The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has indicated that the next iteration of its Technology Products procurement framework is likely to make it possible to buy products and services as a solution through one process.
It said this reflects feedback from customers and suppliers in a series of workshops, and that it is going to test the possibility over the coming months, with aim of Technology Products 3 going live in September 2019.
In a guest blog for IT industry association techUK, CCS says: “The easier path would be to simply extend and fulfil the full four-year term. However, since listening to our market base it has become very clear that with a few small changes to the scope, structure, and buying process, Technology Products 3 could revolutionise commodity tech buying for the public sector.”
Technology Products 3 will cover the supply of commodity tech goods and/or closely related services for use by UK public sector organisations. CCS has indicated that the current scope and structure provides for six lots: hardware, software, combined hardware and software, information assured products, volume hardware requirements from original equipment manufacturers (for 500+ identical units), and catalogue.
CCS is working on the new schedule with the Government Digital Service and the Government Legal Department, and added that it aims to complete the design for the new framework by September of this year and begin the process in March of next year.
Image from GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0
