Advice Cloud

G-Cloud experts and government procurement consultants

0330 124 4224

  • About
  • For Suppliers
    • For Suppliers
    • Our Framework Services
      • G-Cloud
      • Digital Outcomes & Specialists
      • Technology Services
      • Transport Technology & Associated Services
      • Medical IT
      • Network Services
      • Technology Products
      • Data and Application Solutions
      • Other Frameworks
    • Our Support Services
      • Buyability™ Review Service
      • Win with G-Cloud
      • Win with DOS
      • Win Public Sector Business
      • Win Central Government Business
    • Our DPS Services
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Cyber Security Services
      • Automation Marketplace
      • Spark Technology Innovation Marketplace
      • IoT Technologies Services
      • Digital Technology Services
      • Quality Assurance and Testing for IT Systems
      • Gigabit Capable Connectivity
      • YPO Care Technology
      • HSCN Access Services
    • Why Choose Us?
      • Case Studies
      • Our Experience
      • Our Process
  • For Buyers
    • For Buyers
    • Our Services
      • G-Cloud Support Desk
      • G-Cloud Procurement Services
      • Digital Outcomes and Specialists
      • General Support Services
      • UKCloud Health services
    • Why choose us
      • Our Experience
  • Training
  • Spend data
    • Spend data
    • Spend Data
      • G-Cloud Sales
      • Digital Outcomes and Specialists and Digital Services Sales
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • Procurement Essentials
      • Procurement 101
      • What is a Framework?
      • What is a Dynamic Purchasing System?
    • Ultimate Guides
      • Ultimate Guide to G-Cloud
      • Ultimate Guide to Digital Outcomes and Specialists
    • Tools
      • G-Cloud Sales
      • DOS and Digital Services Sales
      • Procurement Pipeline
      • Framework Alert
    • Resources
      • Blogs
      • G-Cloud
      • DOS
      • Business Guides
      • Expert Insights
      • Research
      • Events
      • Press
      • Videos
      • Announcements
  • Contact Us
G-CloudDigital Outcomes & SpecialistsTechnology ServicesTransport Technology & Associated ServicesMedical ITNetwork ServicesTechnology ProductsData and Application SolutionsOther Frameworks

Making the most of Digital Outcomes & Specialists 5

Watch our recent DOS5 webinar for free now. Our experts cover everything you need to know about the framework, and how to maximise being listed!

WATCH

Buyability™ Review ServiceWin with G-CloudWin with DOSWin Public Sector BusinessWin Central Government Business

Making the most of Digital Outcomes & Specialists 5

Watch our recent DOS5 webinar for free now. Our experts cover everything you need to know about the framework, and how to maximise being listed!

WATCH

Artificial IntelligenceCyber Security ServicesAutomation MarketplaceSpark Technology Innovation MarketplaceIoT Technologies ServicesDigital Technology ServicesQuality Assurance and Testing for IT SystemsGigabit Capable ConnectivityYPO Care TechnologyHSCN Access Services

Making the most of Digital Outcomes & Specialists 5

Watch our recent DOS5 webinar for free now. Our experts cover everything you need to know about the framework, and how to maximise being listed!

WATCH

Case StudiesOur ExperienceOur Process

Making the most of Digital Outcomes & Specialists 5

Watch our recent DOS5 webinar for free now. Our experts cover everything you need to know about the framework, and how to maximise being listed!

WATCH

G-Cloud Support DeskG-Cloud Procurement ServicesDigital Outcomes and SpecialistsGeneral Support ServicesUKCloud Health services

Read our 'Social Value in IT procurement' White Paper!

Social Value seems to be the hot procurement topic at the moment. But, what is it and does it have a place within IT and Digital procurement? Download our free White Paper.

READ NOW

Our Experience

Read our 'Social Value in IT procurement' White Paper!

Social Value seems to be the hot procurement topic at the moment. But, what is it and does it have a place within IT and Digital procurement? Download our free White Paper.

READ NOW

G-Cloud SalesDigital Outcomes and Specialists and Digital Services Sales

Grab a copy of our Public Sector Sales & Marketing Guide!

Our expert advisers and staff have put together this in-depth report to help you get to grips with navigating the Public Sector market. Grab your FREE copy here.

DOWNLOAD

Procurement 101What is a Framework?What is a Dynamic Purchasing System?

Download our free Guide to DOS Tenders!

Get expert advice and tips on how to write winning bids for opportunities on the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework.

DOWNLOAD

Ultimate Guide to G-CloudUltimate Guide to Digital Outcomes and Specialists

Download our free Guide to DOS Tenders!

Get expert advice and tips on how to write winning bids for opportunities on the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework.

DOWNLOAD

G-Cloud SalesDOS and Digital Services SalesProcurement PipelineFramework Alert

Download our free Guide to DOS Tenders!

Get expert advice and tips on how to write winning bids for opportunities on the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework.

