Digital Outcomes 6 framework extension

What is happening?

The Digital Outcomes 6 (DOS 6) framework agreement is going to be extended.  The DOS 6 framework will now expire on 27 June 2025. 

Why is the DOS 6 agreement being extended?

The extension will maintain service provision so customers can continue buying the services they need.  The extension will also facilitate the development of a replacement framework that delivers the optimal customer and supplier experience.

When will the replacement agreement for DOS 6 go live?

In due course, we will provide further updates on the replacement framework, including anticipated go-live dates.

Advice for customers 

What should current/prospective customers of DOS 6 do now?

DOS 6 will be available until 27 June 2025 therefore, no further action is required. 

When and how will CCS communicate further on this?

Further updates will be posted on the relevant agreement web pages and through CCS’ usual channels, including customer newsletters.

Advice for suppliers

What should current suppliers of DOS 6 do now?

CCS will issue a contract variation through Gov.Notify to all DOS 6 suppliers. The variation notice is issued for information only therefore, no further action is required.   Unless we hear otherwise, we assume that suppliers are content with the variation.

When and how will CCS communicate further on this?

Further updates will be posted on the relevant agreement web pages.

Digital Specialists and Programmes framework extension

The Digital Specialists and Programmes (DSP) framework agreement will be extended.  The DSP framework will now expire on 07 March 2025. 

Why is the DSP agreement being extended?

The extension will maintain service provision so customers can continue buying the services they need.  The extension will also facilitate development of a replacement framework that delivers the optimal customer and supplier experience.

When will the replacement agreement for DSP go live?

In due course, we will provide further updates on the replacement framework, including anticipated go-live dates.

Advice for customers 

What should current/prospective customers of DSP do now?

DSP will be available until 7 March 2025 therefore, no further action is required. 

When and how will CCS communicate further on this?

Further updates will be posted on the relevant agreement web pages and through CCS’ usual channels, including customer newsletters. 

Advice for suppliers

What should current suppliers of DSP do now?

CCS will issue a contract variation through Gov.Notify to all DSP suppliers. The variation notice is issued for information only therefore, no further action is required.   Unless we hear otherwise, we assume that suppliers are content with the variation.

When and how will CCS communicate further on this?

Further updates will be posted on the relevant agreement web pages.

Customer newsletter for October

Welcome to our monthly newsletter.

Read the October issue of our customer newsletter.

If you don’t currently receive our monthly customer newsletter, you can sign up by completing this short form. Each month, we’ll send you our latest news stories and case studies, as well as information on upcoming aggregation opportunities, events, webinars and much more.

You will also find a full list of all the commercial agreements we offer, alongside details of how we can help you build policy considerations into your procurement, in our interactive digital brochure.

Our new ‘sustainable’ technology products and services agreement launched

Technology Products and Associated Services 2 [RM6098] builds and expands on the success of the previous iteration of the agreement, which is due to expire in December 2023. 

The scope has been enhanced to incorporate new and future technologies alongside key elements such as sustainability options, sector specific lots for health and education, an off-the-shelf catalogue, and standalone services for supporting technology.

The agreement is a consolidation of three CCS frameworks (Technology Products and Associated Services, Education Technology and Technology Online Purchasing Content). This means that, for the first time, public sector organisations can procure their technology devices and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software in one place from CCS. It will continue to deliver value and provide public sector customers with a flexible, quick and compliant way to buy all their technology product and services requirements, including end user devices, technology infrastructure, network and security devices, peripherals as well as their software needs. 

There will be a much stronger focus on sustainability under this agreement, including the introduction of a dedicated Lot for recycling, data wiping and secure disposal. It also includes suppliers focussing on extending product life cycles, giving public sector access to refurbished and remanufactured products and services specialising in upgrading existing equipment to extend the usable life. 

Significant improvements have also been made to customers’ buying options, providing alternate ways to buy and specific guidance on leasing, utility, and “as a service” models. This gives buyers opportunities to fund and simplify the procurement process, for example they will have the option to pay only for what they use or spread the payments, saving on initial outlay costs. 

172 suppliers have been awarded a place on Technology Products and Associated Services 2. The agreement is expected to go live on 31 October 2023 and run for an initial term of 30 months with the option to extend by a further 18 months. 

