Update on the national M-STAR project, July 2010.

M-STAR, the Managed Service for Temporary Agency Resources framework, has been commissioned by the Local Government Professional Services Group (LGPSG). MSTAR will be national framework for managed services for agency workers. Covering supply for both local government and education, it is anticipated that this framework will be available from January 2011; we are aiming to post an OJEU notice in August 2010.

Consultation is underway to ensure that organisations considering using this framework have a chance to feed into the scope and specification, to be assured it will meet their needs. A series of workshops have been held with attendance from around 15 local authorities, plus education representatives.

A Virtual consultation group has also been created, with representatives from another 14 organisations feeding into development of the framework model, scope and specification.

There are still opportunities to become involved in the development and letting of the framework, as follows:

Virtual Wider Working Group:
This group is for organisations who are intending or seriously considering this framework as their primary option and wish to ensure it meets their needs. The VWWG are issued with documentation, and asked to return comments, feedback, issues etc within a fixed timescale (usually 7-10 days) for these to be incorporated as far as is feasible.

Wider Stakeholder Group:
This group is for organisations who may consider this framework as an option in the future, and wish to receive updates as to progress. Input from this group is therefore based around reviewing and commenting on final documentation.

How to get involved
If your organisation would like to take part in developing and using this framework, please email professionalservices@ogc.gsi.gov.uk as soon as possible.

Supplier Engagement
A PIN has been posted to place the market on alert. This can be viewed at http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:70830-2010:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0. A supplier briefing session will be arranged to obtain market feedback prior to the OJEU being posted. Once the OJEU is posted, bidder briefing sessions will be arranged.

Queries from interested potential suppliers should be directed to Kate Shaw, Group Buyer, ESPO (0116 294 4007 or k.shaw@espo.org)

Got a question?
Local Government:
Contact Olivia Thomson, Commercial Delivery Manager, OGC (0207 271 2813 or olivia.thomson@ogc.gsi.gov.uk)

Or contact your LGPSG Representative:
www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/LGPSG_Contacts.pdf  

Education:
Contact Paul Snook, Department for Education (formerly DCSF) (0207 340 8361 or paul.snook@education.gsi.gov.uk)

More about the M-STAR project
This framework is being let by ESPO on behalf of the Local Government Professional Services Group (LGPSG), with input direct from local authorities, the Department for Education (previously DCSF), the Regional Improvement and Efficiency partnerships (RIEPs) and OGC.

For updates, go to http://www.ogc.gov.uk/managedservicecontract.asp