ISP or not an ISP, that is the question

Yesterday we attended a pre-PQQ briefing session in Sheffield with the DCSF with several of our agency peers.

The DCSF has decided to seek out an integrated service provider (ISP) capable of delivering and procuring approximately £30million of communications work each year. A fantastic gig if you can get it.

Smaller suppliers like ourselves were encouraged to advertise our wares to potential ISPs, with a view to them outsourcing the work to their own ‘supply chain’ or ‘second tier suppliers’.

That got us thinking – we have some superb account managers and buyers, and we know some pretty buttoned down procurement managers. Is there a gap in the market for a new model to emerge? A mini COI possibly?

Maybe if public sector cuts drive other departments to look into new buying infrastructures, then we should start thinking seriously about it. To mix the metaphor, is there another way for talented agency people to get a piece of the public sector pie in the post-election brave new world?

[Framework Agreement for the provision of services associated with creative media services through a single Integrated Service Provider. Sheffield supplier conference 2nd February]