Bids for a spot the Technology Products and Associated Services framework are now open.

The vehicle, which is government’s biggest commodity IT framework, will feature four lots, comprising one section dedicated to hardware, one for software, one for combined offerings, and a final lot for products “that are capable of meeting specific protective, information-assurance requirements”.

In addition to the hardware, software, and security-assured products available in each lot, the deal will cover a range of “associated services”.

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Services specified in the contract notice published this week by Crown Commercial Service are: end-user support; service desk; integration; system installation; project management; training; leasing; security management; hardware asset management; software asset management; network infrastructure management services; device as a service; and escrow.

The estimated value across the breadth of the four-year deal is £6.5bn, and bidding is open until 3 June. The deal will be available for use by the entirety of the public sector.

The incoming framework replaces the £4bn Technology Products 2 deal, which reaches the end of its three-year lifespan on 31 October. Its successor is due to come into effect just one week in advance of that, according to the contract notice.

The government’s other major commodity IT vehicle, Technology Services 2, was also due to expire in the autumn, but was recently given a two-year extension until 2021. CCS has indicated that it opted to extend, rather than reiterate the deal, as it wishes to decide how best to improve users’ ability to filter and assess the deal’s wide range of suppliers. 

This could take the form of some filtering tools that could be put in place on the front end of the existing deal, or a new framework with more finely specced sections.