Mythbusting: Digital Outcomes and Specialists

If you’re considering getting on to Digital Outcomes and Specialists 4, you may be hearing different things about the framework. Here, we help you get the facts straight!

As a supplier of public sector services, you might be thinking about getting on to DOS4. In that case, you’ll want to make sure you get all the right information. We’ve broken down some of the big myths you might have heard about the framework, and why they aren’t all necessarily true!

Getting on to Digital Outcomes and Specialists guarantees you’ll get sales

Yes, getting on to the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework means you’re opening up a big opportunity, and giving yourself more chance to do business with public sector organisations. However, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll definitely win the contracts. There is a lot more work to be done, and the bidding process takes resources and effort. It’s a good idea to get to grips with how the bidding process works and to know what makes a great bid, so that you’ll be considered for the opportunities you want.

The application process for the DOS framework is tricky

The supplier application process for DOS is surprisingly simple. It involves creating an account for the Digital Marketplace and supplying the information required by CCS – and that’s it! As we said above, getting on to the framework is the easy part, it’s winning the business that takes more effort.

SMEs don’t win any business

Actually, 34% of sales through DOS have gone to SMEs to date. That’s not bad at all, but there are some reasons why it could be higher. Our Strategic Adviser Lindsay Smith outlined a number of factors that could be at play, including SMEs not having the capacity to bid on an opportunity when it comes up and also Brexit uncertainty.

So, although there are some factors effecting the amount of sales to SMEs, the business is still taking place – you’ve just got to make sure you’re giving it the time it deserves!

G-Cloud and DOS are pretty much the same

It might be tempting to think that because both frameworks are held within the Digital Marketplace that both G-Cloud and DOS are one and the same. Where G-Cloud offers a marketplace for off-the-shelf style commodity solutions, DOS offers a place for suppliers to offer bespoke services for buyers and teams to meet requirements. Check out the main differences in our handy G-Cloud versus DOS infographic. 

Another difference is the way in which the procurement process works. G-Cloud provides an Amazon-like marketplace of the solutions provided by suppliers. Digital Outcomes and Specialists on the other hand is a place for buyers to post their opportunities that suppliers can bid to provide for. They both have their benefits – and sometimes suppliers will be on both frameworks – but understanding what they’re both for means you’ll be in a much better position to win business.

So, there you go. Don’t get caught out by what you hear through the grapevine. The Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework provides a great opportunity to companies providing more bespoke, Agile-orientated solutions – and even for SMEs!