Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has awarded the latest version of the Technology Services procurement framework – saying it includes additional services and improved call-off terms.
It said Technology Services 3 enables public sector customers to procure ICT services across the entire lifecycle from strategy through to transition and operational deployment.
Compared with its predecessor there have been refinements to the lots aimed at making it easier and more efficient for customers to procure services.
Lot 4, covering major service transformations, has been simplified based on feedback that the previous security focused sub-lots were confusing and restrictive. They have been removed and customers will now be able to specify these classifications across all lots instead.
A new service integration and management (SIAM) lot has been introduced to support customers looking to disaggregate the delivery of their technology services. CCS said that by using SIAM, customers can manage multiple suppliers of services and integrate them to provide a single, business facing IT organisation.
In addition, new call-off terms have been designed to better reflect the diversity of technology services offered through the agreement, whilst making them simpler to use for both customers and suppliers.
The full lotting structure takes in: 1 – technology strategy and service design; 2 – transition and transformation; 3a – end user services; 3b – operational management; 3c – technical management; 3d – application and data management; 4 – major service transformation programmes; 5 – service integration and management.
More SMEs
The new framework includes 253 suppliers, 64% of which are SMEs – compared with 52% for Technology Services 2 – and it is set to launch next month and run for four years, with call-off contract durations from two to seven years.
Philip Orumwense, commercial cirector and chief technology procurement officer at CCS, said: “Technology Services 3 has been designed and developed using an extensive discovery and consultative process with many of our customers, suppliers, and partners. This framework truly reflects and represents their expectations and provides the platform for the country to build back better with the right mix of quality and innovative suppliers, including SME providers.”
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