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Written question asked by Lord Marlesford (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 April 2024, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 30 April 2024. It was answered by Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 April 2024 on behalf of the Senior Deputy Speaker (HL).

Parliamentary Estate: Telephone Systems

Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker on what date at what cost to public funds the Polycom telephone system was installed on the parliamentary estate, and whether Siemens was invited to tender for this contract.

Answer

The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. In 2016, a procurement process was completed adhering to EU procurement regulations (OJEU) for a unified communications solution to replace the previous telephone system which was end of life and could no longer be supported or maintained. This restricted OJEU process was open to all vendors. Siemens (Unify) made an initial application but were not taken through to stage two of the process to tender.

The cost of the Skype for Business Programme, which included key steps in Parliament’s transition from a copper wire telephone system to Voice over Internet Protocol, was £8.3 million and included the cost of the Polycom handsets currently in use. Implementation of the Polycom handsets began in November 2017.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL3849
Session
2023-24
Subjects
Contracts Telephone systems Parliamentary estate
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk