Govt infocomm-tech tenders worth billions open to SMEs

Singapore

THE government will award between S$2.5 billion and S$2.7 billion worth of info-communications and technology (ICT) contracts in FY2019, which runs from April 2019 to March 2020.

More than 80 per cent of these contracts will be open to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), said Singapore's Government Technology Agency (GovTech). Currently, SMEs can only tender for contracts of up to S$5 million in value.

Over 60 per cent of the ICT contract value will go towards furthering the development of five platforms that are key to meeting the outcomes of the Digital Government Blueprint, which sets out the digital transformation targets for the government to achieve by 2023.

One of the platforms is the National Digital Identity (NDI), a trusted digital credential with which users can transact with the government and businesses. GovTech said on Tuesday that under the NDI, an application programming interface (API) will be launched by the end of this year for businesses to perform secure identity verification and data transfer through Quick Response (QR) scanning. The API, called SG-Verify, will make customer acquisition less of a hassle for businesses, said GovTech.

Without it, businesses - say, banks or telcos taking part in road shows - would have to ask customers to fill out a form of personal particulars, which may involve a lot of manual work and documents.

Through SG-Verify, users simply scan a QR code using their SingPass mobile app. Items of personal information required by the business will then be displayed, and the user then authorises the transfer of the data. SG-Verify is likely to also benefit charity organisations, hospitals and buildings that require visitor registration for access.

Another platform is the Smart Nation Sensor Platform, a nation-wide sensor platform that collects, shares and analyses data so that public agencies respond better to the needs of citizens. Under this, the government will launch a pilot for smart street lamps in Geylang and one-north sometime between October and December. The trial will test the efficacy of using lamp posts to provide connectivity to and power various kinds of sensors, such as those for monitoring air quality, noise and personal mobility devices.

The three remaining platforms to be further developed are: the Singapore Government Technology Stack, a technology stack that enables public agencies to develop and deploy digital services quickly and securely; Moments of Life, an integrated platform of different government services relevant to each citizen's stage of life; and the Adaptive Digital Workplace, a digital platform for public officers to collaborate better with one another.

GovTech has also been working with the Ministry of Finance to streamline and introduce new procurement methods for ICT contracts.

This includes dynamic contracting in upcoming bulk tenders, allowing new suppliers and requirements to be introduced during the contract period. This will help to increase efficiency in procurement by meeting rapid changes in tech and supply chain, said GovTech.

The agency has also put in place a co-development model, through which a panel of qualified partners with proven track records co-develop parts of projects with GovTech teams.