The Ultimate Guide to Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS 7)

What is DOS?

Digital Outcomes & Specialists (DOS) is the UK government’s primary procurement framework for buying digital, data and technology (DDaT) services. It provides a compliant, efficient route for public sector organisations to procure the digital skills and teams they need - from a single specialist developer to a full agile delivery team running a major transformation programme.

Managed by the Government Commercial Agency (GCA, formerly Crown Commercial Service), DOS sits on the Digital Marketplace alongside G-Cloud. Where G-Cloud is for off-the-shelf cloud products and services, DOS is for outcomes and people - that is, teams or individuals engaged to deliver a specific piece of work across any or all stages of the full agile lifecycle, including: discovery, alpha , beta, live, retirement.

DOS is open to suppliers of all sizes. The application process is deliberately low-barrier, making it one of the most accessible public sector frameworks for tech and digital SMEs. But being listed is just the start. The real work comes in identifying and winning the right tenders (see our ‘Myths about DOS’ blog for other ways people get DOS wrong).

DOS 7 replaced Digital Specialists and Programmes (RM6263), which GCA recorded as superseded on 1 April 2026.

Because it is an open framework, it reopens to new suppliers at defined points during its life.

What DOS is used for

At its core, DOS enables the public sector to buy two types of services:

Outcomes - a defined deliverable achieved by a team working in an agile way. For example: build a new digital service to beta standard; run a discovery into a user need; migrate a legacy system.

Specialists - individual Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) professionals engaged to work within an existing team on a defined project or programme. For example: a user researcher for a 3-month alpha phase; a technical architect for a transformation programme.

DOS also covers user research studios and participants - the facilities and recruited users needed to properly test digital services with real people - though this is a more niche lot.

Is DOS right for you?

DOS has a defined scope. The following types of need should be procured through alternative routes:

• Standalone hosting, support and maintenance of a live application → G-Cloud (RM1557)
• Non-digital contingent labour → Public Sector Resourcing
• Management consultancy, business strategy or policy → MCF4 (RM6309)
• Cloud software setup and maintenance → G-Cloud (RM1557)
• Digital capability for public health and social care → Digital Capability for Health 2 (RM6345)
• Major service transformation requiring platform hosting and maintenance → Technology Services 4 (RM6190)
• Independent quality assurance and testing → Quality Assurance and Testing DPS (RM6148)
• Independent IT health checks → Cyber Security Services 3 (RM3764.3)

How buyers buy through DOS

The basic model

DOS is a framework agreement - not a contract for specific work. Being listed on DOS (as a supplier) or registering to use it (as a buyer) does not create any obligation to buy or sell anything. It simply means that when a buyer wants to procure a piece of digital work, they can do so through this pre-agreed, compliant route rather than running a full open procurement from scratch.

When a buyer is ready to procure, they run a competition - called a Further Competition - among suppliers on the relevant Lot.

All procurements on DOS must be awarded through a competitive process. There is no Direct Award option.

The platform

DOS uses different platforms for different aspects of the service, which can be confusing to suppliers! Applications to join the framework are made on the Digital Marketplace. Buyers will publish opportunities via their Contract Award Service (CAS) account, and suppliers will access these opportunities via eSourcing.

Buyers need a PPG account to publish requirements; suppliers need to be registered on the platform to view and respond.

For DOS7, a new filtering tool within CAS lets buyers filter the supplier list by skills and services before publishing, helping them target their requirement more precisely. Make sure you are listed under all the correct filters!

Framework duration and the Open Framework model (DOS 7)

Earlier DOS iterations ran as fixed-term frameworks with a closed supplier list for the duration. DOS7 is structured under a different model introduced with the Procurement Act 2023 - as an Open Framework.

Because it is an open framework, DOS 7 reopens to new suppliers at defined points during its life.

Monitor Find a Tender Service for the next tender notice.

How to apply and what to have ready

The application process

One of DOS’s defining characteristics is its low barrier to entry. The application for Lots 1, 3 and 4 is not a detailed bid - it is a qualification exercise. The key question is: do you meet the requirements to be on the framework?

As such, the application is assessed primarily on a Pass/Fail basis. There is no competitive scoring at the listing stage. You are not competing against other suppliers to get on the framework - you are simply demonstrating that you meet the threshold requirements.

For Lot 2, the application is more competitive. You will need to submit various written responses against questions about your capabilities and processes. Your responses are scored and evaluated and will determine whether your application is successful.

You are required to submit pricing, and will be held to these as your maximum day rates for each Framework term.

What the application typically covers

• Standard eligibility checks - company registration, compliance, GDPR, etc.
• Insurance requirements - public liability, professional indemnity, employer’s liability
• Certifications - depending on the Lot, specific accreditations may be required
• A declaration of the types of work you can deliver and the roles/skills you offer
• Your day rates - by role and location, mapped to the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (GDaD)
• For DOS7 Lot 2 - a Technical Ability Certificate (TAC) signed by a previous client
• For DOS7 Lot 2 - written quality responses
• Financial Viability Risk Assessment (FVRA) - introduced in DOS7 as part of Procurement Act 2023 alignment
• Compliance with applicable Policy Procurement Notices (PPNs)

Getting listed is just the start

We say this to every supplier we work with: getting on the framework is (relatively!) straightforward. Winning business is the challenge.

