Approved Supplier List and New Media Commissioning

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Approved Supplier List and New Media
Commissioning Sharmila Nebhrajani Director of
Business and Finance, BBC New Media Technology
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New Media Approved Supplier List
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Planned New Media Approved Supplier List

• Objective is better delivery of innovative
  content and services for our audiences
• A list of suppliers who have undergone
  first-stage editorial and business evaluation
• Open to big and small operators
• Updated each time a BBC project is delivered a
  knowledge base of performance and expertise
• Poor performance means a risk of falling off the
  list!

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Advantages

• The list is made available to all BBC
  commissioners of new media to help them select
  suppliers to send Requests for Proposals
• Competencies of suppliers can be matched to
  specific projects
• First-stage evaluation saves time later on if a
  project is approved
• BBC may look to broker suppliers with
  complementary skills if necessary

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What we need from you to help us develop the ASL

• Existing suppliers can update their details by
  completing an update questionnaire this asks
  you to rank your areas of expertise/preference
  and to update your examples of work
• Non-suppliers may want to complete the full
  Supplier Questionnaire a first-stage editorial
  and financial evaluation
• Forms can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/newmediasuppl
  iers
• Remember saying youre good at everything
  doesnt always help us select suppliers even if
  its true!

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Timescales

• Ask suppliers to complete updated questionnaires
• October 05
• Move to automated Approved Supplier List
• April 06

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New Media Commissioning
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New Media Commissioning Structure

• Responses to Letters of Enquiry (under 50k),
  Requests for Proposals (over 50k) and on-spec
  proposals will go directly to the relevant
  commissioning division
• e.g. Entertainment ideas should come to IDE,
• e.g. Pan-bbc.co.uk proposals should come to New
  Media
• A list of relevant commissioners can be found at
• www.bbc.co.uk/newmediasuppliers
• The BBC is standardising timescales for
  responding to on-spec proposals
• 2 weeks acknowledgement of receipt
• 6 weeks development funding if required
• 26 weeks (for complex projects) is the longest
  time a commissioning decision will ever take

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BBC Vendor Manager

• A new role designed to champion the cause of
  external suppliers
• Ensures the commissioning process works well
• Facilitates post-delivery de-briefs between the
  BBC and suppliers
• Encourages commissioners to broaden the gene pool
  of talent used, e.g. by encouraging commissioners
  to include untried ASL suppliers on the list
  those sent a Request for Proposal
• Acts as BBC Talent Scout ensuring commissioners
  are aware of up and coming suppliers

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External Supplier Briefing Days

• Designed to communicate divisional strategies
• Interactive Radio Music 8th October 05
• Relatively small number of suppliers invited
  primarily from the Approved Supplier List
• Will provide commissioner surgeries where
  suppliers can have in-depth discussions about
  opportunities
• Information will be also published online

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Delivery and Production

• New Media has recently improved its development
  environment
• BBC will be launching a series of Developer Days
  starting Autumn 05 designed to help external
  suppliers to understand our infrastructure and
  technical requirements
• Technical Account Managers will now have sign-off
  of all commissions and will act as support to
  external suppliers to deliver projects
• May 05 - Launched online standards and guidelines
  site
• www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/newmedia

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Questions?