Philip Orumwense, Commercial Director and Chief Technology Procurement Officer, Crown Commercial Service says: 

This agreement offers public sector customers a new sustainable solution to their IT requirements through refurbished hardware combined with additional services. Moving towards circular IT and reducing the environmental impact plays a crucial role in the path towards carbon net zero.

The new agreement also aims to build on the progress made by CCS on making it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to become suppliers, levelling the playing field and supporting the government’s agenda.

Innovations

  • expanded scope to encompass the full market offering to further improve upon our “one stop shop” framework strategy
  • the new structure reduces the need for customers to separate their technology requirements across multiple agreements. Three technology agreements have been consolidated and reduced down to one
  • all suppliers are automatically added to Lot 8 (catalogue), making it quicker and easier for them to upload products and for customers to purchase low value items
  • the new agreement aims to build on the progress made in making it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to become suppliers. It includes 172 suppliers, these are made up of sector specific suppliers, value adding resellers, OEMs, market leaders and SMEs

Lotting structure

The lots will comprise of (all of which include services):

Lot 1 – Hardware and Software

Lot 2 – Hardware

Lot 3 – Software

Lot 4 – Information Assured Technology

Lot 5 – Health and Social Care Technology

Lot 6 – Education Technology

Lot 7 – Sustainability and Circular I.T.

Lot 8 – Technology Catalogue 

Find out more

To find out more about Technology Products and Associated Services 2 visit the agreement webpage or contact the CCS Service Desk at info@crowncommercial.gov.uk or 0345 410 2222.

Don’t forget, you can find a full list of all the commercial agreements we offer, alongside details of how we can help you build policy considerations into your procurement, in our interactive digital brochure.

Changes to our agreements in September

Welcome to our monthly agreement update to help you with your procurement planning. We will publish it online each month and also share it in our newsletters and on our social media channels.

The update provides a brief summary of what has been awarded, extended or expired during the previous month. It also outlines what is due to expire in the next 3 months.

You can also get an overview of all of our live agreements in our interactive digital brochure.

Agreements awarded in September

No agreements were awarded in September.

Agreements extended in September

Agreements that expired in September

No agreements expired in September.

Agreements due to expire in the next 3 months

Further information

If you need further details about any of these agreements please get in touch.

You can also find out what new procurements we are working on by exploring our upcoming deals page.

If you don’t currently receive our monthly customer newsletter why not also subscribe to receive these updates and more directly to your inbox? Just fill in this short form.

Crown Commercial Service announces a new Memorandum of Understanding with Cisco, offering a discounted baseline on products

This gives public sector organisations access to an extensive portfolio of IT solutions.

The new MoU will give access to solutions that help to improve security, enable faster digital acceleration and deliver more value for money to the public sector.

It covers all areas of Cisco’s portfolio including cyber security, digital transformation, critical infrastructure and hybrid working enablement with, software solutions and collaboration tools, including Webex solutions, which provides a high quality video and calling experience.

Every eligible public sector organisation can benefit from the value for money this MoU represents. This ranges from central government to the wider public sector, for example Local Authorities (LAs) and Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs).

Along with offering competitive rates and discounts, the new MoU will make it easier for public sector organisations to buy, consume and manage technology purchases relating to security services. For example, customers will have access to a suite of security solutions including Cisco Talos – a commercial threat intelligence network and Secure Firewall – which helps organisations close gaps in their security architecture and recover from breaches. A limited number of free cyber assessments will be made available through the MoU to enable them to explore the benefits of Cisco technology in critical areas of their infrastructure.

Simplifying the technology buying experience

In working together with Cisco CCS recognises the value in identifying commonly bought Cisco technology across the public sector and forming bundles which will simplify the purchasing process, drive additional commercial benefits for all parties and start to move towards greater standardisation.

Additionally, CCS customers can benefit from Cisco’s digital skills acceleration programme, helping to stimulate skills within government. The comprehensive training programme aligns with the work of the new Digital Skills Council and Government Skills Campus. 

