VARs picked for managed services framework

Buying Solutions puts 12 suppliers in the frame for two-year framework

At your service: Suppliers could be asked to provide a fully outsourced IT offering

A host of familiar channel names have made the cut on the Buying Solutions IT Managed Services framework, which went live today.

The two-year framework has picked out 12 suppliers, including VARs 2e2, Centerprise and Computacenter. The framework will manage the provision of services including IT estate management, business continuity, datacentre provision, managed data hosting, network services, systems integration, print services, maintenance contracts, remote access, service desk facilities and asset management.

Suppliers may be tasked with providing any of these as stand-alone services. But Buying Solutions indicated some public sector bodies may require "a fully outsourced IT services provision".

Northgate Information Solutions is included on the framework. David Meaden, chief executive of Northgate Public Services, claimed the framework would allow the public sector buyers to make the savings expected of them in the current climate.

“We are delighted to be offering our services through this new framework agreement," he said. "In this age of austerity, it offers public services the opportunity to deliver better services for less."

"We believe that it is essential to respond to the economic pressures facing the public sector by offering new models of working, and new ways of sharing risk. We look forward to using the framework agreement to strengthen the public service response to the challenges we face and to promote our commitment to partnerships built on mutuality.”

Here is a full rundown of the 12 firms included on the framework:

2e2
Bull Information Systems
Centerprise
Civica Services
Computacenter
Getronics
Logica
Northgate Information Solutions
Servo
SCC
Steria
SunGard Public Sector