CONNECT Full Business Case (FBC) Update

The CONNECT programme, formerly know as Met Integrated Policing Solution (MiPs), delivers an integrated core policing IT solution, which will enable the transformation of operational policing services within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). This will be achieved through the replacement of standalone legacy applications and building on the investment already made in mobile devices. It entered delivery following the approval of the MiPS Full Business Case (FBC) in May 2018. The contract was awarded to Northgate Public Services, now known as NEC Software Solutions.

Since Contract Award, the programme has experienced three delays. The first two delays extended implementation by a cumulative 19 months but were able to be funded within the overall approved budget. The 3rd delay (Delay 3) was caused by the impact of Covid-19 as well as the identification of scope and delivery method changes required for the programme to be successfully delivered. Delay 3 has further extended implementation by 14 months and the programme requires additional funding to implement the solution as well as maintain service support until 2028, the full term of the contract.

The programme entered final end-to-end testing of the solution in November 2021 and remains on track to go-live with the first component of the solution in November 2022 and the final element of the product in May 2023.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:

1. Approve additional capital and revenue expenditure for the CONNECT programme of £29.2m, to support the implementation of the solution as well as maintain operational services for the 10 Year Total Cost of Ownership period outlined in the original MiPS FBC from 2018 through to 2028.

2. Note the additional investment is required to accommodate:

a. Changes in scope so as to maintain critical MPS operational capabilities at go-live

b. Changes in programme delivery approach, specifically an increased period of testing to improve and make ready the solution

c. Other impacts due to programme delays incurred to date

d. Addition of risk provisions and some contingency in case of any unforeseen events that may impact delivery time scales.

3. Note that the latest commercial settlement with NEC Software Solutions (required as a result of Delay 3) is nearing completion and falls within the delegated authority of the MPS, as per the arrangements agreed between MOPAC and the MPS.

4. Approve an uplift to the total contract value with NEC Solutions from £44.1m to £65.3m (a 48% uplift) to enable the delivery of the solution within the delivery timescales. This uplift in contract value is well within the original Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) notice and is a foreseen variation to the contract.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. CONNECT, formerly referred to as the Met Integrated Policing Solution (MiPS), is an integrated core policing IT solution, which will enable the transformation of operational policing services within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). This will be achieved through the replacement of standalone legacy applications and building on the investment already made in mobile devices.

1.2. The original MiPS Full Business Case (FBC) received approval in 2018 for investment in delivering and running the CONNECT solution through to 2028. The solution provider, Northgate Public Services (NPS) are now referred to as NEC Software Solutions UK after its rebranding in July 2021.

1.3. Since contract effective date in July 2018, the programme has experienced three delays. The latest delay resulted from Covid-19, primarily the impact on software development in India (offshore software development is provided by a Mumbai-based subsidiary). The subsequent impacts of costs on the programme have been quantified and tested with supplier and delivery partners. This FBC Update requests approval of the necessary additional expenditure and the release of additional funding to enable successful delivery and maintenance of the solution.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. The issues for consideration are contained in the restricted section of the report.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. Total additional capital and revenue expenditure will be £29.2m, to support the implementation of the solution as well as maintain operational services for the 10 Year Total Cost of Ownership period outlined in the original MiPS FBC from 2018 through to 2028.

3.2. Further information is contained in the restricted section of the report.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. MOPAC is a contracting authority as defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015). All awards of public contracts for goods and/or services valued at £213,477 or above must be procured in accordance with the Regulations. This FBC Update confirms the proposed contract modification exceeds this value. Accordingly, the Regulations will be engaged.

4.2. Exercising the option to extend as provided for in the contract is compliant with the PCR 2015. Regulation 72(1)(a) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 permits a modification of a contract irrespective of value, where the modification has been provided for in clear, precise and unequivocal review clauses.

4.3. Regulation 72(1)(a) permits a modification “irrespective of value” but in any event the increased value is still within the parameters of the original OJEU Notice published 6 April 2016.

4.4. Accordingly, a contract variation which extends the contract for any period up to 5 years will be compliant with the PCR 2015 because it is provided for in the contract and is compliant with the PCR 2015.

4.5. The MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (“DMPC”) delegated authority to approve all extensions to contracts with an original value of £500,000 or above, when the extension is greater than 10% of the original value.

5. Commercial Issues

5.1. The uplift required to the contract with NEC Solutions will increase the value from £44.1m to £65.3m (a 48% uplift) to enable the delivery of the solution within the delivery timescales. This uplift in contract value is well within the original Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) notice and is a foreseen variation.

5.2. Further information is contained in the restricted section of the report.

6. GDPR and Data Privacy

6.1. The MPS is subject to the requirements and conditions placed on it as a 'State' body to comply with the European Convention of Human Rights and the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018. Both legislative requirements place an obligation on the MPS to process personal data fairly and lawfully in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of individuals.

6.2. Under Article 35 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Section 57 of the DPA 2018, Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) become mandatory for organisations with technologies and processes that are likely to result in a high risk to the rights of the data subjects.

6.3. DPIA constitutes a complex output given the nature of this programme. An overarching DPIA is in existence and subject to iteration. The main DPIA is further supported by supplementary DPIAs, which outline the impacts of key activities such as data migration, data input, data management and data extraction. Steps continue to be taken to ensure privacy by design. This has allowed the MPS to find and fix problems at the earliest opportunity. However, the CONNECT solution remains a customized off the shelf product and any significant changes to how data is managed and processed within the solution can only be addressed by changes commissioned and enacted by NEC.

7. Equality Comments

7.1. The Information Assurance and Information Rights unit within MPS have been consulted at all stages to ensure the project meets its compliance requirements. An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) is in place and subject to iterative updates. There remains ongoing work between the MPS and NEC to ensure that Assistive Technology requirements are appropriately factored in to the product and any subsequent roll out of the solution.

7.2. There is ongoing detailed work and engagement with all key stakeholders to ensure that the core CONNECT solution as well as the training material currently being completed meets accessibility criteria. Some issues remain outstanding and require further investigation as the programme completes the final end to end testing of assistive technology components.

8. Background/supporting papers

8.1. The Met Integrated Policing Solution (MiPS) full business case was approved in 2018 (PCD 340).