GC Benefit Realisation Fund for Local Authorities
Government Connect Benefits Realisation Fund Details and Conditions
Objective
The fund is intended to encourage the beneficial implementation of Government Connect across the local authority sector and the sharing of learning and experience.
The aim is to encourage innovation and creativity in relation to the introduction of the secure data sharing capability provided by GCSx and to help accelerate the realisation of the associated benefits.
Fund amount and governance
The Government Connect Programme Board has earmarked £1.5m for the Government Connect Benefits Realisation Fund. Whilst it is anticipated that the whole fund will be distributed to qualifying councils there is no commitment to distribute this money should there be no suitable applications. (footnote1)
IDeA will manage the process for ensuring awards are made appropriately and will chair an Award Committee which includes representation from IDeA, SOCITM and Government Connect to manage the assessment of applications and distribution of funds to councils.
Funds will be distributed to successful councils as grant funding directly from the Department for Work and Pensions which holds the Government Connect budget and is leading the delivery of Government Connect.
Funding will be available in packages of £25,000. However, where the scale of the Qualifying Project is large, they are many participating authorities or the impact of the project across local government is high then multiple awards may be made for a single Qualifying Project.
Awards are not linked to specific project cost items and payment is not dependent on evidence of expenditure by the authority. During the application process the applicant(s) will be expected to demonstrate the project is adequately resourced and governed in accordance with best practice, consistent with the activities being undertaken and anticipated outcomes. Successful applicants will receive 50% of the agreed award immediately; the remaining 50% will be paid when the project achieves its agreed completion criteria.
Payments will not be made beyond the current Fund End Date. The initial Fund End Date is 31 March 2010.
Applicability
The fund is open to applications from all local authorities in England and Wales.
Applications for funds are NOT dependent on councils having completed their Government Connect implementation, though all successful applicants will have implemented a Government Connect GCSx connection prior to completion of their Qualifying Project.
Councils that are subject to Local Government Reorganisation and therefore expected to be absorbed into new Unitary bodies on 31 March 2009 may apply in their own right if their Qualifying Project will complete prior to 31 March 2009. Applications with respect to Qualifying Projects that will not complete until after the council becomes part of a new Unitary body must be either led or endorsed by the continuing authority or by the governance board that is leading the creation of the new Unitary authority.
Qualifying projects
The scope of Qualifying Projects is virtually unlimited and includes both technical and business process projects. Examples of qualifying technical projects might include converting to GCSx e-mail accounts, implementing secure mobile solutions or making cash savings by decommissioning infrastructure made redundant by channelling services through GCSx. Qualifying business process projects might include reforming council services such as; Youth Offending Teams, Trading Standards, Registrar services, Parking and Benefits. The success of all Qualifying Projects will be dependent on the use of the Government Connect provided GCSx network connection.
The Case for Government Connect outlines the business case for Government Connect and some of the opportunities for improving information sharing and service delivery by using GCSx. A more substantial list of potential opportunities suggested by local authorities and captured at the recent Government Connect regional seminars is available here. Government Connect is looking for project proposals that positively seek to implement and develop these opportunities and others like them.
A Qualifying Project does not have to be a new project created specifically for this fund. It is more likely to be a project that has been anticipated by the authority for some time or already underway – especially for those authorities who are well advanced in their implementation of Government Connect.
Qualifying Projects for the initial tranche of funds must plan to complete by 31 March 2010.
It is not expected that an award from the Government Connect Benefits Realisation Fund will provide in its own right the justification for the project in authority terms. Authority led benefits realisation projects will more likely be justified in terms of the benefits provided to the authority.
Qualifying Projects will need to demonstrate that:-
- The project is committed to making the beneficial outcomes repeatable by other authorities.
- The project will produce and make available to Government Connect and IDeA materials including project outlines, business cases, case histories.
- Government Connect (i.e. DWP) and IDeA is free from any impediment to publish and use the materials provided to them about the project.
- The project is prepared to provide Government Connect and IDeA with reasonable access and visibility throughout the life of the project. This will include occasional progress reports, access to project documentation and occasional attendance at project meetings.
