IPL, the Bath-based software and IT services company IPL, has been awarded a £9m framework contract by the Environment Agency to implement a new system to manage the upkeep of its flood and coastal defence assets.
The four-year programme, secured with Bristol-based Manhattan Atrium, will enable the Environment Agency to focus more funds on the upkeep of these crucial assets by reducing the administrative cost of maintenance planning, delivery and reporting.
The agency has more than 150,000 flood and coastal defence assets across England and the new system will give it a single view of all maintenance activity nationwide, enabling it to create efficiently prioritised schedules based on local need and available funding.
As prime contractor, IPL will manage the project, and provide business intelligence and Java development expertise to build the links between Manhattan Atrium’s off-the-shelf asset management platform and other Environment Agency systems. Manhattan Atrium will provide its standard enterprise asset management product and associated implementation services, including configuration management workshops and subsequent product configuration, data loading, provision of interfaces, product hosting and software training courses.
Environment Agency deputy director, asset performance and engineering, Jim Barlow, said: “I am looking forward to working with IPL and Manhattan Atrium to implement their proven enterprise asset management system which will enable the Environment Agency to adopt latest industry best practices and help us make step changes in the way we plan and deliver our services for the community.”
IPL chief executive Paul Jobbins added: “As recent events prove, this programme is of huge national importance, and we’re pleased that the Environment Agency has selected IPL to deliver it. We look forward to bringing our long-established expertise in creating business-critical systems to this high-profile programme to create something truly exceptional.”
