U.K. agency updates model contract for IT services

A United Kingdom government agency is updating and distributing the latest version of its widely used, comprehensive model contract for public-sector information technology procurements.

The Office of Government Commerce has just published Version 2.3 of the Information Communication Technology Model Services Agreement and Guidance for use in large and complex IT projects, the agency said in an Aug. 13 news release.

The new version contains significant updates in the areas of managing cybersecurity challenges and concerns related to the financial health of the contractors and subcontractors, agency officials said.

"The success of projects or programs requiring [IT] support depend upon those services being contracted in the most appropriate and efficient way, and the [IT] model contract that we have developed with industry bodies and other stakeholders can provide a great deal of assurance,” said David Shields, program director for the government commerce agency.

Version 1 of the model contract, first released in 2004, has been widely used in the U.K. public sector.

Additional guidance is available on IT open-source activities, carbon reduction and best practices in contract management.