Did a tower model rethink prompt the MoJ to extend its Sopra Steria contract?

MoJ may just be realising that the tower model isn't for the department - after completing most of its transition already

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has extended its Offender Management National Infrastructure (OMNI) contract with digital transformation firm Sopra Steria for a further 12 months.

The department is replacing Steria's OMNI contract as part of the Future IT Sourcing (FITS) programme, which signalled the end of many of the department's legacy contracts, and the introduction of a new "tower" model.

A contract notice states that the "only viable route" from a technical perspective is to enter into a contract with the incumbent supplier for "a period of time in 2016". The maximum term of the contract is 12 months, with the services being scaled down during that term, as it continues to transition to the replacement estate.

But does the extension of the old contract show that the department is struggling to transition to the tower model?

Some background

The tower model has been used by many government departments over recent years, but was last year put under the spotlight when Government Digital Service (GDS) deputy director Alex Holmes claimed that it was not condoned and not in line with government policy and that "rather than its intended goal of changing departments' approach and emphasis, [organisations] have ended up outsourcing their IT, but in pieces - losing the benefits of both outsourcing and multi-sourcing".

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) said it would not use the tower model going forwards, but this didn't stop many departments - including The Met Police, and HM Treasury from adopting it. Ed Garcez, the tri-borough CIO of Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham councils, told Computing that Holmes' interpretation of the tower model was different to what the Tri-borough council had been trying to carry out, and that in his opinion the focus could remain on the user - something which Holmes claimed was impossible in the tower model.

As for the MoJ, it said in February last year that it had awarded nine out of 10 contracts as part of its own tower model, and that the Cabinet Office had approved all of the contracts awarded so far.

An MoJ spokesperson told Computing in March last year that the department liaises closely with GDS and the Cabinet Office in its approach to technology "to ensure it is effective, efficient and complies with government policy".

The spokesperson went on to state:

"Transition to the new model is still in the early stages, and we have no plans to change our approach."

The "new model", the MoJ clarified, was in fact the tower model. It clearly saw the tower model as "new" because it hadn't even finished procuring under the model.

But since then, perhaps Holmes' words have prompted a rethink at the MoJ, as the department is said to be carrying out a review of the FITS programme and therefore the tower model.

According to TechMarketView's Georgina O'Toole, one of the issues is that the transition has taken so long that political priorities have changed over the period. As a result, a "reset" of the programme is expected shortly.

Holmes did try to clarify his criticism of the tower model in a subsequent blog last year, stating that the debate on what exactly defined a tower model highlighted the problem of following specific named models rather than focusing on the substance of what is needed and working out the right way to buy it.

In an email sent to Computing last year, Holmes said: "Organisations need to work out what is right for them based on user needs. This will be different depending on the situation."

TechMarketView's O'Toole believes that the MoJ's current predicament reinforces that view.

"The big take-away must be that ‘one size does not fit all' when it comes to ICT procurement models. The suitability will depend on a variety of factors such as the size of the organisation and the complexity of its ICT requirements, the political landscape, and the organisational culture. We perceive a shift in central government - giving more ‘power' back to the departments and agencies in deciding what is best for their organisation," she said.

"If the MoJ experience is anything to go by, when it comes to deciding on the best ICT procurement model, this is a positive direction of travel," she added.

It remains to be seen whether the MoJ will decide to move away from the tower model, even at this late stage, but if it does, it will be the biggest indication yet that the tower model is definitely not for every organisation.