A More Equitable CGNET Contract
The CIO, along with members of the IT Community, recently negotiated a new joint CGIAR-CGNET contract that sees existing contract costs reduced by more than US$60,000 per year over the next two years. Following a ‘request for information', contract negotiations were carried out under the watchful eyes of the Internal Audit Unit and administration management representatives from the CGIAR Centers.
Major changes CGNET services are now divided into ‘core' and ‘non-core'. The former covers services such as e-mail, Active Directory and the Virtual Library, all of which are essential if the CGIAR is to operate as one system. The cost of core services is now distributed on a per-usage basis, so Centers are billed for what they use, and not according to the three bands as has been the case so far. All Centers subscribe to these services under one contract managed centrally by the CIO Office.
Non-core services, which include web and voice communications, can be purchased by Centers independently without affecting CGIAR System communications. This separation allowed Centers to ‘shop around' for these services, which account for a large portion of the overall set of services. It should be noted that all Centers decided to continue to procure their non-core services from CGNET.
A frequently asked questionCIO Enrica Porcari is frequently asked: "Isn't it counterintuitive to outsource such services to the US?"
Her answer:
"The CGIAR runs a very complex, dispersed network with some offices challenged by poor connectivity, so our setup does not lend itself easily to ‘commodity outsourcing'. It is not about volume, it is about quality of services coupled with knowledge of what we do. Recently, Centers were asked to name the three most important IT issues facing them today. The answer was consistently: e-mail, e-mail, e-mail. Another question asked them about their biggest challenge. The unanimous answer? Connectivity. When asked what qualities they like most about CGNET, they mentioned things like the company's knowledge of how they work, reliability, competent staff, etc."
But there is yet another reason for subscribing to CGNET's services.
"CGNET is located in an area where connectivity abounds, which helps compensate for some of the connectivity challenges that Centers encounter. When a technology solution is required, it makes more sense to team up with a company located in area where technology is at home."
For more information on the services covered under the new CGNET contract, please contact your Center's IT Manager.
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