Changing how 91热爆 Online works with suppliers
As outlined in March鈥檚 Strategy Review, there are changes coming for 91热爆 Online. A proposed 25% cut in spend by 2013, and a rationalisation of 400 websites to make way for fewer, clearly-defined, products will impact audiences and the 91热爆 itself.
External suppliers to 91热爆 Online, critical to the success of the service, will naturally be thinking about what this means for them, and it鈥檚 important that we are clear.
Firstly, from the beginning of November we will be running a 2-month pilot to publish opportunities for 91热爆 Online commissions across all 91热爆 divisions for work costing upwards of 拢20k. We鈥檙e making this change because the industry鈥檚 been telling us that there鈥檚 sometimes confusion about the opportunities available. The system will be more transparent and we will be testing the number and quality of responses we receive.
Secondly, we鈥檒l establish a roster to create a framework for commissioning large-scale, predominately tech-based projects, like the development of mobile apps, user experience and software development.听 The intention is to make the tender process for more sophisticated technical deliverables more efficient.听 Multiplatform commissions continue to be invited via the usual routes and the process is unchanged. This means that anyone wanting to pitch a creative idea to the 91热爆 can still do so 鈥 whether they are pitching a digital concept as part of a TV commission or if they have a pure-web proposal.
We see the roster as a way of making it easier to outsource more tech-based work in the future, not less. Applying to be on the roster will be via an open, EU procurement process. This means that it will be open to all with the necessary skills to apply. The roster will be in place for 2 years, with the option of an extension and we expect there to be approximately 30-40 suppliers to meet our requirements over a range of 鈥渓ots鈥. We do not want to shut the door completely to suppliers who do not get onto the roster this time. To that end, projects worth up to 拢50k will not need to go to roster suppliers. Firms wishing to apply to be on the roster can find out more by visiting the Supplying the 91热爆 website from 5 November.
Lastly, as the digital media industry and our own external advisory group has suggested, our current Approved Suppliers List, with over 350 suppliers on is too unwieldy. There鈥檚 a feeling that this could be decommissioned, but we鈥檒l be reviewing the impact of publication of opportunities mentioned above before making a final decision on this.
It鈥檚 important to note that the dedicated technical roster I mention above does not directly replace the existing approved suppliers list, as has been suggested.听 The publication of opportunities for commission on our site will clarify where the invitations to tender are, regardless of divisions.听 But, the technical roster is there for a very specific type of work.听 This won鈥檛 have any bearing on the routes to multiplatform commissions.
It's also worth reading Erik Huggers鈥 recent blog on the adoption of product management within the 91热爆, which talks about the importance of technology and editorial working hand-in-glove to meet a clearly-defined audience need and ensure the success of the digital products and services that have become part of our daily lives.听
Be in no doubt that the 91热爆 is open for business.听 We hope that these straightforward operational changes for engaging with external suppliers will send a message to the digital sector that far from narrowing opportunity we are committed to broadening the gene-pool of talent to make 91热爆 Online even better for audiences.
Jonathan Kingsbury is Head of External Supply for 91热爆 Future Media & Technology.
Comment number 1.
At 30th Oct 2010, Pete Hewitt wrote:Well I think this is a perfect candidate for Birtspeak 2.0
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 1st Nov 2010, peterdragon wrote:How do you propose to handle small project work costing under 拢20K (or 拢50K)?
My company currently does small pieces of bespoke IT development work and Agile project management for the 91热爆 via the Approved Suppliers List, as do many other small companies.
We can often be more cost-effective and faster to deliver than larger suppliers in our areas of niche specialisation.
Please don't overlook this in your review.
Thanks, Peter Edwards
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 1st Nov 2010, Jonathan Kingsbury wrote:Peterdragon,
I agree that small firms are often highly agile (in their service provision as well as their methodology) and effective.
At the moment, digital suppliers to 91热爆 Online will normally be on our Approved Supplier List. This means doing a quick check on a firm鈥檚 competencies/insurance/financial details before we add it to the list. In some very specific cases we have rosters for very specific work.
The process for work between 拢20k and 拢50k will be fleshed out once we know whether the pilot 鈥渨orks鈥 - ie does the 91热爆 receive a manageable number of higher quality proposals at competitive prices.
For work under this amount though, the 91热爆 would normally engage directly with one or two suppliers to get value for money estimates for the work needed.
Jonathan
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 1st Nov 2010, Karen Johnson wrote:How does this square with the expense and work we had to put in to become an approved supplier in order to be considered for @North a few months ago? Do we have to re-apply?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 3rd Nov 2010, Jonathan Kingsbury wrote:Hi Karen,
The roster will be an open EU procurement process and so you will need to re-register. Sorry.
Jonathan
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)