DD1375 Data Storage Expansion

1.1 MD1350 outlines and authorises the GLA’s approach to Information Technology (IT) infrastructure service delivery. Supporting the private cloud outlined in MD1350 are a number of current and legacy storage solutions. Rapidly increasing storage demands from the business coupled with rapidly changing market conditions has resulted in short term storage capacity issues and long term cost saving opportunities. As a result the GLA has a requirement to procure additional storage and to conduct a storage review. The expected costs and savings resulting from the storage review are to be confirmed. The total cost for the proposed 12 month expanded storage solution is expected to be up to £74,000 as outlined in section 5 below.

1.2 The 60 terabytes (TB) of storage per site provides additional storage which can be used to support specific projects such as the Safestats initiative as well as other projects. A summary of the Safestats initiative is provided in section 4.3 below.

1.3 The 60TB of storage per site is in addition to any previously procured storage.

2.1 The procurement and implementation of around 60TB of expanded disk at each of the GLA’s two private cloud hosting sites as detailed in this report.

3.1 An equality impact assessment has been carried out. The proposals outlined in this report will result in certain remotely managed IT infrastructure technology being replaced by a different sort of remotely managed IT infrastructure technology and therefore no impact on any individuals with any protected characteristics has been identified.

4.1 This report addresses the GLA Business Plan 2014/15 to 2015/16 priority "Implement measures to strengthen business continuity of services at City Hall". This priority is addressed by working in partnership with TfL and thereby delivering cost savings.

4.2 The proposals outlined in this report contribute to addressing the corporate risk “C2 Business continuity” as outlined in the Corporate Risk Register by providing resilient managed data storage services.

4.3 This storage supports the City Hall general business IT operation, as well as specifically providing additional storage for the expansion of the Safestats crime data hub initiative. ”SafeStats is London’s free data hub for crime analysts and community safety professionals. It hosts data from police, emergency services and other agencies, and it brings that data to life with interactive web-based tools”

4.4 A competition between suppliers for the required solution will be undertaken in accordance with the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code and using a framework contract such as the TfL internal resellers framework, Crown Commercial Services framework or open competition.

5.1 Approval is sought by the Technology Group to conduct a procurement exercise to implement and expand the cloud base data storage at the Greater London Authority.

5.2 The total estimated costs for the procurement of the storage unit and three years’ maintenance cost is £92,000. The purchase of the hardware will be funded from the 2015/16 Technology Group capital budget at a cost of £65,000. Maintenance of the hardware will be funded from the existing Technology Group revenue budget at a cost of £9,000 per annum, with the option to extend for a further 2 years at £9,000 per annum.

5.3 Discussion are ongoing for up to £19,000 of the capital funding for this equipment to come from MOPAC/MPS following a government grant to support expansion of the Safestats crime data hub initiative. This figure covers an increase from £23,000 per 45TB expansion shelf unit to £32,500 per 60TB expansion shelf unit.

6.1 The above sections of this report indicate that:

6.1.1 the decision requested of the Director (in accordance with the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code) falls within the GLA’s statutory powers to do such things considered to further or which are facilitative of, conducive or incidental to the discharge of its general functions; and

6.1.2 in formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought officers have complied with the GLA’s related statutory duties to:

• pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people;

• consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom; and

• consult with appropriate bodies.

6.2 The supplies required must be procured by Transport for London Procurement who will determine the detail of the procurement strategy to be adopted in accordance with the GLA’s Contract and Funding Code.

Officers must ensure that appropriate contract documentation is put in place and executed by the successful bidder and the GLA before the commencement of the supplies.