The Aspire contract between HMRC and Capgemini is the Government’s largest technology contract, which has cost some £7.9 billion over the last ten years and generated profits for the suppliers of some £1.2 billion. This contract is due to expire in 2017, at which point HMRC must move to a new contracting model with many short-duration contracts with multiple suppliers. The Committee held an inquiry into managing and replacing the Aspire contract in October 2014 and expressed little confidence in HMRC’s ability to successfully achieve this transition by 2017.
The Committee were particularly concerned that HMRC did not yet have a detailed business case for the change. In its evidence, HMRC said it expected to publish the business case in the spring, leaving two years to engage the market, recruit the skills, and procure and manage the transition of the services it will need before the existing contract expires in 2017. This recall session will examine that business case and progress made by HMRC in addressing other concerns raised by the Committee.
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