One firm is to be appointed as a ‘neutral vendor’ that will be expected to provide IT products and services from a range of brands and covering 14 technology areas
The Ministry of Defence is leading the procurement process for a potential £400m contract in which a single supplier will be appointed to serve as a “neutral vendor” providing IT products and services from a range of manufacturers.
According to a newly published commercial notice, the Neutral Vendor Framework for Innovation agreement will be available for use for all UK public sector bodies. The agreement will feature one firm that is “capable of delivering goods and services via its supply chain of technology providers across fourteen technology areas” – which are not specified.
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“The neutral vendor will not provide technological goods or services in its own right and must maintain and evidence neutrality when selecting suitable specialist technology providers to deliver the required goods and/or services under the scope,” the notice added. “The neutral vendor will offer ancillary services to facilitate the provision of the required goods and services in the scope from technology providers.”
Spending via the framework is expected to reach a minimum of £50m, with the value liable to reach as much as £400m. The deal will run for an initial term of two years, plus potential extensions of two further years.
Bids for the contract – which appears suited to a large IT reseller or services firm – are open until 7 December.
