Government delays landmark framework

Applications to Digital Services replacement were meant to open today

The government has delayed proceedings for its landmark Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS) framework, claiming it wants the application process to be as good as that of G-Cloud 7.

DOS is the much-vaunted replacement for Digital Services - an unpopular framework which sparked supplier mutiny earlier on in the year. DOS has been hailed by the government as the framework which will resolve issues suppliers and buyers faced with its predecessor.

Applications for DOS were meant to be open today, but the government published a note this morning claiming this would no longer be the case.

"We hoped that Digital Outcomes and Specialists would be open for applications today, 30 November. However, we've decided to push this back to next week," the update said.

"We received positive feedback from suppliers on the G-Cloud 7 application process. We're keen to make sure suppliers have as good an experience applying for Digital Outcomes and Specialists."

The government now expects applications for DOS to open from the start of next week.

Andy Budd, managing director of Clearleft, a Digital Services supplier which was among those complaining about the framework, said he hopes the delay is for the right reasons.

"It's really, really difficult to tell, but last time there were some eleventh-hour changes which scuppered everything. My hope is that the reason behind this isn't that some unforeseen thing has come up and they have to change things fundamentally. My hope is that they are giving people more time to respond and for things to sink in."