Multi-billion pound UK.gov tech framework awarded to 33 suppliers

Crown Commercial Services has told 33 suppliers they have tentatively made it onto the pan-public sector Technology Products framework estimated to be worth between £4bn to £6bn over its tenure.

Technology Products, initially labelled as IT Products and Services when programme specs were released in January, is a direct replacement for the previous Commodity IT Hardware and Software, and Sprint ii agreements.

A total of 76 tech sellers made an application to win a seat on the framework, and 69 made it through to the award stage though clearly less than half were actually picked in the hotly contested bidding process.

A well placed source told us that 3.06 per cent separated the highest and lowest scores according to CCS metrics, which included the profit that suppliers agreed to make.

The framework is split into four lots - lot one covers Technology Hardware including PCs, servers, storage, peripherals, AV kit and related close-to-the-box, Professional and Managed Services.

The second lot is for off-the-shelf software aimed at public sector buyers looking at volume agreements with Microsoft, VMware etc. The third lot primarily includes security products but extends to secure disposal and video conferencing.

The fourth and final area covers PCs sold in large volumes, and as such only includes OEMs (both UK national and international brands). Orders will be pushed through an e-auction in pursuit of the lowest pricing.

The major variable in the way CCS marked the applications was based on the rate card that suppliers agreed to, say our sources. In software, top marks were accrued by those companies that will make no more than a one per cent margin on the licence and in Lot One, no more than six per cent on hardware.

A total of 15 SME suppliers are included in the list of 33 (see below), in line with the government’s agenda to reduce its over-reliance on a small band of mega suppliers.

Companies that failed to make the grade have until 11 September to contest CCS’s decision as part of the standard cooling off period.

• Lot One - Technology Products

• Ergo Computing
• Probrand XMA
• Kelway
• Softcat
• Akhter Computers
• Pervasive Networks
• Insight
• Computacenter
• SCC
• Stone Computers
• Esteem Systems
• Maindec Computer Solutions
• Bull Information Systems
• European Electronique

• Lot Two - Packaged Software and Value-Added Services
• Viglen
• Softcat
• Insight
• Kelway
• Computacenter
• SCC
• Software Box Ltd
• Comparex UK
• Bytes Software Services
• Phoenix Software
• European Electronique
• Trustmarque Solutions
• Logicalis
• Novosco
• Storm Technologies

• Lot Three - Information Assurance Products and Services
• Softcat
• Akhter Computers
• Computacenter
• Software Box Ltd
• Kelway
• SCC C
• enterprise International

• Lot 4 - End User Computing Devices
• Viglen
• Centerprise International
• Lenovo
• Acer
• Fujitsu Services
• Dell
• Toshiba Information Systems
• Novatech
• HP
• Samsung

We have asked the Cabinet Office for comment. ®