

In 2011, nine out of 10 sponsors said that sponsoring AGI GeoCommunity was "good value" or "very much so".

Sponsorship details can be seen HERE.

More about AGI GeoCommunity 

AGI GeoCommunity '12: Sharing the Power of Place will be held at East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham on 18 - 20 September 2012.

AGI GeoCommunity is the largest and most comprehensive independent conference in the UK digital mapping and geospatial calendar. The conference provides real insight and leadership in current geographic information and location based issues via a range of keynote addresses and conference papers as well as by hands on training and face to face delegate networking.

The AGI GeoCommunity series has a proven reputation as a 'must-attend' event for a range of service delivery managers and information management and technology professionals. Previous delegates and speakers have been drawn from Central and Local Government, Utilities, Health, Emergency Services, Infrastructure, Insurance, Marketing, Business Intelligence, Finance and Technology sectors.

AGI GeoCommunity '12 will open on the 18th September with the popular pre-conference 'Icebreaker' evening event and offer two full days of thought leadership, practical education, knowledge transfer and real world best practice and case studies.

AGI GeoCommunity ‘11 attracted 450 delegates. The residential format, introduced in 2007, is now well established and the event has proven its growth and sustainability. Feedback from last year’s delegates indicated that 97% of those polled thought the event offered value for money and 89% felt it fulfilled their expectations. 97% said the venue was ‘good’ or ‘excellent. A full report of delegate feedback is available on the AGI website.

AGI GeoCommunity '12 will also offer a select number of sponsorship spaces to showcase new products and services and network with delegates both at the sponsors' exhibition pods and in the conference sessions and social events. Prices are frozen for existing sponsorship packages and a new category has been created for Small Business and Education Members, plus companies that are AGI members can get additional booking discounts. The conference format will offer our sponsors an unrivalled opportunity to meet and network with the key practitioners and influencers across government and the commercial sectors.

AGI GeoCommunity Website: www.agigeocommunity.com

BIS announces the Data Strategy Board

Quoting from information recieved from the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS):

The private sector and the open data community are to have greater influence over the release of public sector data to encourage the creation of high-value businesses and promote economic growth, the Government announced today.

A new independently chaired Data Strategy Board (DSB) will advise Ministers on what data should be released and has the potential to unlock growth opportunities for businesses across the UK. At least one in three members of the DSB will be from outside government, including representatives of data re-users.

The DSB will work with the Public Data Group (PDG) – which consists of Trading Funds the Met Office, Ordnance Survey, Land Registry and Companies House – to provide a more consistent approach to improving access to public sector information. These organisations have already made some data available, which has provided opportunities for developers and entrepreneurs to create imaginative ways to develop or start up their own businesses based on high quality data.

The Government is making £7m available from April 2013 for the DSB to purchase additional data for free release from the Trading Funds and potentially other public sector organisations, funded by efficiency savings. An Open Data User Group, which will be made up of representatives from the Open Data community, will be directly involved in decisions on the release of Open Data, advising the DSB on what data to purchase from the Trading Funds and other public organisations and release free of charge.

SMEs in particular will benefit from the new structure announced today and the easier access to data it supports. The real-time weather observation and forecast datasets made available for the first time by the Met Office in November are an example of the kind of data that will promote the creation of high-value businesses, while widening the marketplace and empowering the individual citizen.

Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts, who will be jointly responsible for DSB, said:

"The Data Strategy Board will play a vital role in expanding the opportunities for economic growth from the data and services provided by the Public Data Group but potentially from other parts of the public sector. 

“Already data is being interpreted in creative and innovative ways and I will be challenging the board to widen the net in finding new opportunities for the private sector and the public to take advantage of public sector information. I look forward to listening to their ideas and seeing how they are interpreted by the public."

Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude, who will be jointly responsible for the DSB, said:

“This government is a world leader in open data and transparency. We’ve already released over 40,000 data files on data.gov.uk, and this has helped create high-value businesses of real social benefit in the fields of health, transport and weather.

“The new structure for Open Data will ensure a more inclusive discussion, including private sector data users, on future data releases, how they should be paid for and which should be available free of charge.”

Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs, Norman Lamb, who will be advised by the PDG, said:

"The organisations in the Public Data Group are world leaders with a wealth of information at their finger tips. By bringing them together as the Public Data Group they will work collaboratively to identify and deliver better and more efficient public services. I'm confident that these organisations will work together to create positive impacts across the economy and I look forward to seeing the results."

The DSB will provide evidence on how data from the Trading Funds – including what is released free of charge – will generate economic growth and social benefit. It will act as an intelligent customer advising Government on commissioning and purchasing key data and services from the PDG, and ensuring the best deal for the taxpayer.

This new arrangement will balance the need for more data free at the point of use, while still affordable and providing value for the taxpayer.

For more information please see: http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/growth/growth-review-implementation/releasing-reference-data/data-strategy-board