Government goes to market for mobile technology

Today the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) in conjunction with the Ministry for Economic Development (MED) posted a Request for Proposal (RFP) for all-of-government mobile telephony products and services.

Currently, the state sector and local government in New Zealand spend approximately $57million each year on mobile products and services, approximately $8 million of which is hardware, and the rest is voice and data use.

The tender's scope includes the following mobile voice and data services:

* Mobile access and plans for voice calls, data, text messaging, and international roaming.

* Hardware such as handsets, smartphones, other mobile and wireless devices.

* 'Value Added' services such as mobile device management, cost tracking and other innovative solutions.

The tender seeks a wide range of hardware devices to ensure that the state sector's current and future business requirements are met. BlackBerry devices are part of the tender's scope as they are currently the only Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) certified smartphone for public servants sending and receiving classified information.

The Request for Proposal is currently up on the Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS) website, and tenders are due on 18 November 2011. Recommendations are expected to be made before Christmas, and new contracts will take effect in early 2012.

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