Out-Law News 1 min. read
16 Jan 2013, 10:26 am
Under the new 'G-Cloud' framework, dubbed 'Giii' in acknowledgment of the fact it is the third framework of its kind, public bodies will be able to spend up £200 million in procuring the IT services they need, the Government said in a blog.
Suppliers of "identity services; service integration and service management; software support; and business process automation" are particularly being encouraged to apply to be a listed provider under the framework after a Government review identified the need to "strengthen representation" on the G-Cloud framework of suppliers of such services, the Government said.
The G-Cloud system allows public sector bodies to gain access to services being offered by the listed suppliers during a set period. The Government has operated two G-Cloud supplier frameworks previously and launched the procurement process for this third offering late last week.
The Government said that it had revised the terms and conditions suppliers have to agree to in order to be a listed provider on the G-Cloud framework. Some of the revisions relate to provisions on data protection, which the Government said were needed to "ensure that they more fully take into account the complexities of cloud computing".
In addition, a new online invitation to tender form has been brought into use which will mean suppliers of services through the existing G-Cloud frameworks do not have to enter all their details again when applying to be listed on the latest framework.
"As with previous procurement rounds, Giii will be conducted in open and fair competition in line with EU procurement regulations, open to all suppliers," the Government said.