Like all frameworks, DOS is not a sales channel - it won’t bring buyers to you. You need to actively monitor opportunities, decide which to bid for, and write compelling responses. The hard work happens after you are listed.

How responses are scored

The criteria and weightings for each DOS opportunity are set by the buyer. DOS7 has also introduced much more flexibility in what a competition will look like, and how it is scored. This happens across either a Single Stage, Two-Stage or Multi-Stage Competitive Selection Process.

A Single Stage Process can include assessing Conditions of Participation, and a supplier’s proposal against the buyer’s award criteria - submitted at the same time.

A Two-Stage Process includes assessing Conditions of Participation, and - for shortlisted suppliers only - a supplier’s proposal against the buyer’s award criteria.

A Multi-Stage Process can additionally include a presentation/demonstration, a site visit, dialogue and/or negotiation.

Suppliers can be evaluated on any combination of quality (technical competence, cultural fit, and social value) and price. The weighting applied to each is determined by the buyer for each opportunity and must be stated in the published requirements.

Historically, a commonly used scoring system for DOS tenders has been:

• Score 0, rating = not met/no evidence. This means that there is no evidence the requirement is met.
• Score 1, rating = partially met. This means that there is some evidence, but it is insufficient to fully demonstrate the requirement.
• Score 2, rating = met. This means that there is clear, credible evidence that the requirement is met.
• Score 3, rating = exceeded. This means that there is compelling, differentiated evidence that exceeds the requirement.

For DOS7 tenders, buyers have the flexibility to apply their own scoring system, often 0-10.

As this example scoring system shows, the key to a good DOS response - and any public sector tender - is the evidence!

When can you apply?

Application windows are time-limited; you typically have 6 weeks to submit your application. For DOS7 (an Open Framework), application windows open approximately every 18 months, unless GCA choose to extend any version (by up to 18 months).

DOS7 Framework 1:

• Application window opened 12th May 2025 and closed 20th June 2025.
• Live 30th January 2026 - 29th July 2027

DOS7 Framework 2:

• Application window expected to open early in 2027.
• Live approximately mid-2027 to early 2029

DOS7 Framework 3:

• Application window TBC
• Live approximately early 2029 - mid-2030

DOS7 Framework 4:

• Application window TBC
• Live approximately mid-2030 to early 2032

If the current window is closed, you cannot join the live framework, but you can prepare. Use the time between windows to:

• Gather client references and Technical Ability Certificate evidence
• Ensure your insurance and certifications are in order
• Register on the Digital Marketplace and Public Procurement Gateway
• Monitor Find a Tender and the GCA website for the next window announcement

What the spend data shows

Our spend data dashboard brings together published public sector spend through Digital Outcomes and Specialists and its predecessor frameworks. You can use it to see how much buyers are spending, which departments are buying, and how demand is distributed across the lots, so you can judge the size of the opportunity before deciding whether to apply.

Explore the DOS spend data dashboard.

Why DOS matters

DOS has become one of the most significant routes to market for digital services in UK government since its launch in 2016. Here are a few reasons why it matters:

• It is open to all: any supplier that can meet the framework requirements can apply, regardless of size. Large systems integrators and two-person design studios sit on the same framework.
• It levels the playing field: evaluation is based on the quality of your written response and your demonstrated ability to deliver - not on relationships or reputation alone.
• It is transparent: all opportunities are published openly and all suppliers are evaluated against the same stated criteria.

Top tip: Use our DOS Spend Data Dashboard to explore the breakdown of spend through DOS, including who is winning contracts and who is spending money through the framework.

A brief history of DOS

DOS has gone through seven iterations since its launch in 2016, each reflecting changes in how the public sector buys digital services and how the supplier market has matured. Understanding this evolution helps explain why the framework looks the way it does today.

Each iteration of DOS has refined how buyers and suppliers interact on the framework. The broad shape - publish an opportunity, shortlist through written evidence, assess, award - has remained consistent. What has changed is the scope of the Lots, the platform used to run procurements and the legislative context.

DOS7 has also introduced a lot more flexibility in how buyers run procurements - more on that later!

