British Telecom awarded four year contract to handle SIA licence applications.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has signed a four year, £23 million contract with British Telecommunications plc. BT will use their Syntegra arm to operate a call centre and process applications for the new national licensing scheme for the private security industry.
BT will be responsible for:
- A national SIA call centre
- Processing of licence applications
- Verifying an applicant’s identity
- Initiating criminal records’ checks
- Producing and dispatching licences.
All decisions on policy and the granting and refusal of licences will remain with the SIA.
John Saunders, Chief Executive Officer of the SIA said:
“I welcome the signing of this important contract with BT. The SIA and BT face a tough challenge to implement the practical process of licensing for the private security industry, but I’m confident that we can work together to achieve a seamless operation.
“We have been through a robust tendering process and our decision to award this contract to BT is based on the quality of their proposal and value for money. All of us at the SIA look forward to working with BT to provide a swift and efficient service to the private security industry. “
The initial implementation phase is expected to take around nine months with the first SIA licences issued in a pilot scheme early in 2004. Door supervisors and wheel clampers will be the first sectors of the security industry to benefit from the new national licence.
Notes to Editors
1. The SIA will manage BT under the terms of a well defined service level agreement. The tendering process has been reviewed by the Office of Government and Commerce and the decision to appoint BT was approved by Home Office Minister Bob Ainsworth.
2. The SIA’s procurement process received ten initial responses of which three bidders were short-listed. BT was awarded the contract at the SIA’s Broadway offices on Thursday 5 June.
3. The overall contract value will depend on the demand for licences but it is expected to be in the region of £23 million (excluding VAT). The contract is awarded for four years with an option of one year’s extension.
4. The timetable for SIA licensing is:
- 2004 Door supervisors and wheel clampers  Â
- 2005 Security guards and keyholders  Â
- 2006Â Security consultants and private investigatorsÂ
5. The SIA will:
- Raise the profile of the security industry
- License individual security employees and to operate an approved companies scheme that will ensure training, recruitment, supervision and quality to conform to SIA standards.
- Keep under review the private security industry and the operation of legislative framework.
- Monitor the activities and effectiveness of those working in the industry.
- Work with key groups within the industry to improve standards of conduct, further develop training and supervision of standards within the industry.
- Ensure SIA licences are carried and displayed.
6. Photographs of John Saunders and Dave Musson, BT, signing the contract are available from the SIA Communications Office.
Issued by the Security Industry Authority Communications Office
Media enquiries only please contact:Robert Buxton020 7227 3643
Steve Sidaway020 7227 3637
For previous press releases: www.the-sia.org.uk/news