Public sector procurement runs on acronyms and specific terms of art, and G-Cloud is no exception. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it’ll get you talking the talk, whether you’re new to the framework or just need a quick refresher on what’s changed recently.
The framework itself
G-Cloud: stands for government cloud. It’s a framework agreement that lets public sector buyers procure cloud hosting, software, and support services from pre-approved suppliers, without running a full tendering exercise for every purchase. G-Cloud is managed by the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) and is now in its 15th iteration, with 4,233 suppliers awarded a place, around 90% of them SMEs.
GCA: the Government Commercial Agency, formerly known as Crown Commercial Service (CCS). It’s the same organisation under a new name, and is the body suppliers deal with for G-Cloud applications, compliance, and management information. If you’ve seen older material referring to CCS, that’s the same body under its previous name.
CCS: Crown Commercial Service, the former name of the Government Commercial Agency (GCA). You may still see CCS referenced in older documents and previous G-Cloud iterations.
Iteration: which version of a framework is currently running. G-Cloud 15 is the 15th iteration of the framework.
Open framework: the structural model introduced with G-Cloud 15 under the Procurement Act 2023. Rather than each iteration being a one-off, closed process, an open framework runs across several years in phases (for G-Cloud 15, roughly 18 months, 18 months, then 12 months), reopening at each phase for new suppliers to join and existing suppliers to update their offering and pricing. This is a genuine change from every previous G-Cloud iteration, where missing the application window meant waiting for the next one to launch from scratch.
Lots and how they’re structured
Lot: a category within the framework that groups similar services together. Suppliers apply to the lot or lots that match what they offer.
- G-Cloud 15’s lots are:
- Lot 1a – Cloud Hosting (infrastructure and platform as a service)
- Lot 1b – Cloud Hosting above OFFICIAL (the same services as 1a, provided to meet the additional requirements of higher security classifications)
- Lot 2a – Infrastructure Software as a Service (iSaaS)
- Lot 2b – Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Lot 3 – Cloud Support
The platforms suppliers and buyers use
Digital Marketplace: GCA’s platform for applying to G-Cloud and managing your listing once awarded. It also hosts the public-facing catalogue that buyers search and filter to find services, which anyone can browse, not just registered buyers.
Find a Tender: the UK government’s central digital platform for publishing procurement notices, including G-Cloud’s tender notices and contract award notices.
SSP: stands for Service Submission Portal, an older term for the platform suppliers submit and manage their services through. On G-Cloud this now refers to the Digital Marketplace.
Applying and being assessed
Service Definition: a supporting document you can upload alongside your G-Cloud application to expand on how your service works, covering things like on-boarding and off-boarding, technical requirements, and case studies. There’s no word limit on this document, so it’s worth using it properly.
SFIA Rate Card: stands for Skills for the Information Age rate card, a standard document covering day rates for different levels of consultancy. Most commonly used for Lot 3 (Cloud Support), since that lot relates to people-based services, though suppliers in other lots can include one too if relevant.
Technical Ability Certificate (TAC): a certificate confirming your technical capability to deliver a service, signed by a reference customer. Under G-Cloud 15, a TAC is required for every lot. If you’re on Lots 2a, 2b, or 3, it needs to be signed before you can enter into a call-off contract.
Cyber Essentials / Cyber Essentials Plus: UK government-backed cybersecurity certifications. Cyber Essentials is mandatory for every G-Cloud 15 supplier, with the higher-tier Cyber Essentials Plus specifically required for Lots 1a and 1b. Evidence of certification is required within 12 months of your award date.
Award criteria: the criteria a buyer uses to evaluate submissions against, agreed before the tender is published.
MAT: Most Advantageous Tender, the standard now used to award public contracts under the Procurement Act 2023. This replaces the older MEAT standard (Most Economically Advantageous Tender), which required price to be evaluated as part of every award. MAT removes that requirement, so buyers can weight factors like quality, sustainability, and social value more heavily where appropriate.
Buying and call-offs
Call-off contract: the actual contract a buyer enters into with a supplier, “called off” from the wider framework agreement, for a specific piece of work or service.
Award without competition: one of two routes buyers can use to award a call-off contract on G-Cloud 15. A buyer searches, filters, and awards directly, without running a further tendering stage. This is usually the route for urgent requirements or lower-value goods and services, and this term replaces what was previously known as direct award.
Award with competition: the other route, usually used for higher-value or more complex requirements. This runs as a two-stage or multi-stage process, and can include optional stages such as a site visit, dialogue, negotiation, or presentation, alongside a mandatory tendering stage. This term replaces what was previously known as further competition.
ITT: Invitation to Tender, the document a buyer issues setting out the scope of a requirement and inviting suppliers to submit a tender.
Shortlisting: the stage at which suppliers are invited to submit a quote or full bid, ahead of final evaluation.
Framework mechanics
Framework: an agreement put in place with a range of suppliers, allowing buyers to place orders without running an individual tendering exercise for every purchase.
Framework Agreement (FWA): the terms agreed between the managing body and suppliers admitted to the framework. In practice, this is the contract every supplier on G-Cloud is bound by.
Standstill period: a mandatory pause between a contract award decision and the contract actually being signed, giving unsuccessful suppliers a window to challenge the decision if needed. Under the Procurement Act 2023, the standstill period is a minimum of 8 working days, reduced from the 10 calendar days required under the previous regime.
PIN: Prior Information Notice, the older term for an early notice letting the market know a procurement or framework is coming, ahead of the full tender. Under the Procurement Act 2023, this function is now split across two separate notice types on Find a Tender: a pipeline notice, which gives early sight of upcoming procurements above a certain value, and a preliminary market engagement notice, used where a buyer wants to engage the market before finalising their requirements.
MI: Management Information. As a supplier on G-Cloud, you’re contractually required to report your spend to GCA every month, whether you’ve won any call-off contracts or not. Where you haven’t invoiced any buyers, you still need to submit a declaration confirming no business has been conducted.
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