The government has extended its existing digital services framework (DSF) for an extra six months to give itself time to get the second iteration in place.

The framework was launched in November last year and was originally planned to last nine months – expiring on 10 August.

However, the Crown Commercial Service has included the framework in the scope of its work on the new Digital Marketplace, which is unifying public sector procurement for digital services and products.

A statement from CCS said: “We have included the DSF in the regular user research for the Digital Marketplace.

“This has given us valuable insight and we’ll be using this to review the approach for the second iteration of the framework, as well as improvements to the Digital Services Store.”

The first iteration of the framework has been extended until 31 March next year, although the second iteration is expected to go live by the end of 2014.

There are currently 175 suppliers listed on the framework, which aims to help the public sector buy, design, build and deliver digital services using an agile approach.

The unit of measure and focus is the project team, purchased either as individual people/role(s) or purchased as a team made up of a number and type of people/roles to design, build and deliver digital services. 

The catalogue lists core digital capabilities alongside 12 digital roles at junior and senior level.

When it was launched, the CCS said it expected £40m of business to be contracted through the framework during the nine-month term.

Call-offs under the framework are for a maximum of two years.