Philip Orumwense CBE, Commercial Director and Chief Technology Procurement Officer at CCS explains: 

The new MoU with Cisco will give the government and the wider public sector access tocompetitive rates and discounts, allowing them to maximise commercial benefits whilst enabling our cyber security capabilities. Moreover, Cisco’s digital skills acceleration
programme will help improve public service capability and expertise. MoU’s allow all public sector customers to be treated as one customer and to benefit from discounts based on aggregated spend.

For example: an NHS Trust or local authority can now access discounts previously reserved for large government departments.” MoUs are a preferential pricing agreement negotiated by CCS on behalf of the public sector and are available to all eligible public sector customers through any route to market used for technology procurement. They are carefully designed to compliment Public Sector frameworks and critically don’t replace any terms or conditions in place.

Customers can access the Cisco discounted pricing by going through Cisco registered resellers on Technology Products and Associated Services framework or from Network Services 3.

Let us bring power to your procurement

Discover how your organisation can benefit from this new MoU. Register for our customer webinar on Thursday 2 November.

You can also speak to one of our technology experts to find out how we can support your specific requirements. Please complete our online form quoting ‘Cisco MoU’ and we will be in touch.

Crown Commercial Service provides over £700,000 of funding to help councils tackle climate change

A new Sustainability Sector Support Programme, funded by CCS, was launched on 1 October to assist councils in reaching their local carbon reduction and adaptation targets. 

Over the next 2 years, it will provide councils with the tools and opportunities they need to help build capability and capacity in sustainability and the environment. The programme will offer data-driven and consistent approaches for the sector to prioritise the actions that will help them achieve their sustainability, efficiency, and improvement goals.

The training programme supports the Government’s agenda to decarbonise all sectors of the UK economy to meet the net zero target by 2050. It aims to help councils effectively manage their carbon reduction through:

  • building capability – providing learning, skills, and guidance to help councils meet their climate and adaptation targets, through masterclasses and workshops that will highlight key sustainability themes and upskill participants
  • tools – a greenhouse gas accounting tool and waste emissions calculator will help councils baseline their data and assist with internal emissions reporting
  • networks – an online sustainability hub, a monthly sustainability bulletin and an officer communities of practice network

Eddie Gibson, National Account Manager for Local Communities and Housing at CCS said:

CCS is delighted to be working with the Local Government Association (LGA) and investing over £700,000 on this 2 year programme. Councils are a vital part of moving their communities towards net zero – this programme will enable knowledge-sharing and spread good practice across the sector, placing sustainable outcomes at the heart of council decision making.

Cllr Abi Brown, Chairman of the LGA’s Innovation and Improvement Board said: 

As the leaders of local areas, only councils can lead targeted local climate action in our villages, towns, and cities. 

Councils are at the forefront of local sustainability action and through this programme and partnership with CCS, the LGA will be able to support councils with carbon reduction and adaptation measures.

If you would like any further information on any aspect of our new sustainability programme, please email sustainability@local.gov.uk. 

Social value in construction: a quick guide to the role of procurement

The government announced it was introducing a public procurement model that takes greater account of the additional social value created by contractors who are bidding for work. 

The Public Services (Social Value) Act (2012) already requires public buyers to consider how they could secure social, economic and environmental benefits as part of their procurements. This policy note highlights changes that mean, from 1st January 2021, public sector buyers are required to think differently about how they can secure social value from the goods and services they buy for their local area and/or stakeholders. The policy note also introduces a Social Value model for some organisations which sets out that social value should be explicitly evaluated rather than just being  ‘considered’. Further information is available in this guide which has been published alongside the policy note.

This is a significant policy change that means social value will become a mainstream priority in all public sector procurement from next year.

So, what does this mean for your building and construction projects?

Our category team works hard to understand what our customers’ potential social value requirements are at the earliest opportunity and have ensured that our frameworks allow customers to embed it in a way most appropriate to the individual organisations. This includes the use of social value calculators such as TOMS. 

There is a wide range of social value related considerations, such as opportunities for disadvantaged groups, delivering sustainable and healthy communities, driving climate changes, and with recent impacts of COVID-19 and brexit on labour, social value that considers upskilling the workforce and providing job opportunities is becoming more important than ever. 

To ensure that there are clear lines of sight between your unique social value expectations and what suppliers can offer, then here’s our 8 top tips on what you need to consider.

