The challenge
A utility company had a long-term commercial arrangement with a corporate services provider and wanted to maintain some aspects of their agreement wile discontinuing others, instead of establishing independent contracts.
The business needed to go to market for ICT networks, financial information management systems and HR payroll systems to ensure it was receiving value for money. Furthermore, it’s goal was to gain strategic control over the services and more transparency. The organisation did not have the in-house legal expertise or capacity to manage and see this scope of work through to completion.
Approach
Proximity was engaged to provide legal and commercial advisory services relating to the organisation’s procurement projects regarding ICT services, network services, SIAM, financial information management systems and HR payroll systems. The scope included advising on four open market RFTs, regulatory obligations and contract drafting, conducting a legal review of the suite of RFT documents, and providing strong commercial negotiation support. We also developed non-compliance reports on each respondent and provided ad hoc legal advice to the evaluation committee.
Our approach involved negotiating, in parallel, four different contracts, which involved daily vendor discussions of up to four hours over a three-week period. We reported to the client’s Executive Board regularly, in some cases daily, to discuss and advise on particular negotiation points.
Throughout the engagement, we supported several senior business decision makers and also worked closely with external consultants.
We also advised on the business’s existing contracts.
Our approach was characterised by cost-effective resourcing flexibility, including scaling the team from one to 6 advisors to meet the fluctuating needs of the project.
Value delivered
We supported the four major procurement projects through to contract signing, as well as the renegotiation of the significant retail services contract with its existing commercial partner.
We also took a significant role in developing and negotiating the transition out plan and arrangements with that partner. Proximity is now a trusted advisor to the utility company’s Executive Board and continues to work closely with the client to support them wherever required.
