Technology Products & Associated Services 3 (TePAS 3, RM6398) is the next iteration of one of Government Commercial Agency’s (GCA) biggest technology frameworks. It’s currently in the pre-market engagement phase, and the shape of it is starting to firm up.
The framework it’s succeeding
TePAS 2 (RM6098) has been the primary route to market for technology products and services across central government, local government, health, education and the wider public sector since October 2023. It’s a broad agreement, covering everything from end-user devices and servers to software licences, networking equipment and managed services, and it expires in October 2027.
TePAS 3 isn’t a brand new framework built from scratch. GCA has confirmed that the current TePAS 2 agreement will form the foundation for the new version, with the scope and user journey enhanced rather than reinvented. If you’re familiar with how TePAS 2 works, TePAS 3 should feel like recognisable territory, just with some meaningful changes layered on top.
What TePAS 3 will cover
Based on what GCA has published so far, TePAS 3 is expected to include:
- Hardware, software and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products
- SaaS and associated services
- Peripherals and networking equipment
- Sector-specific lots, likely to include health and education, continuing the approach TePAS 2 introduced
One of the more practical changes suppliers should note is the introduction of new purchase models: service, consumption and leasing options, alongside the more traditional outright purchase route. This gives buyers more flexibility in how they pay for technology, and suppliers who can offer these models may find themselves better positioned once the framework is live.
GCA has also flagged access to aggregation (collective buying) as a benefit of the new framework, which is worth understanding if you’re pricing at scale across multiple public sector customers.
Who can apply
TePAS 3 is being designed with multiple suppliers in mind, and GCA has been explicit that this includes SMEs, not just the largest technology providers. GCA has been running dedicated supplier engagement sessions specifically for SMEs, which tells you something about who they expect and want to see coming through.
If you’re a smaller supplier and you’ve assumed frameworks like this are out of reach, it’s worth a second look once more detail is published.
The timeline
GCA’s published timeline for TePAS 3 currently looks like this:
| Activity | Estimated dates |
|---|---|
| Pre-market engagement | October 2025 to September 2026 |
| Drafting of procurement documentation | September 2026 |
| Publication of Find a Tender notice (ITT) | January 2027 |
| Framework Award | August 2027 |
That’s still several months away. But preparation for a framework like this, gathering evidence, understanding lot structure, getting compliance documentation in order, takes longer than most suppliers expect. Starting early is the difference between a smooth application and a rushed one.
Why this matters now
TePAS 2 expires in October 2027. For suppliers who currently rely on it as a route to market, TePAS 3 is the only way to keep that access once TePAS 2 closes. Getting onto TePAS 3 is not automatic, and it isn’t an open framework suppliers can join at any point during its term. The application window is the one that matters.
We covered similar ground when TePAS 2 launched. If you want that context, our TePAS 2 FAQs article is still available, though it reflects the previous framework rather than this one.
What to do next
At this stage, there’s nothing to apply for yet. What’s useful now is staying close to what GCA publishes, understanding how TePAS 3 differs from TePAS 2 as more detail emerges, and starting to think about what your application will need to cover.
We’ll be publishing more as GCA releases further detail, including a write-up of the SME-focused market engagement session already held. Watch this space.
