Government: We won't scrap Digital Services 2

Cabinet Office vows to improve 'disappointing' IT framework

The government has ruled out scrapping the Digital Services 2 framework (DSF) but vowed to improve it after acknowledging supplier anger.

Last week, a trio of DSF suppliers joined forces to speak out about the scheme, which they claimed was poorly organised and unworkable for SMBs.

In a blog post issued today, the government acknowledged there has been "a lot of discussion recently, both online and off" about the framework and vowed to improve it.

"The framework was set up to give the public sector easy access to suppliers of all sizes, with the right digital capabilities, to help them produce public services that are digital by default and focused on user needs," said G-Cloud and digital commercial programme director Tony Singleton. "We're aware that in its current form, the DSF is not achieving this aim. Rest assured, we are addressing this."

He added that invoiced spend through the framework is just £6.7m – "much lower" than the £40m estimated spend the government expected in the first nine months of the framework. He said the second iteration of DSF – Digital Services 2 – will address important issues suppliers have raised.

Singleton hinted that scrapping the second iteration may have been a consideration, but said this would not happen.

"To cancel DS2 would mean those suppliers would've wasted a great deal of time and effort in putting those [applications] together," he said. "It would also mean that improvements we've made could not be in place until DS3 is issued later in the year. For these reasons, it's been decided to let DS2 stand and put all of our efforts into what might replace it. DS2 will expire as soon as a replacement is in place."

He added that DS3 would be another step in the right direction.

"Although I cannot answer yet what form DS3 will take, what's obvious to me is that there's a great deal that needs to be done to put the Digital Services framework right," he said. "We'll listen to private sector experts, many of whom have recently written about the shortcomings of the current DSF. We'll consult widely with digital and technology leaders across government."