DOWNLOAD

BlogsG-CloudDOSBusiness GuidesExpert InsightsResearchEventsPressVideosAnnouncements

Download our free Guide to DOS Tenders!

Get expert advice and tips on how to write winning bids for opportunities on the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework.

DOWNLOAD

Blogs, G-CloudPublished: 23 February 2017

A Lotta Changes to G-Cloud 9

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Now most of us have had time to process the fairly significant changes to G-Cloud issued last week by GDS, there is an awful lot of confusion in the marketplace! So, here’s my take on it.

I don’t think it’s all bad!

A few pointers below:

1. Lots 1 & 2 (IaaS & PaaS) are now merged to become Lot 1: Cloud Hosting. To me, this makes total sense! And, the new Lot has some additional categorisation and sub-categorisation which will make the search & filter function work much better for buyers.

2. Lot 3 (SaaS) isnow Lot 2: Cloud Software. The additional categorisation here is good, with a vast set of sub-categories that, again, should make filtering and selection much easier – for example the ICT category now has 41 sub-categories!

3. Lot 4 (SCS) is now Lot 3: Cloud Support. Personally not too keen on this change, as the field has been narrowed to a small set of Service Types (Planning, Set-up & Migration, QA & Performance Testing, Security, On-going Support & Training). However these can cover a multitude of “sins” so expect creative submissions from Application & Web developers, agile project management consultancies and Resourcing firms.

4. Changes to the Security assertions:

a. Updated versions to take into account the new NCSC Cloud Security requirements

b. Removal of the “how do you assure your assertion” – no more “I say so!”

There are also more cross-lot changes such as:

– Ability to submit without a Service Definition (SD)

o Long term this is a good thing as the quality of a lot of SDs was shockingly poor. However we recommend companies continue submitting these for the time being as buyers are notoriously slow to change. Well-crafted and detailed SDs are a great way to evaluate and down-select, especially in a crowded market.

– Ability to publicly explain your answers.

o There are boxes on the SSP worksheet that give suppliers an opportunity to outline how their service actually operates. All told on Cloud Software you can submit up to something like 55 different free-text boxes with word counts up to 50 words for each. We think we’re looking at something like 2000 words MAX per submission.

Overall these changes seem to have been very much thought of from a Buyers perspective. There’s a lot more Local Govt-specific sub-categories in the Software section which, if the much discussed 3 year call off period is implemented, will really give Local Gov (currently 2nd highest spender in UK PS) very little excuse not to use G-Cloud anymore. On the downside, there will be more work for suppliers, lots of confusion as to what can and can’t be submitted and of course inconsistency of use as the framework & changes bed in. So, no major gripes from us, although we haven’t seen the revised Framework Terms as yet….

My biggest concern right now is Framework overload (not for us, but for our SME clients). We have already seen 4 IT-related frameworks with cross-over services launched last quarter (Test Services, Cyber Services 2, DOS2, Consultancy 2) which were particularly exhausting from an application perspective (DOS2 aside). Apparently the £2-4bn Tech Services 2 is to be launched at the same time as G-Cloud 9 which I think is a shocking mistake. CCS will be basically handing the keys to the door to the Big SI’s / Service companies…. They may have underestimated the work (it was supposed to go live in Nov 2016) but shouldn’t be taking it out on the SME community! …. maybe Emma Jones should be having a quiet word?

Share

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Tags: Advice Cloud Chris Farthing, Digital Marketplace, G-Cloud, G-Cloud 9

Advice Cloud Latest

  • Entering the Public Sector Market
  • Diversity and intersectionality in procurement
  • The future of Education Technology
  • Watch our latest DOS5 webinar
  • G-Cloud & DOS Spending Review to Dec 2020
Tweets by @AdviceCloud

Related Posts

  • Is the DOS framework for you?

    Still unsure whether you should be on the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework? Well here’s a few of the best bits about DOS...

    Read more
  • G-Cloud application roadmap

    [Infographic] G-Cloud Application Roadmap

    We've updated our G-Cloud application roadmap! It features the key steps to getting your application completed in time, and how long each step should take.

    Read more
  • About
  • For Suppliers
  • For Buyers
  • Training
  • Spend data
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie policy
  • © 2021 Advice Cloud
wiredsussexchambermembertechukcrownsupplierSussex Business Awards 29Brighton and Hove living wageCyber Essentials CertifiedInnopsis

Advice Cloud Limited | Registered in England | Company Registration no 05776223
Registered Office: Advice Cloud Ltd, 15-17 Middle Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1AL

We use cookies to improve your website experience. For example we use cookies to show you relevant webinars, content etc.

We have placed cookies on your device to help make our website better. Some of the cookies we use are essential for our website to work.

We also use some non-essential cookies to collect information to provide you with a better experience and to improve Our Site by better understanding how you use it.

You can use this tool to change your cookie settings.

To control third party cookies, you can also adjust your browser settings.