New Delhi: Through the French Government’s Finance Information Systems Agency (AIFE), the French Ministry for the Budget, Public Accounts, the Civil Service and State Reform has chosen a consortium headed up by Steria and its co-bidder, Capgemini France (a subsidiary of the Capgemini group) to provide maintenance of Chorus. Worth around €120 million, this six-year contract forms part of the French government’s modernisation programme.

The AIFE is attached to the French Budget Ministry with responsibility for overseeing the government’s financial information system and more particularly the construction, rollout and maintenance of Chorus.

Based on a SAP solution, the Chorus programme is designed to provide all those involved in spending, non-fiscal revenue and accounting with a single, integrated information system for financial management, budgeting and accounts[1] in line with the principles set out in the French law on finance laws or ‘LOLF’[2]. Chorus is contributing to the modernisation and streamlining of the French government’s budget and accounting processes.

Steria and Capgemini – at the heart of French government modernisation

Steria and Capgemini have been working with the government to implement the LOLF constitution for several years now. Having played a part in devising the “Accord LOLF” financial and budget information system Steria has been providing maintenance services for it since 2005. Since 2007, Steria has also been a major partner in the construction of the Chorus system. Since 2001, Capgemini has been assisting with the rollout of all the French government’s financial and budget Information Systems. In particular, since 2009 Capgemini has been implementing the rollout of Chorus to half of all French government ministries, mobilising over 230 consultants in 23 different locations across France. Ultimately, almost 50,000 users will benefit from this new information system, 25,000 of whom will be using the SAP core system.

By winning this new contract, Steria and Capgemini have further strengthened their status as partners in major government information technology programmes, as they continue to support the French state in its modernisation programme.

“Steria’s expertise in industrialised global maintenance solutions and the fact that the 150 staff devoted to the project could take on this TPM[3] within a very short time frame, working out of our SAP service centre in Toulouse, played a decisive part in winning this new contract. It confirms our ability to assist the government in its major administrative reforms,” said Olivier Vallet, Senior Executive Vice President and CEO France, in charge of Group Innovation Policy and the supervision of Scandinavia and Belux.

“What made our bid stand out was the complementary nature of the skills on offer and our ability to meet particularly stringent cost and quality criteria. Capgemini’s strategy has been to accelerate its commitment to state bodies, drawing on its international experience and its ability to assist governments in large-scale modernisation projects,” added Jean-Philippe Bol, CEO of Capgemini France Technology Services.

Steria – a key player in modernising European administrations

Steria is highly familiar with the key issues and characteristics of the public sector. It provides an all-round offering featuring its skills in consultancy, systems integration and outsourcing. These assets enable it to assist European administrations as they deploy major modernisation projects. Its ability to deal with large-scale IT projects, commit to both results and lead times, and take care of its customers’ IT infrastructures make it a trusted partner. Over 15 government ministries and 60 other public bodies have chosen to work with Steria across Europe, including the Danish and Norwegian customs authorities, the Swedish health insurance agency, the Norwegian, British, Irish and Swedish police, the Belgian and French Interior Ministries, the Spanish, Belgian and French Finance and Economy Ministries, the British and French Ministries of Defence, the German armed forces, the French Navy, the French Ministry of Culture, the Spanish Employment and Health Ministry, the British Justice Ministry, and the Norwegian Modernisation Ministry.

Capgemini – a partner in the transformation of international-level public institutions

With a global network of over 12,000 experts, Capgemini assists public institutions with modernisation and transformation, particularly those involved in public security, taxation, healthcare and local government. With a customer portfolio which includes every aspect of public service, Capgemini provides tailored solutions to leading players in this sector worldwide. These include the Australian Taxation Office, the Slovakian Finance Ministry, HM Revenue & Customs, Croydon Council, Skattedirektoratet (Norwegian tax authorities), the UK National Health Service, and in France, the CNAMTS (Caisse Nationale de l’Assurance Maladie des Travailleurs Salariés – National Insurance), the Direction des Affaires Maritimes et des Gens de la Mer (Maritime Affairs), CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – national research institute).