UK government to launch £16bn IT services framework after six-month delay

Invitation to tender is expected on 21st March

The UK government is reportedly set to launch a £16 billion IT services procurement framework following a six-month delay, expanding its scope by 25% compared to initial proposals.

According to The Register, Crown Commercial Service (CCS) - the executive agency responsible for government procurement - has confirmed that the invitation to tender for the Technology Services 4 framework will be issued on 21st March 2025.

The framework, designed to provide IT services to public sector organisations, was originally expected to open for competition in October 2024, with a maximum projected value of £12 billion. The delay was attributed to the introduction of the Procurement Act, which came into force in February 2025.

Among the key legislative changes are stricter measures on supplier conduct, including the ability to exclude organisations with a history of bid-rigging, price fixing or other anti-competitive practices. A newly established debarment list will prevent certain suppliers from participating in public sector contracts for up to five years unless they can demonstrate corrective action.

The Technology Services 4 framework covers a broad range of IT service areas, including digital consultancy, service integration, infrastructure management, cybersecurity, data services, application development and transformation projects. The government’s objective is to secure competitive pricing and streamline procurement for public sector bodies.

This latest procurement initiative follows significant government investment in IT services, including £3.8 billion on legacy system contracts for HMRC and £1 billion in cloud migration projects. The expansion of Technology Services 4 signals continued demand for large-scale digital transformation and service modernisation across the UK public sector.