The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has launched the latest iteration of its G-Cloud procurement agreement for cloud based computer services.
It said that G-Cloud 14 – which went live at the end of October and is set to run for 18 months – provides an online catalogue for the public sector with 4,180 suppliers – 90% of which are SMEs – and 46,000 services.
It comprises four lots: cloud hosting, cloud software, cloud support and one for customers managing a further competition process through their own platforms. It also has the scope for any call-off contract to last for up to three years with the potential for a one-year extension.
Assessments of the economic and financial standing of prospective suppliers have been added to the selection process for lots one, two and three. CCS said that this can be used with the Government’s Sourcing Playbook to provide customers with greater assurance over the financial stability of companies.
Great success
Philip Orumwense, commercial director and chief procurement office for technology at CCS, said: “G-Cloud continues to be a great public sector success, offering significant opportunities to a large number of SMEs and providing an easily accessible marketplace to access cloud computing services.
“This new iteration demonstrates CCS’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the buying process for our customers as we work to unlock the full power of procurement.”
CCS added that since G-Cloud was launched in 2012, £2.3 billion, an average of £192 million each year, has been accrued in commercial benefits for the public sector.
