Preferred bidder BSF contract

RM PLC 11 October 2005 RM appointed preferred bidder for £6.4 million Building Schools for the Future contract RM plc, the UK's leading supplier of information and communications technology (ICT) and other services to education, has been appointed preferred bidder for a £6.4 million ICT contract with Solihull Council. The contract is part of Solihull's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, and is the first ICT contract to be awarded under the national BSF initiative. The five year contract will provide a managed ICT service to 6 schools in Solihull and is linked to improved educational attainment. The scope of the service will include the design, implementation and ongoing management of all the ICT needs in these schools. The service also includes the provision of an LEA-wide Managed Learning Environment, a programme of training, and an education support team to assist with the introduction of the technology. Kevin Crompton, Corporate Director of Education & Children's Services at Solihull said, 'After a rigorous selection process, we are absolutely delighted to be working with RM on this exciting project to transform learning in the north of Solihull.' Commenting on the contract award, Tim Pearson, CEO of RM, said: 'The BSF programme is enormously important for educational ICT in England: it provides an opportunity for schools to make a step-change both in the way they buy ICT and, crucially, in the way they deploy it to improve teaching and learning. I'm delighted that RM has been chosen as preferred bidder. We look forward to working with educators across Solihull to provide a managed ICT service that genuinely helps teachers to teach and learners to learn.' - Ends - For further information, please contact: Mike Greig/Phil Hemmings, RM plc 08709 200200 Fiona Laffan/Mark Antelme, Brunswick 020 7404 5959 Notes to Editors: Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is a £45 billion Department for Education and Skills initiative that will rebuild or substantially refurbish all English secondary schools over the next 10-15 years. A key part of the initiative is to ensure that schools develop a sustainable ICT strategy focused on improving teaching and learning. RM will now work with Solihull Council to complete final negotiations on the contract. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange