SMEs plan to supply government through £3bn tech deal

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has today (September 6) awarded its new Technology Services 2 framework, with small and medium-sized enterprises representing more than 60 per cent of the suppliers.

It has been said that 100 SMEs have signed up to secure a share of an estimated £3bn of IT investment over the next four years with the London company, giving them the chance to grow their businesses and helping the government deliver more effective public services.

Niall Quinn, director of technology strategic category at CCS, said: “This framework delivers significant commercial benefits and gives more SMEs than ever the chance to deliver specialist technology support to the UK public sector.”

CCS is estimating that the framework will help public bodies save more than £180m in the next four years, which could be spent on delivering frontline services.

With £3bn expected to be spent through this, public sector bodies can be linked with suppliers that are able to provide specialist IT services. This could include the management of a small desktop computer estate to the replacement of major government systems.

A total of 160 suppliers have been awarded places on this scheme, with 100 of them being SMEs, giving various businesses a chance to supply to government and increase competition to drive down prices.

The agreement runs initially for two years, with an option to extend it further.

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