- Post office to find external software and service providers to replace Horizon
- The horizon of Fujitsu obtains an extension of one year due to the delays
- Horizon / nbit replacements to cost 492 million pounds sterling
The post office abandons its internal efforts to replace the horizon system controversial with the new IT branch (NBIT) system previously announced, turning rather to external suppliers for an appropriate option.
As part of the new supply plan, worth 492 million pounds sterling, the post office requests a replacement service provider for 322.8 million pounds sterling and a software supplier, to which he will grant a contract of 169.2 million pounds Sterling.
The announcement, published on the government’s website, occurs about four years after the post office revealed for the first time NBIT plans after a general controversy concerning its outgoing system, which has just received an extension.
The post office wants external suppliers to build it a new system
Introduced in 1999 and developed by ICL and Fujitsu, the Horizon system led to a large-scale court error, with defective accounting software leading to the false prosecution of hundreds of subposters. More than 60 people died before becoming justice and a public inquiry is still underway.
Fujitsu has obtained contracts totaling 2.44 billion pounds sterling since 1999, and with the post office confirming that Nbit would not arrive by March 2025, Fujitsu received an additional year to continue to provide to the post office with its Horizon software.
The first of the two lots focuses on the migration of data centers to the cloud, including the introduction of a native cloud platform with improved reports and zero-frust safety architecture. It is proposed as a five -year contract, from June 2026 to June 2031, and is worth 322.8 million pounds sterling. Two one year extensions could do so until June 2033 if it deems it necessary to “ensure that key transformations and transitions have ended”.
The second batch, a longer contract of 129.2 million pounds sterling, will see a third party providing a platform for a modular retail sale and hosting the cloud, including self-service, collection / deposit and mobile point of sale. Two one -year optional extensions are also available.
A spokesperson for the post office said (via The register)) “We are committed to getting away from Fujitsu and the Horizon system and we have a plan in place to introduce a new computer system in stages for post owners and strategic partners. We will continue to make sure that we comply with public procurement regulations when we transform our technology.”
