New line-up for £6bn IT framework after legal challenge

CRN understands that ANS, Misco, Software Box Ltd, Supplies Team and Centerprise International have been added to Lot One of incoming Technology Products framework following review

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has added five more IT suppliers to the incoming Technology Products framework after a legal challenge prompted it to review the outcome.

CRN understands that a quintet of resellers has been added to Lot One – covering IT Hardware and Value-Added Services – of the multibillion-pound commodity IT purchasing vehicle. These are: ANS, Misco, Software Box Ltd, Supplies Team and Centerprise International.

This brings the total number of firms in Lot One to 20, five more than the maximum of 15 set out in CCS' original documentation.

As revealed by CRN, intention-to-award letters were sent to 33 provisional winners on 2 September. However, the 10-day standstill period was extended following a legal challenge. CCS then opted to review the outcome to "ensure fairness to all bidders", "following consideration of the closeness of the bids received".

The lucky five made it on courtesy of CCS' decision to round up all scores to the nearest integer across all Lots, one source said.

A new standstill is now in force until 3 October and suppliers hope their framework agreements will go live in the week beginning 6 October, well before the outgoing CITHS framework breathes its last on 31 October.

Divided into four Lots, Technology Products is forecast to bring £4bn to £6bn in sales for successful suppliers over its lifespan and can be used by all public sector buyers.

CRN was awaiting comment from CCS as this story went to press.

We understand the full line-up now looks like this (additions in bold):

Lot 1 - IT Hardware & Value-Added Services

Ergo Computing
Probrand
XMA
Kelway
Softcat
Akhter Computer
Pervasive Networks
Insight
Computacenter
SCC
Stone Computers
Esteem Systems
Maindec Computer Solutions
Bull Information Systems
European Electronique
ANS
Misco
Software Box Ltd (SBL)
Supplies Team
Centerprise International

Lot 2 - Packaged Software & Value-Added Services

Viglen
Softcat
Insight
Kelway
Computacenter
SCC
Software Box Ltd (SBL)
Comparex UK
Bytes Software Services
Phoenix Software
European Electronique
Trustmarque Solutions
Logicalis
Novosco
Storm Technologies

Lot 3 - Information Assurance Products and Services

Softcat
Akhter Computer
Computacenter
Software Box Ltd (SBL)
Kelway
SCC
Centerprise International

Lot 4 - End-User Computing Devices

Viglen
Centerprise International
Lenovo Technology
Acer
Fujitsu Services
Dell
Toshiba Information Systems
Novatech
HP Enterprise Services
Samsung Electronics