NCC calls for standards skills
IT suppliers advised to get up to speed on interoperability
The National Computing Centre (NCC) is advising IT suppliers to get up to speed on interoperability standards if they wish to compete for the billions that will be spent on joining up government services through IT.
The NCC has been appointed by the Office of the e-Envoy to operate the e-Government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF) Accreditation Authority Programme.
Daniel Dresner, standards manager at the NCC, said: "It is absolutely essential that (suppliers) pay strict attention to these standards and ensure they have staff that have the skills.
"If you have a choice between a supplier that meets the standards and another that does not, it is obvious who will be chosen."
Steve Reynolds, managing director of Civica, said the VAR is already looking at the accreditation.
"It prevents unaccredited suppliers from competing. Once you are through, business takes off," he said.