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There is a flow chart that goes with this document, which DIS-FORUM doesn't seem to allow to show. If you would like to see it, email me off forum and I will send it to you directly. [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Regards Ian Litterick From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sadie Setchell Sent: 05 November 2015 10:27 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [DIS-FORUM] Changes to the way BIS procures equipment funded by DSAs email: no. 1 Got it this time! From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Simon Jarvis Sent: 05 November 2015 10:20 To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: Changes to the way BIS procures equipment funded by DSAs email: no. 1 I've been advised that this email didn't reach the list when I originally sent it on the 22nd October. I am resending now in two separate emails, as it will be of interest to list members. Simon Jarvis Head of Disability and Dyslexia Service Room FB 2.30 Second floor, Francis Bancroft Building Queen Mary University of London Mile End Road LONDON E1 4NS From: Simon Jarvis Sent: 22 October 2015 13:16 To: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Subject: Changes to the way BIS procures equipment funded by DSAs Further to Ian Litterick's email on this topic on Tuesday, here is the text from the roadmap documents. (The map itself is at the bottom). Ian's original email was as follows: On Monday 5th a group of BATA members met BIS civil servants to be briefed on BIS's Roadmap for equipment procurement which had recently been approved as a "direction of travel" by the Minister. Following the meeting BIS has produced the attached Roadmap document, with time lines of how it is envisaged the three strands will proceed. BIS has asked BATA to circulate this to stakeholders for information and discussion. As this document is quite brief, BATA has produced its own notes, also attached, outlining some of the issues and implications that were raised at the meeting and subsequently. Your comments and questions back to us and direct to BIS are welcome. Please pass it on to your colleagues and constituents. I hope that it will in this way get to DSSG, DSSG-AT, QAG Joint Board, NNAC, IAC, DSA Oversight Group etc. BATA is obviously keen for informed debate, fed back to BIS, as to how this roadmap will support BIS's objective of providing fit-for-purpose Assistive Technology for disabled students. (For information, present at the meeting were: BATA -- Antony Ruck, Chair; Mark McCusker, ex-Chair; Ian Litterick, BATA Council member and ATSP; Jonathan Rouse, ATSP QAG rep; Chris Quickfall, ATSP; BIS: Georgina Watts and Geoff Munn with SLC's Graham Tranter and Amy Hedges in telephone attendance.) Regards Ian Litterick (Vice Chair, BATA DSA AT Solutions Providers Group) 07860 926159 Direct 01223 436680 [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Changes to the way BIS procures equipment funded by DSAs Over the next two years BIS plans to introduce a number of changes to the way DSAs provide assistive software and equipment to disabled students. These changes will not affect the principle of DSAs' funding fit-for-purpose assistive technology which students need to access their Higher Education course. However, they will affect what assistive technology is funded, and the way that this is supplied to students. In practice students should notice very little, if any, difference. This government is committed to making savings, in order to balance the budget, and where possible to do this through making efficiencies. We are reforming DSAs to ensure maximum value for the taxpayer, whilst continuing to ensure that disabled students receive the support they need to access their HE course. Whilst BIS recognises that equipment suppliers have done a lot to be competitive, our analysis suggests that further efficiency savings can be made. Detail of the changes We are planning to make three principle changes to reduce costs and improve pricing transparency: 1. We are introducing suitable student, free and open-source software as the default option * Guidance to assessment centres says that this should already happen; we are not changing policy but tightening its implementation. * Alternative, premium software will only be available under exceptional circumstances. * We are introducing this change straight away, subject to operational considerations with SLC. * Office 365 will be the first of these products introduced. Others are likely to follow. 2. Software and equipment will be bought from frameworks. * These frameworks are accessible to all ATSP who can buy off them on behalf of Government. * The framework price will be the cap price for software and hardware. * We are introducing this change as soon as practicable, subject to operational considerations with SLC. * Over the next few months we will roll out this policy with ATSPs. 3. BIS will tender the ATSP service, to give greater cost transparency, price certainty and sustainability to the market * Once we have clearance from Cabinet Office, we will start engaging stakeholders to communicate our approach. Engagement with existing suppliers BIS welcomes constructive engagement with existing suppliers, to ensure the implementation of centralised procurement achieves best value for money whilst meeting students' needs. ________________________________ Sign up for support and information in our occasional newsletter on "Technology and Dyslexia" at http://www.dyslexic.com/newsletter.asp Saving space & paper - go to http://www.iansyst.co.uk/disclaimer.asp for company info and email terms. www.iansyst.co.uk, www.dyslexic.com, www.re-adjust.co.uk, www.itspc.co.uk 01223 420101