Direct Award from CCS GCloud 12 Framework

Description

Access Financials is an upgrade from Access Dimensions our existing FMS for which support was due to be withdrawn. Withdrawal of support for the existing software would have resulted in non compliance with a number of policies. As this is an upgrade procured via review of options and requirements on GCloud 12 the procurement complies with the call off requirements of the framework. Use of the upgrade path means that the platforms share the same data tables, logic and processes. The main changes are the shift to SaaS solution, improved functionality compared with version 2.51e and 2.60 and some cosmetic changes that improve the quality of life for users. Users of Access Financials benefit from automatic upgrades, therefore, CES will always be on the latest version of the software and not be in an extended maintenance position in the future. Access Financials also had MFA and complies with our IT policies. Crown Estate Scotland was informed by Access (provider of financial package) in April 2021 that we are unable to continue our current rolling contract. This is because the software on our current version of Access Dimensions (2.51e) is unsupported by Microsoft and Access are having to put this version on an extended maintenance plan. Following option appraisal it was determined that an upgrade was the only viable solution. Procurement options were considered resulting in the use of the Crown Commercial Services Digital Marketplace to procure.