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Gov pops lid on mighty £2bn PSN procurement barrel

Networking the networks. With a framework

The Government Procurement Service is setting up a pan-government framework for Public Services Network (PSN) and associated communications equipment and services.

An advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Union says the framework is valued at between £500m and £2bn.

It will be divided into 10 lots covering services such as communications; CCTV and physical security monitoring; conferencing; managed equipment room services; call/contact centre services; mobile voice and data services; paging; LAN; gateway services; and unified services.

Just over 100 contractors are expected to sign up to the framework, which will be available to central government departments and their agencies, non-departmental public bodies, the NHS and local authorities. Voluntary sector charities, and private organisations acting as managing agents – or procuring on behalf of public sector bodies – will also be able to use the agreement.

Contracts will range from the installation and maintenance of large telecoms systems, to the supply of voice recorders, SIM cards and mobile phones. The Government Procurement Service says the framework will be suitable for small and medium suppliers.

Initially the agreement will be in place for two years, but it could be extended by two further terms of 12 months each. Typically, the contracts signed are expected to last for five years.

The tender notice says this is one of several OJEU notices, issued or planned, associated with the transition to PSN standards.

In August the Government Procurement Service advertised for telecommunications connectivity services in a first step towards implementing the PSN.

The PSN is being built as a 'network of networks' to allow collaborative working across the public sector.

This article was originally published at Guardian Government Computing.

Guardian Government Computing is a business division of Guardian Professional, and covers the latest news and analysis of public sector technology. For updates on public sector IT, join the Government Computing Network here.

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