All that’s new in DOS7

For those already familiar with earlier versions of DOS, this section summarises the key changes introduced with DOS7 (RM1043.9), which went live on 30 January 2026:

• Framework reunified - DOS7 combines Digital Outcomes 6 (RM1043.8) and Digital Specialists & Programmes (RM6263) into a single agreement, ending the period where buyers had to navigate two separate frameworks.
• New Lot 2 - a brand-new Lot for Digital Capability & Delivery Partners - long-term strategic partners for digital transformation programmes. Previously only available through DSP Lot 2.
• Open Framework model - DOS 7 is an open framework under the Procurement Act 2023. It reopens to new suppliers at defined points during its life.
• Procurement Act 2023 - DOS7 is the first DOS framework let under the Procurement Act 2023 (replacing PCR 2015). Changes include enhanced transparency obligations, updated exclusion grounds, FVRAs and strengthened challenge rights.
• Financial Viability Risk Assessments - FVRAs introduced as part of the application process, providing a financial health check for suppliers applying to the framework.
• Filtering tool - a new tool in the Contract Award Service (known as ‘Search and Save’) lets buyers filter the supplier list by products, location and role details before publishing requirements, improving targeting and reducing irrelevant responses. This is mandatory for Lot 3, and optional for Lots 1, 2 and 4.
• New Competitive Selection Processes - the option for buyers to run a Single Stage, Two-Stage, or Multi-Stage evaluation process.
• Platform: PPG/CAS - opportunities are published and managed through Contract Award Service (CAS) on the Public Procurement Gateway. The buyer workflow has been updated accordingly.
• GCA rebrand - Crown Commercial Service (CCS) became the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) on 1 April 2026. All framework documentation has moved to gca.gov.uk.

Social value

Social value has grown in prominence across public sector procurement. Buyers are expected to include social value in their evaluation criteria, typically weighted at up to 10% in line with government guidance. DOS7 is based on the themes and policy outcomes from PPN 002 Social Value Model, and include: Tackling economic equality, Fighting climate change, Equal opportunity, and Wellbeing.

For suppliers, social value responses are an area where many bids underperform. Vague commitments score poorly. Specific, evidence-based commitments - tied to the specific contract and the specific community context of the buyer - score well.

Social value is an area close to our heart at Advice Cloud - we are proud to be a people- and purpose-centric business.

Deciding which opportunities to bid for

With the volume of opportunities published through DOS each year, a disciplined qualification process is essential. Before committing to a bid, ask:

• Can we genuinely deliver this outcome to a high standard?
• Do we have strong, relevant, recent evidence to support our application?
• Do we meet all of the essential requirements?
• Is there enough time left in the clarification and submission window to write a strong response?
• What is the competition likely to look like for this type of opportunity?
• Is the contract value and strategic fit worth the investment of bidding?

Being selective is not giving up - it is working smart. A well-written bid for the right opportunity will always outperform a rushed bid for a marginal one.

Top Tips For Responding To Opportunities

As we’ve mentioned previously, on the face of it, applying for DOS is pretty easy, but winning the business is not. This includes responding to opportunities on the framework. So, here are our top tips for tendering:

Read the opportunity and then read it again - it may sound simple, but if something is unclear, then jot this down as a question to submit.

Plan - make a note of the essential experience and ensure you can meet these criteria. If you can demonstrate the nice-to-have skills as well, make notes of what previous work you have done which corresponds to these.

Write clearly - structure your response in a straightforward way - what you did, how you did it and what happened.

Use the language in the opportunity - the buyer has included this for a reason because of how it aligns to their expectations.

Time - give yourself time to write, re-read and amend your bid before you submit it.

It’s important to take some time to think about what buyers look for in a great DOS bid, and these points should help you get started with just that! And whilst the bidding stage is where the main work happens, in-between opportunities suppliers should be out there marketing the fact they’re on DOS and that they’re working with the public sector.

What to do if you don't win

Unfortunately, you might win or even been shortlisted for every Digital Outcomes and Specialist opportunity you apply for. But, don’t worry because it doesn’t need to have be a lost exercise. Something suppliers seldom do is ask for feedback or even challenge the decision. This can be due to not knowing how, or even if they are allowed to ask.

How to ask for feedback

Once the buying organisation has made their award decision they are required to notify all unsuccessful suppliers, this is usually done by email. Buyers must:

• Tell you why you didn’t win the contract
• Not give you details of the other unsuccessful suppliers scores
• Give positive feedback where needed
• Give only your agreed scores and not the scores of the individual evaluators
• Let you know the score of the winning supplier

So, why is this all useful? Knowing the scores of the winning supplier will allow you to gauge how far off you were from winning the contract. It will also, coupled with the positive feedback allow you to see the weak points of your tender and allow you to focus on those for future opportunities.

Challenging an award decision

Now challenging an award decision is trickier than asking for feedback. This is because you need to have sufficient evidence and be sure that you feel like some part of the procurement process was not compliant.

To be able to successfully challenge a tender award decision you need:

• To know the evaluation criteria
• Look at the original procurement documents in-line with the rejection notice. Check the information tallies up
• Check the reasons they’ve given you, make sense to you and if they don’t request further information
• Ask the buying organisation to provide other bidders scores

The initial response back to the buying organisation isn’t required to come from a legal team, it’s simply you asking for further details and understanding the rationale behind the award decision.

Related guidance

• Digital Outcomes and Specialists 7
• Myths about DOS
• What the Procurement Act 2023 means for suppliers
• What is an Open Framework?
• Ultimate Guide to Public Sector Bidding
• Listing is easy, winning business is not
• What buyers look for in a great DOS bid
• Marketing your DOS listing
• Find a Tender award notice 2026/S 000-004688