1. Embed throughout the project

Don’t just stick a few social value KPI’s into your procurement documents and hope for the best. It won’t work. Instead focus on embedding social value considerations throughout the entire project. For larger projects consider a project specific social value strategy. Don’t wait until the main contractor tender to start thinking about it either, consider writing clear guidance around social value and what is expected into the brief for project designers and project managers. 

2. Don’t ask for everything

Early community engagement brings tailored social outcomes. This will help your team to be able to focus on what social value outcomes you want for your project and help to avoid you asking for everything. What are the key themes for the area of construction? Does it have a high unemployment, or a large BAME representation? Is it in a built up area with limited community space? Engage with local charities and social enterprises to find out what is important to them and build this into your strategy.

3. Make everyone accountable

Encourage common goals and shared objectives for the project team. Are the designers/project manager/contractor/facilities management provider all linked to common social value goals? For more complex infrastructure projects Sub Alliancing may be a suitable way to bring shared objectives and success measures to social value.

4. Carefully consider what questions to ask at tender stage

At tender stage it’s great to give social value a high quality percentage, but remember it needs to be proportional and relevant. Spend some time thinking about what is relevant for your project and try to tailor the question to be as project specific as possible. A generic question is likely to get a generic answer. Think carefully about who you ask to assess and score these questions, it should be someone with the right skills and experience to know a good answer from a bad one. A good answer will deliver some tangible outcomes for the project and a bad one will have all the right buzz words, but promise little.

5. Make it contractual

Getting some great social value outcomes and tender stage is fantastic, but it’s really important that this is fed through and actually delivered. One way to do this is to convert these promises into social value KPI’s that are monitored throughout. 

6. Monitor

Once you’ve awarded your contract and started your project make sure that the KPI’s are delivered. It sounds simple, but adding Social Value KPI’s into the regular project performance reviews is a great way to ensure focus is maintained. 

7. Ask for the data to back it up

It’s a good idea to include clear instructions on exactly what you want captured. For example, if you are asking for contractors to train apprentices, it’s a good idea for them to record apprentice initials and postcode, the programme, level and start and end dates so that you can interrogate the data if you wish. Ensure your contract has a right to audit clause.

8. Share positive outcomes

If your project delivers some great social value outcomes share it and talk about what worked and why. Shared learning is a great way for us to develop and improve. 

Next steps

For more advice and guidance on tackling social value in construction projects, fill in our short online form and one of our commercial experts will be in touch. 

You can also explore our full range of construction frameworks on our agreements page.

Further policy advice and guidance on social value can be found on GOV.UK. 

September customer newsletter

Welcome to our September customer newsletter – read it here.

If you don’t currently receive our monthly customer newsletter, you can sign up by completing this short form. Each month, we’ll send you our latest news stories and case studies, as well as information on upcoming aggregation opportunities, events, webinars and much more.

You will also find a full list of all the commercial agreements we offer, alongside details of how we can help you build policy considerations into your procurement, in our interactive digital brochure.

How to put national buying power to work for local regeneration and placemaking initiatives

Regeneration and placemaking are crucial aspects of economic development. It usually involves civic projects intended to promote economic growth and improve the quality of life, typically requiring substantial investment in capital and infrastructure in the local area. 

Regeneration projects vary and can be as diverse as the creation of new leisure and tourist facilities, the redevelopment of retail space, the creation of new business premises, and, often, a combination of multiple overlapping and inter-related projects. 

Placemaking is the collaborative process of designing and shaping public spaces to create places that people feel connected to and promote social interaction, well-being, and a sense of belonging. It involves engaging with local communities, stakeholders, and experts to understand their needs and aspirations and then transforming community spaces accordingly.

Placemaking and urban regeneration

Delivering regeneration and placemaking activity requires access to resources, procurement expertise, working with other organisations, and using commercial routes to market where local authorities may lack the necessary experience and expertise.

By combining practical placemaking principles with well-executed regeneration procurement, urban development projects in the UK can create sustainable, inclusive, and thriving communities that meet the needs of residents and contribute to the overall well-being of the area. 

