The UK’s Data Protection Registrar is outsourcing its IT services to ICL’s CFM Group Ltd subsidiary in a seven-year deal worth between 3m pounds and 4m pounds. Adhering to Private Finance Initiative principles, the Registrar advertised the contract, inviting tenders across Europe, and the shortlist comprised ICL and IBM. IBM managed the Registrar’s mainframe database for several years. As from October 1, ICL will run all aspects of IT, including the database, which was migrated from the mainframe to the local area network by IBM. The registrar’s inhouse staff are expected to transfer to ICL under TUPE transfer of staff legislation. Mike Duffy, Director of Personnel and Finances says: We are not an income generating body but the deal adheres to PFI principles. Whoever won the deal, had to be ready to carry some risks for financial benefit. For instance, if they do our printing more cost-effectively, they generate savings which are shared… and with the new data protection act coming in next year, we expect them to handle all new development work.
