The government has launched a pan-government collaborative framework to supply corporate software solutions to the public sector worth almost a billion pounds.
Cabinet Office agency the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), in partnership with local government procurement consortium Pro5 Group, has launched a tender following a market testing exercise.
The final framework agreement, which could be worth up to £950,000, will be published for transparency purposes, but will be subject to redactions at the discretion of the CCS.
The tender says: “Public sector bodies have a need for corporate software solutions. A vehicle to provide solutions for complex business needs based on common product types; the intended supply chain will provide more services and expertise – with required products – than as standard by generalist suppliers.”
The tender is divided into lots and will cover the implementation of common software for business needs with associated services, covering enterprise resource planning (ERP), finance, human resources and payroll, customer relationship management (CRM), data management and reporting (DMS), enterprise content management.
Another lot will cover mobile application solutions, where requirements are split by specialisms in product type, and where suppliers will identify the right product for specific outcomes.
The framework agreement will have an initial period of two years with the option to extend for two subsequent 12 month periods.
Scottish local authorities and other public bodies north of the border will also be eligible to use suppliers appointed to framework.
Bids must be submitted by 28 May.
The tender has been released alongside two separate tenders developed by Pro5 and the Ministry of Defence covering transactional IT procurement, covering low value, high volume transactions, and higher value technology products.
A statement from CCS said: “These proposed procurements aim to consolidate existing agreements and create a clear procurement landscape for commodity IT requirements.”
