Crown Commercial Service includes more than 250 suppliers on £2bn framework

Technology Services 3 launches this month for public sector bodies

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has awarded 253 suppliers places on its latest £2bn Technology Services Framework.

Technology Services 3 (TS3) allows public sector bodies to "procure information and communication technology services" and adds refinements to the lots included in Technology Services 2.

TS3 launches this month for a four-year span and covers a wide range of technology services from strategy through to transition and operational deployment.

"Technology Services 3 has been designed and developed using an extensive discovery and consultative process with many of our customers, suppliers, and partners," said Philip Orumwense, commercial director and chief technology procurement officer, Crown Commercial Service.

"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."

Changes to the framework include the removal of sub-lots from Lot 4, a new Service Integration and Management (SIAM) lot and new call-off terms "to better reflect the diversity of technology services offered".

The CCS also says the new agreement "aims to build on the progress made on making it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to become suppliers".

64 per cent of the 253 supplies are SMEs, the CCS claims, compared to 52 per cent for TS2.