4.12 The first time that GCHQ formally considered all the implications of moving its whole business rather than just procuring new accommodation was in January 1999 when the Programme Director Designate outlined the objectives and organisation of the new Programme Management Office. At this time the project was re-designated as the New Accommodation Programme to reflect the understanding of the totality of the requirement, and the Project Director then became Programme Director to reflect the change. Although the transition of staff and office infrastructure was now inside the scope of the newly designated Programme, it remained the responsibility of GCHQ and was outside the scope of the PFI contract.
4.13 The newly designated Programme Director took a more integrated management approach to the programme than had previously been the case. He had already instigated a number of workshops to begin the transition planning process. This led to the formation of the review team in October 1999 to examine in detail the technical transition requirements and to produce plans and estimates.
4.14 In June 1999 a New Accommodation Programme Business Support Office, run by WS Atkins plc was opened to provide management support to GCHQ's Programme Office.
4.15 In August 1999, about a year after IAS was declared the preferred bidder, GCHQ prepared a New Accommodation Programme Definition Statement. This was adopted for the New Accommodation Programme a month later when detailed guidance first became available from the Office of Government Commerce on its methodology for Managing Successful Programmes. The Statement defined the scope of the overall programme to include the work to relocate staff and equipment to the new building and to transfer services to IAS.