Softcat, SCC and CC among Welsh framework victors

Winners of big Welsh hardware and software framework informed today, CRN understands

Resellers have been informed today whether or not they have been awarded a place on a big Welsh IT framework, CRN understands, with details of successful suppliers on certain Lots emerging already.

The National Procurement Service (NPS) IT Products and Services Framework will be available to local authorities across Wales and will see suppliers provide them with a range of IT kit such as software, hardware and AV equipment. The tender for the framework first went out in July.

The NPS is part of the Welsh government and delivers "all-Wales" contracts and frameworks across the country's public sector.

CRN understands that Intention to Award notices were sent to suppliers which bid for work on the framework today. A 10-day standstill period is now in place, after which the names of successful suppliers will be made official.

Some details of suppliers which have made the initial cut have emerged already, with Softcat, Insight, SCC, Computacenter and Centerprise among the usual suspects to bag a place on multiple Lots.

Lot four, which covers end-user hardware and associated products and services, features SCC, Insight Direct, Softcat, Computacenter, XMA and Centerprise, according to documents passed our way.

Lot six, covering server, storage and associated products, was won by SCC, Insight Direct, Softcat, Computacenter and Dell, we understand.

Meanwhile, XMA, Misco and Centerprise apparently emerged victorious in the education end-user devices Lot.

Millennium Business Systems and Comcen Computer Supplies are among the other suppliers understood to have made the cut in several Lots.

One source close to the process told CRN that this framework is popular among Welsh public sector buyers across the board.

"I expect a higher percentage of spend will go through this Welsh framework than it would do elsewhere in the UK because of the nature of funding in government in Wales," he said. "Whereas in England, the local authorities are quite suspicious of [the Crown Commercial Service], in Wales they are all on board with the Welsh government because it is in itself regional government."