Pre-application Engagement with IDeA and Government Connect
The IDeA and Government Connect will be delivering a series of regionally based workshops before the end of the year to help local authorities develop and prepare successful proposals. Further information on these will be provided in due course.
IDeA and Government Connect is keen to engage in informal discussion with authorities prior to the application closing date and welcomes your enquiries. Any discussion with an authority following the submission of an application will be strictly in line with the assessment process described below.
Applications
Written project proposals, endorsed by the local authority 151 officers and CIO/Head of IT, should be sent to the GC.Info@dwp.gsi.gov.uk using the Government Connect Benefits Realisation Fund template.
Assessment of applications
Applications with respect to Qualifying Projects will be assessed by the Award Committee in tranches. The timetable for the first tranche of applications is described below.
Government Connect hopes to make the majority of awards following the first tranche of applications, but this is dependent on a number of factors; most importantly being the quality of the applications received and their fit with the overall objectives of the fund. At this early stage we anticipate at least one further tranche of applications.
Assessment
Applications will be assessed by the Award Committee and scored using the Assessment Criteria provided below.
Following receipt of applications the Award Committee may contact applicants in confidence to discuss their applications and ask for additional information. The Award Committee may also suggest ways in which applications could be strengthened or suggest consolidation with other applications proposing similar projects.
The Award Committee will make a decision on how many awards to make for the then current tranche based on the overall quality of the applications and fit with the scheme objectives.
The final set of applications will be scored and the highest scoring will be made an Indicative Offer. The Indicative Offer may include requirements for additional documentation, such as a Project Initiation Document and will certainly include confirming the formal project completion criteria, which will need to be satisfied in order to release the final payment.
Formal award – Payment of first 50%
Following receipt from the authority of any supplementary documentation the Award Committee will produce a Memorandum of Agreement between DWP and the local authority which embodies the proposal. Once executed by both parties the first 50% of the funds will be released to the authority by DWP.
Payment of second 50%
The second 50% of funds will be paid to the authority when the Award Committee is satisfied the project completion criteria have been achieved. Prior to making its claim for project completion the project team may need to agree with the Award Committee specific measures that will evidence achievement of the project completion criteria.
Assessment criteria
Applications will be assessed by the Award Committee and scored in accordance with the following assessment criteria. Each criterion carries equal weighting.
- The project aims to create new exemplars of best business practice, dependent on Government Connect services, relevant to other local authorities.
- The planned project outcomes are repeatable by other local authorities and the project scope includes activities to help share learning and experience to maximise the business opportunity across local government.
- The project develops partnerships by involving partner organisations. For example, other authorities, Police, PCTs, other central Government departments/agencies and suppliers.
- The project has a strong internal business case, senior sponsorship and stakeholder support. The project has a clear and well articulated vision.
- The project has strong and credible management. It either has or is committed to establishing robust governance arrangements. The project documentation is of good quality. The project has a credible defined delivery approach and plan.
Those projects scoring highest are most likely to proceed to an indicative offer and formal award. Neither Government Connect nor the Award Committee can guarantee how many awards will be made.
Abandoned or delayed projects
Authorities awarded funds for projects that are subsequently terminated for the convenience of the authority or which cannot evidence any material progress within six months of the award may be required to return any funds paid to DWP.
Authorities awarded funds for projects that are subsequently terminated prior to their completion for a cause outside the control of the authority, or which for similar cause cannot complete before the Fund End Date, may make a claim for a final payment. Where justified, at the sole discretion the Award Committee, a final payment may be made.
Continuing projects that do not achieve their completion criteria by the current Fund End Date will be reviewed by the Award Committee. Claims for a final payment will be considered and where justified, at the sole discretion the Award Committee, a final payment may be made.
Timetable
Applications for the first tranche of funding must be received by 14th January 2009. Depending on the volume of successful applications in tranche 1 there may be further tranches of funding beyond February 2009. A timetable for funding beyond tranche 1 will be published nearer the time.
For more information
To print the full letter with details and conditions, please click here
If you require further information please email GC.Info@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
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