New IT procurement planned

Scottish Procurement is about to launch the formal tender process to select suppliers for the new iteration of the IT Managed Services (ITMS) Framework.

The framework will have a new name; Digital and Technology Services (DATS).

The current framework, which ends in March next year, was intended to deliver reduced time-to-market, increased cost savings, and improve the quality, flexibility, and compliance of services contracts.

But, despite a small number of high profile public sector contracts let via the framework, including the Scottish Government’s own IT Support Service, and the Disclosure Scotland PVG Maintenance Service, it has not been as successful as hoped by either the market or public sector customers.

The UK version of ITMS, run by the Crown Commercial Service, has had similar issues. Supplier selection and mix, the complexity of these types of services to scope and contract to, and customer appetite to forego the open EU tendering process for such critical services, could all have played a part.

“Drawing on that experience, Scottish Procurement has the opportunity to address this, and set the new framework up for success,” commented Faith Clayton, Scotland Director for Computacenter.

“The market doesn’t have the full and final details yet as the strategy is still being confirmed.

“However, if they can achieve a broad supplier selection, including local Scottish companies and nationals with a strong Scottish presence, delivering their individual best of breed services, backed by a robust but flexible contractual and commercial framework, they might just do it.”