If you buy or sell software into the UK public sector, there’s a new framework on the horizon that’s worth getting ahead of. The Government Commercial Agency (GCA), formerly the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), is developing the Public Sector Software Solutions framework, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most significant changes to software procurement in years.
What is Public Sector Software Solutions?
Public Sector Software Solutions (PSSS) is a new pan-government collaborative agreement, and GCA wants it to become the primary route to market for software procurement across the entire UK public sector. To get there, it will consolidate three existing frameworks, Back Office Software 2 (RM6285), Vertical Application Solutions (RM6259) and Big Data & Analytics (RM6195), into one flexible agreement valued at up to £12 billion over four years.
GCA is also establishing it under the Procurement Act 2023, which means it gains access to commercial flexibilities that older frameworks simply don’t have. At the Market Engagement Event held on 25th March, for example, GCA set out its headline objectives for the framework: standardising its software offer across the board, supporting strategic initiatives like centralised buying, and making it easier to procure innovative software solutions using the new legislation’s flexibilities. Because of this scope, GCA is taking a phased approach, with PSSS as the first phase and further development expected during the framework’s lifetime.
Who is it for?
PSSS is aimed at software suppliers of virtually every kind, not just the big enterprise vendors. You’re likely a fit if you deliver:
- Software as a Service (SaaS), on-premise, or hybrid solutions
- Enterprise-scale systems such as ERP, HR and payroll, finance, or CRM
- Specialist or vertical software for sectors like health, education, housing, or blue light services
- Data, analytics or AI-driven tools
- Solutions already listed on Back Office Software 2 (RM6285), Vertical Application Solutions (RM6259), or Big Data & Analytics (RM6195), since these frameworks will fold into PSSS
GCA has also signalled a clear intent to support SME participation, so this isn’t a framework designed with large vendors in mind only. That range is deliberate: GCA wants PSSS to be the framework buyers reach for regardless of how or where a supplier’s software is delivered, so it’s worth checking your offer against the list above even if you don’t tick every box.
In short: if you sell software into the public sector and fit any of the above, this framework will matter to you.
What we know about the Lots so far
GCA hasn’t finalised the lot structure yet. Currently, it’s still in active market and stakeholder engagement, and is drafting procurement documentation through to summer 2026. It’s also indicated it may hold further supplier engagement sessions later in the year, so that’s worth bearing in mind if you’re working to the “Summer 2026” timeline we mention below, as it could move.
Here’s the proposed structure shared so far:
- Lot 1: Enterprise Software
- Lot 2: Data, Analytics and AI
- Lot 3: Business Applications and Citizen’s Services
- Lot 4: Education, Health and Social Care Solutions
- Lot 5: Housing, Environmental and Planning Solutions
- Lot 6: Blue Light Solutions
We’ve broken down what’s included in each lot near the bottom of this page, based on what GCA shared at the Market Engagement Event. However, GCA will only confirm the final structure once it publishes the formal Find a Tender (FTS) notice.
The Market Engagement
The most recent Market Engagement event for Public Sector Software Solutions was held on 25th March 2026.
We pulled together the key headlines and insights from that session into a webinar, which you can catch up on if you missed it.
Watch the webinar replay here.
Why this matters for suppliers
To understand the opportunity, it helps to know what’s pulling buyers onto the framework in the first place. PSSS gives public sector organisations one compliant route to market instead of juggling multiple frameworks, with the option to aggregate their purchasing power for better pricing and terms. It’s also built to support access to newer technology, including AI and automation, in line with the government’s wider digital transformation agenda. That’s the pitch that will bring buyers onto PSSS, and it’s worth knowing since it shapes who you’ll be selling to and how they’ll be buying.
For suppliers, this translates into a genuinely significant opportunity. At up to £12 billion, PSSS will be one of the largest software frameworks the UK public sector has ever run, and a place on it gives you a compliant route to sell to thousands of buyers, from central government departments to local councils and NHS trusts. GCA has also signalled a clear intent to support SME participation, so this isn’t shaping up to be an enterprise-only framework. So if you’re already on RM6285, RM6259 or RM6195, it’s worth starting to think now about how your current position translates into a PSSS bid, since PSSS will bring those frameworks together.
It’s also worth planning for the aggregation piece specifically. Because buyers will be able to combine their purchasing power, larger collective contracts could become more common than they are today, so think ahead about how your pricing and delivery capacity would scale if demand starts arriving in bigger batches than you’re used to.
How Advice Cloud can help
We know frameworks like this can feel like a lot to take in, especially while the details are still taking shape. Whether you’re a buyer trying to work out what PSSS means for how you procure, or a supplier planning your bid strategy, we’re here to help you make sense of it.
