£2bn public sector mega-framework unveiled

Network Services contract goes out to tender with a view to signing up 300 suppliers

The government has unveiled details of a giant public sector framework which could be worth up to £2bn.

The Network Services tender, which was published yesterday, requires up to 300 IT providers to supply it with a wide range of networking kit such as voice and data services, videoconferencing, networks, WiFi, mobile services, email and internet services and call-centre kit.

The contract will last for two years, with the option in place to extend it for two one-year periods. Over that time, the framework is expected to be worth between £100m and £2bn.

Suppliers are invited to bid for a place on the framework's 10 lots: Data Access Services, Local Connectivity Services, Traditional Telephony Services, Inbound Telephony Services, IP-Telephony Solutions, Mobile Voice and Data Services, Paging Services, Video Conferencing, Audio Conferencing and Integrated Communications.

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS), which is taking charge of the tender, said in the document that all public sector bodies will be able to take advantage of the framework.

"CCS is putting in place a pan-government agreement for mechanisms to access and gain connectivity and telecommunication services including services over the Public Services Network (PSN) for use by or on behalf of the UK public sector bodies," it said.

"These bodies include but are not limited to central government departments and their agencies, non-departmental public bodies, devolved administrations, NHS bodies and providers of services to the NHS, local authorities, police, voluntary sector, charities, and/or other private organisations acting as managing agents or procuring on behalf of these public sector bodies."