1.13 SBS has demonstrated partnership working by introducing a new savings product (an Individual Savings Account) by a tight target date of 6 April 1999. SBS started work on the new product after being selected as preferred bidder in December 1998. This involved the implementation of a new IT system and was achieved on time. SBS has also demonstrated that it can bring other new products and product variations to the market quickly. At National Savings' request, two more new products were introduced, along with five product variations, between April and October 1999. In comparison, National Savings had introduced only three new products in the previous eight years.