About the Client
The details have been sent to the client for review, amendment, and, hopefully, agreement.
The Situation
About 20 years ago, the company acquired an HP system running a mixture of systems, primarily built around HP’s then in-house accounting package and a Sales Order Processing system. These had been enhanced by the use of systems developed using Cognos PowerHouse. Subsequently, the company supported and enhanced the existing systems, whilst stand-alone systems also appeared in various parts of the company.
In 2001, HP announced that they were phasing out manufacturing and support for the HP 3000 and were not providing a guaranteed migration route. Before manufacturing ceased, the company bought one of the last systems to be built, and this served the company well. When, several years later, it was announced that maintenance support would cease, at a set date in the future, the company decided to use the intervening period to select replacement systems so that it could transfer at its own pace, not one dictated by outside constraints.
The Work Undertaken
We undertook an assignment, to identify the most suitable system, comprising:
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production of a summary of the requirements for correction or agreement;
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production of a statement of requirements / invitation to tender;
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invitation of tenders from a number of potential suppliers;
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evaluating the tenders and agreeing a short list of two or three suppliers;
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arranging detailed discussions, with each of these suppliers, including demonstrations of their systems;
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agreeing the final choice, and advising on items which should be included in the contract, although not on the adequacy of the legal wording;
