A "more easily digestible" version of the Government Digital Service (GDS) G-Cloud buyer's guide has been published online to illustrate that using G-Cloud is simpler than traditional procurement processes, according to a GDS spokesperson.
Aimed at local and central government organisations, the updated guide outlines how to purchase products and services via CloudStore, G-Cloud's online catalogue containing details of G-Cloud suppliers and their services.
The guide reminds users and potential users of the benefits, such as the fact that G-Cloud is open to everyone in the public sector including local government. One of the ways G-Cloud can help is by eliminating the need to make the traditional Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) application or invitation to tender. The 'open procurement' of G-Cloud's frameworks means this has already been done.
"CloudStore allows you to easily find like-for-like services and buy what you need straight away. You don't need to wait for a price to come back or for additional bespoke details to be pulled together, as you would with many other frameworks. This saves you time and money," explains the guide.
The revised guide also explains how to end contracts, what to do once a contract expires and that G-Cloud lets buyers access service details, terms and pricing up front, unlike traditional procurement processes. Many G-Cloud suppliers even allow government organisations to have a free trial before committing to a purchase.
Some 13,000 services are now available on CloudStore, which undergoes regular iterations to stay current with the market and to ensure users can find products that suit their needs. Public, private and hybrid cloud services are available in the CloudStore arranged in four 'lots' or categories: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS); Platform as a Service (PaaS); Software as a Service (SaaS) and Specialist Cloud Services (SCS).
Further free online resources will become available from GDS on using the G-Cloud in the coming weeks, including blogs and videos, the GDS spokesperson said.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cloudstore-buyers-guide/cloudstore-buyers-guide--2