Factors to consider when designing these projects include:

1. Community engagement

Involving the local community in planning and decision-making is usually a statutory requirement. Encourage participation through workshops, surveys, public meetings, and other engagement activities to gather residents’ and stakeholders’ ideas, preferences, and concerns.

2. Design and activation

Emphasise thoughtful design that considers the unique characteristics of a place, its history, culture, and local context. This approach aims to activate spaces by including amenities, green areas, public art, cultural facilities, and other elements that encourage people to spend time and engage with the environment.

3. Mixed-use development

Placemaking often promotes mixed-use development, integrating residential, commercial, and recreational spaces within a compact, walkable area. A mixed-use model allows you to create a sense of vitality, 24-hour activity, and diversity, making the place more appealing and functional.

4. Sustainability

Embracing sustainable principles, such as green infrastructure, energy efficiency, waste management, and sustainable transportation options, helps to create environmentally friendly and resilient places that help mitigate climate change and enhance the overall quality of life.

Supporting local authority regeneration projects

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) plays an important role in helping the UK public sector save money when buying common goods and services. We are the biggest public procurement organisation in the UK. Our commercial expertise helps buyers across local government and the wider public sector on a range of issues, including urban regeneration.

Renewing and reshaping localities to make them more attractive places to live, work, and visit is a high priority for local authorities. Our solutions are helping Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council to reinvent and reinvigorate the Nuneaton town centre completely. Their regeneration programme features the Grayson Place project, an exciting new meeting, eating, drinking, and entertainment destination currently under construction. 

Helping local authorities meet sustainability targets

Local authorities have significant influence over the key sectors of energy, housing, and transport, reform of which will be essential to achieving net zero. Regeneration activity has to be mindful of the requirement for our local places to support the transition to carbon net zero (CNZ), whether installing roadside electric vehicle charging points or using technology to support the delivery of services.

Our commercial agreements include procuring everything from decarbonising property, using innovative technology to develop clean air and low emissions zones to electric vehicle charging. For example, we recently helped Bristol City Council meet legal limits for pollution.

Using our Traffic Technology and Associated Services agreement, Bristol will install cameras for number plate recognition and identification of bus lane infringements, complete with an on-site maintenance package and a back-office data management system. The solution will also impact traffic signal timings to improve traffic flows and increase bus priority at traffic signals.

Regeneration procurement – not sure where to start?

Smart procurement involves selecting and contracting suppliers, contractors, consultants, and other stakeholders to supply the goods and services required to implement regeneration initiatives effectively. We have a range of dynamic solutions to help local authorities deliver a variety of regeneration projects, optimise budgets, and meet key policy reforms.

We offer a number of comprehensive end-to-end commercial agreements to meet your needs, from off-the-shelf options to more advanced and bespoke solutions to consulting and market insight services. So, whether you are delivering against relevant government policy agendas or helping the local economy thrive by reviving the town centre, we can help.

Not sure where to start? Our commercial agreements are designed to support you at every stage of your regeneration journey, including project development, public engagement, and project delivery.

Access to funding to support regeneration

Local authorities are under extreme pressure to make their budgets work harder. We focus on saving you time and money, allowing you to get on with what matters most by providing the best possible outcomes for your local communities. CCS will support you throughout the buying process to ensure you maximise every pound spent.

Grant funds are also available for regeneration projects with sustainability aims. We have worked to collate a list of open CNZ grants and funding opportunities from across the government into a single place. You can find out more on our website.

However, sometimes there is a need for additional sources of finance to complete projects or deliver additional complementary elements. Our Asset Finance solution is an industry-leading twin-agreement solution providing a revolutionary way for public sector customers to source funding for their projects. 

The solution involves a diverse range of lenders competing on customer projects through our leasing and loan Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), ensuring a transparent and genuinely competitive cost of financing. If you want to understand more about our Asset Finance solution, you can find out more by visiting our finance and funding options webpage.

Discover more

From sourcing funding to project delivery, we can help take the pressure off. To learn more about Regeneration and Placemaking, visit our Regeneration and Placemaking page.

Visit our social value webpage to learn more about how we can support your organisations social value goals.

You can find more resources about our work to support local authorities on our website. To speak to a member of our expert team, please call us on 0345 410 2222.