Welcome to Government Connect
The Government Connect (GC) Benefit Realisation Fund
The GC Benefit Realisation Fund is £1.5m and is intended to encourage the beneficial implementation of Government Connect across the local authority sector and the sharing of learning and experience.
The aim is to encourage innovation and creativity in relation to the introduction of the secure data sharing capability provided by GCSx and to help accelerate the realisation of the associated benefits.
14th January 2009 is the closing date for applications for the first tranche.
Bids received by this date will be evaluated against set criteria and monies distributed accordingly. Bids will still be accepted after 14th January for any funds still remaining.
The Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA) manages the awards selection process and will chair an Award Committee to include representatives from IDeA, the Society of Information Technology Management (Socitm) and Government Connect.
Funding will be available in packages of £25,000. However, where the scale of the Qualifying Project is large, they are many participating authorities or the impact of the project across local government is high then multiple awards may be made for a single Qualifying Project.
Applicants will need to demonstrate that their proposed project is adequately resourced and governed in accordance with best practice, consistent with the activities being undertaken and the anticipated outcomes. In addition they must demonstrate that the initiative is repeatable across local government and that they will act as an exemplar to others by sharing knowledge and learning from the project.
Examples of qualifying projects:
Whilst the success of all Qualifying Projects will be dependent on the use of the GCSx network connection, local authorities do not have to have a live connection to GCSx at the time they apply.
The scope of Qualifying Projects is virtually unlimited and includes both technical and business process projects. Examples of qualifying technical projects might include converting to GCSx e-mail accounts, implementing secure mobile solutions or making cash savings by decommissioning infrastructure made redundant by channelling services through GCSx. A more substantial list of potential opportunities suggested by local authorities and captured at the recent Government Connect regional seminars is available here.
For more information, click here or see the IDeA website at http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=9053289
Or contact: Steve Locker
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