The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has issued a tender for a new service provider to take over the support of STeP, its online licensing system.
The tender was issued on June 14, in accordance with government procurement rules, as the contract with the current supplier is coming to an end. The SIA is looking to appoint a new supplier with effect from May 2019. The regulator adds that there will be no changes to the core system, which means no changes for users. The new contractor will provide the current service, although they will have a brief to modernise and improve STeP. The tender for the new contract has been sent out to eligible suppliers using a Crown Commercial Service framework.
John Neil, SIA project executive on the STeP re-procurement project, said: “BT, our current supplier, are working with us to ensure a smooth business-as-usual transition. Licence applicants, and individual and business users, won’t see any immediate changes to the SIA’s online licensing and licence management system. However, we are looking to make strategic improvements to the system over time under the new contract.”