Digital Technology & Methodology (DTM) Implementation Plan

Office for National Statistics (ONS) exists in an increasingly digital world. One in which more data are created at a faster rate than ever before; the rate of technology change is greater and users expect access to services wherever and whenever they want.

Taking advantage of this data revolution at a time of continuing spending pressures means we need to rethink the way that we work; how we assemble and deliver systems and services; and the roles, skills and functions that we perform to enable us to respond rapidly to our users’ and our staff’s expectations for digital communication in an efficient, professional and innovative way. The DTM plan published in July and revised in October, set out our objectives and the underpinning themes to enable DTM to transform internally.

Equally importantly, it also set out the vision to transform the systems (Infrastructure, hardware and applications) and to maintain and develop sound statistical methods upon which ONS depends for the quality delivery of its internal and external products. These two aspects of the plan are two sides of the same coin and neither will succeed without the success of the other.

The related document extends that plan into firm implementation actions. The document covers the creation of the platforms described in the Business Plan and the products (i.e., their constituent modules or software applications) that deliver the features and functions required to satisfy the specific goals of a particular business function that we expect to put in place over the coming period from now until 2020.

(Please see further information in the attachment section of this notice). The ONS as part of the Government Digital Standard will be engaging suppliers mainly through the following Crown Commercial Service frameworks: 1) Digital Outcome and Specialist (RM1043iii); 2) Corporate Software Solutions (RM1042) 3) Network Services (RM 1045) 4) Technology Services; 5) Technology Products; 6) G-Cloud Services The ONS will utilise its e-sourcing portal (In-Tend) for further competition purposes or to dialogue with the above framework suppliers when specific business requirements are required to be procured through the above frameworks. Therefore, interested suppliers are thereby advised to register on our e-sourcing portal (https://in-tendhost.co.uk/ons/aspx/Home) for future correspondence.