EXPERIENCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Sollerta

Drawing on his Private Sector and Government Service experience, including MOD Procurement and HM Treasury posts, Digby has an established track record in advising on Public Sector issues, particularly those related to Procurement and Project/Contract Management.

As Sollerta's Director of Public Sector Procurement, his clients include both public bodies and companies wishing to do business with them and his advice is provided through CIPS-recognised training sessions, coaching and hands-on assistance with specific cases.

Typical topics include: developing and implementing Business Cases, Procurement Strategies, Invitations to Tender and Tender Evaluation schemes; and, from a company perspective: positioning; assessing opportunities, Tender preparation, and Contract negotiation.

He is also engaged by companies wishing to obtain satisfactory debriefs on their PQQ responses and Tenders and to consider grounds for possible legal challenges to non-selection and proposed contract awards.

An accredited OGC Gateway Reviewer on the MoD and ERF panels, Digby has also been engaged by the MoD to undertake Project Assurance Reviews and to advise on aspects of the management of its Research & Technology Programme, on Technology Insertion Guidance and on the Defence Acquisition Change Programme. He has also worked with Local Authorities, the Wiltshire Police Authority and the Wiltshire & Swindon Fire Authority and referees papers for the Operational Research Society.

He writes, lectures and chairs events on a range of subjects including MoD's annual Defence Suppliers' Conference, the EU/UK Procurement Regulations, Contract Management, the Freedom of Information Act, Risk Analysis, and Sustainability.

Government Service

Managed significant change programmes involving large-scale relocation and radical shifts in business processes
Practical expertise in MOD post-Strategic Defence Review organisation and business methods

Medium Surface to Air Missile programme for the RAF  and Close Air Defence programme for the Army (1989 -2000)

Successfully concluded a high-profile competitive tendering exercise for this £2Bn Medium SAM project
Managed the completion of development and production of the High Velocity Missile system

Headed UK Delegations on International Collaborative Programmes for both these fields

Senior positions in MOD Headquarters and HM Treasury (1980-1989) including:

Development and application of Balance of Investment tools and techniques for 2-star head of Defence Programmes
Development and introduction of Output Measures for the UK defence programme and NATO's Defence Planning Committee
Development of forecasting techniques for monitoring in-year Defence expenditure

Research and Operational analysis at Royal Aircraft Establishment Farnborough (1972 - 1980)

ABILITIES

Provision of general and specific advice on and practical assistance with:

Formulation of Business Development Strategies in the Public Sector context

Interpreting EU Directives and Government requirements and policies

Development and implementation of:

Invitations to Tender

Tender evaluation schemes and associated Combined Operational Effectiveness Investment Appraisals (COEIAs)

Business Cases
Development and presentation of tenders and proposals
Change Management

Project Management – particularly strategy, planning and risk analysis

"Red Teaming" tenders and proposals
Training/Coaching
Facilitation of multi-disciplinary teams' "brainstorming" sessions
Dispute Resolution – both litigation and mediation
Provision of a range of IT and analytical skills including Statistics and Operational Analysis

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES

BSc , PhD University of Leeds

Reviewer for Operational Research Society.

Dr Digby Barker BSc, PhD