In this webinar, Advice Cloud CEO & Founder Chris Farthing walks through everything network and connectivity suppliers need to know about NS4 – from the expected lot structure to what GCA heard during pre-market engagement.
A note on this recording
This webinar was recorded in June 2026, ahead of GCA’s market engagement session on 7 July 2026. Since recording, GCA have published a planned timeline and clarified several details. Please read the following before watching:
- NS4 will be a closed framework, not an open framework. The option to reapply at a reopening point, as discussed in this session, does not apply.
- The framework term is four years with optional extensions, not eight years as stated in this session.
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GCA have now published a planned timeline (subject to change):
| Event | Planned date |
|---|---|
| ITT issued | 21st August 2026 |
| Clarification period opens | 11th September 2026 |
| Clarification response deadline | 25th September 2026 |
| Bid submission deadline | 2nd October 2026 |
| Intention to Award letters issued | 8th March 2027 |
| Confirmation of Award | 17th March 2027 |
| NS4 go-live | 15th April 2027 |
| NS3 expiry (Lots 1c & 1d) | 22nd May 2027 |
| NS3 expiry (all other lots) | 17th July 2027 |
All dates are planned and subject to change.
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No ISO accreditations are required at framework level. They may be requested by buyers at call-off stage, but you do not need them to get listed.
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FVRA thresholds will vary by lot. GCA confirmed the metrics remain the same as NS3, but thresholds will differ per lot. The ITT will confirm exact levels.
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Insurance levels are consistent across all lots.
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Prompt Payment requirements reference PPN 015, not PPN 018.
For the most up-to-date information, visit the GCA NS4 page or read our updated Knowledge Hub articles.
Chris covers:
- What NS4 is and how it differs from NS3
- The expected Lots – what’s new, what’s gone, and where your services fit
- What GCA heard from suppliers and buyers during market engagement (Dec 2025 – Feb 2026)
- Whether NS4 is the right framework for your business
- What certifications and evidence you’ll need to apply
- What to do now, before the ITT publishes in August
Download the slides and resources from this session here.
New to Network Services frameworks? Read: Network Services 4 (NS4): How to Get Listed and Win Government Tenders.
Want support with your NS4 applications?
Our team helped 24 clients secure 52 listings on NS3, with a 100% quality score across every single one. Book a chat with us to talk through your options.
