Technology Products 2 bidders left hanging over fate of two Lots

Standstill period extended for two TP2 Lots but not due to legal challenges, CRN understands

The supplier line-up for a giant commodity IT framework was only partially finalised this week, with bidders kept hanging as to the outcome of two of the six Lots.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) contacted bidders earlier this week to inform them that the 10-day standstill period for Lots 1 and 3 of the pan-public sector Technology Products 2 (TP2) framework have been extended for another 10 days.

Although CCS did not give an explanation in its correspondence with suppliers, CRN understands the delay was not due to any legal challenges.

The original Technology Products framework, set to expire in November, was delayed following two legal challenges in 2014.

Lot 1 of TP2 covers hardware and Lot 3 encompasses combined hardware and software requirements, with the latter comprised solely of suppliers who made it onto both Lots 1 and 2 (software).

One key difference between Technology Products and TP2 is that the cap on the number of suppliers per Lot has been removed, which some believe would make legal challenges of the type that beset its predecessor less likely.

The incoming framework, with an estimated purse of £3bn to £4bn over two years, is also more value-based than its predecessor, according to CCS.

Intention to award notices for the framework were issued to suppliers on 22 September, with 27 suppliers - including big names such as CDW, Computacenter, Softcat and SCC - making the provisional cut for Lot 1 and 20 getting the nod for Lot 3.

CRN was awaiting comment from CCS when the story was published, and we will update as appropriate when we receive something.