Suppliers urged to speak up on Digital Services framework

Government aims to work more closely with suppliers to fix divisive procurement vehicle

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is urging IT suppliers to speak up as it designs the replacement for the controversial Digital Services (DS) framework.

Suppliers have been asked to complete a survey and attend research sessions to ensure their views on the new scheme are heard by the government before the new framework is set in stone.

The arrival of the second iteration of DS framework – DS2 – caused uproar among some IT suppliers who said the way it gets buyers to procure kit is essentially a bodyshopping process and is unmanageable for suppliers.

Earlier this month, the GDS said it would scrap the DS framework and would transform it into an essentially new scheme instead. CRN understands the new framework will be called Digital Teams and Specialists.

In a blog post, it said suppliers must chime in with their opinions during the design process.

"Let us know what you think," GDS said. "We want to gain a deeper understanding of buyer and supplier user needs. Some of the other things we're going to be talking about include improving the way suppliers apply to be on the framework, evaluating quality at both framework stage and call-off stage, providing a level of help to buyers so they can become self-service users, and applying user-centred design principles to the framework agreement and call-off contract."

The current DS framework sits alongside G-Cloud under the Digital Marketplace umbrella. In the blog post, the GDS said as it redesigns the DS framework, the request for proposal (RFP) process for the whole Digital Marketplace will receive a facelift.

"We're prototyping a new RFP process in the Digital Marketplace, to improve the way people commission what they need," said GDS. "The RFP process will enable a dialogue to take place between buyers and suppliers. This is testing really well in the user research sessions with buyers and suppliers.

"The RFP process will be simpler, clearer and faster in the Digital Marketplace. Help will be available for those who are either new to this, or in the process of building their capability. For buyers who have the capability to commission digital services, it will be self-service."