We support suppliers with framework applications, bid writing and procurement strategy, and help buyers identify the right route to market for their needs. Book in for a free chat about how we can help you with Public Sector Software Solutions.
A Few Quick Answers
RM6396 is simply the reference number GCA has assigned to the Public Sector Software Solutions framework. As for timing, GCA expects to award the framework in Winter 2027, following the formal tender notice. That said, its hints about further engagement sessions this summer or autumn mean that date could shift.
Because PSSS is a pan-government collaborative agreement, it’s open to any UK public sector organisation, and yes, SMEs are very much part of the plan, with the lot structure and entry requirements being designed to enable smaller suppliers to participate rather than shut them out.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does RM6396 stand for? It’s simply the reference number GCA has assigned to the Public Sector Software Solutions framework.
When will Public Sector Software Solutions go live? GCA expects to award the framework in Winter 2027, following the formal tender notice. However, it has hinted at further engagement sessions this summer or autumn, so this timing could shift.
Can any public sector organisation use PSSS? Yes. It’s a pan-government collaborative agreement, open to central government, local authorities, NHS bodies, police and fire services, education, and devolved administrations.
Can SMEs bid for a place on PSSS? Yes. GCA is specifically designing the framework to enable SME participation, not just accommodate large enterprise vendors.
What is the value of the framework? Up to £12 billion over four years, making it one of the largest software procurement frameworks in UK public sector history.
What software can be purchased through PSSS? SaaS, on-premise and hybrid solutions, spanning enterprise software, specialist vertical applications, and AI-powered tools.
When will the final lots be confirmed? Only once GCA publishes the formal Find a Tender notice. It’s still gathering feedback and may run further engagement into autumn 2026, so treat the structure below as proposed rather than final.
How do I start preparing to bid? Review your current frameworks for gaps, and make sure your technical capability, compliance documentation and case studies are up to date. If you’re already on RM6285, RM6259 or RM6195, it’s worth thinking now about how that translates into a PSSS bid. Book in for a free chat if you’d like a hand.
Lot details
At the Market Engagement Event in March 2026, GCA shared the proposed lots for PSSS. Here’s a breakdown of the types of software included in each one.
Lot 1: Enterprise Software
Enterprise Resource Planning
- Core ERP
HR & Payroll
- Workforce
- Time Recording
- Learning
- Payroll
- Benefits
- Absence Management
- Talent
- Recruitment
- Training
Financial/Accounting
- Budgets
- Expenses
- Revenue Management
- Asset Management
- Financials
- Accounts Payable
- Accounts Receivable
- General Ledger
- Tax
- Inventory
Procurement and Supply Chain Management
- eSourcing
- Procure to Pay
- Source to Pay
- Catalogues
- Contract Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Service Portal
Customer Relationship Management
- Teleservice
- Contact Management
- Sales Lead Management
- Forecasting
- Case Management
- Web Chat
Lot 2: Data, Analytics and AI
Big Data Management
- Collection
- Storage
- Governance
- Organisation
- Quality assessment
- Control
- Virtualisation
- Administration
- Delivery
Data Mining, Risking and Science
- Anomaly detection
- Association
- Rule learning
- Clustering
- Classification
- Regression
- Summarisation
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
- Model
- Build
- Training
- Testing
- Deployment
- Monitoring
Applying AI within a big data environment to give systems the ability to learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed.
Reporting & Analytics
- Translating data into information, and information into insight
- Analysis of data or statistics to identify patterns that support decision making
- Visual representations of data sets
Search and Data Discovery
- Searching through high volumes of data to retrieve the required terms and information, making data more accessible, such as extracting text from images
- Detecting patterns and outliers by visually navigating data or applying guided advanced analytics
Lots 3, 4, 5 and 6: Sector-Specific Solutions
Lot 3: Business Applications, Solutions and Citizens Services
- Revenues and Benefits Solutions
- Cash receipting solutions
- Civil Enforcement solutions
- Other Business Application Solutions
- Library solutions
- Democratic and Citizen Engagement Systems
- Electoral Management Solutions
Lot 4: Education, Health and Social Care Solutions
- Learning Applications
- Education, Academic Scheduling and Management Solutions
- Community Health and Social Care market specific solutions
- Social Care Case Management
- Enterprise Health Solutions
Lot 5: Housing, Environment and Planning Solutions
- Environmental Solutions
- Planning Building Control
- Local Land Charges
- Regulatory Services
- Property, Housing Management
- Geographic Information System (GIS) solutions
- Waste Management Solutions
- Built Environment Solutions
Lot 6: Blue Light Solutions
- Blue Light Operations
- Blue Light Data and Information Management
Last updated: July 2026. Information is based on publicly available GCA documentation and market engagement activity. We’ll keep this article updated as new details are published.
