Misco and HP given extra time on lucrative IT deal

Scottish government extends £12m deal while it waits for new products to be launched

The Scottish government has granted Misco and HP an extra seven months to supply it with a range of IT hardware as part of a lucrative framework while it awaits the launch of a range of new products.

The National Framework for Desktop and Mobile Computing – which is worth £12m in total – was due to end on 27 May 2015, but in a recently published contract notice, the Scottish government said it would stick with it and its current suppliers for a while longer.

"This notice relates to a seven-month extension of the current framework agreements," it said in the document.

"Extensive supplier engagement has identified that new devices which incorporate the next-generation technology and meet the minimum technical requirement in terms of lifespan will not be available until the second half of 2015."

It said sticking with its current suppliers until new kit hits the shelves makes most sense.

"The introduction of a new supplier in the interim, particularly if there is a change in manufacturer, would mean that organisations would be faced with the installation and support of goods with different technical characteristics from existing goods for a very short period of time," it said. "This would be quickly followed by a second change when the next generation of technology is introduced in the second half of 2015."

As a result, the existing agreement will be extended from 28 May to 31 December.

The hardware framework sees the duo supply Scottish public bodies – including health organisations, the Scottish ministers, the police and colleges – with desktop and mobile devices and services associated with both.