29.11.17
CCS extends G-Cloud 9 until 2019
The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has confirmed this week that it will extend the G-Cloud 9 framework until May 2019 despite some concerns from suppliers.
The government agency said it had not taken the decision lightly, but needed more time to develop the new framework, G-Cloud 10.
The work is being completed in association with the Government Digital Service (GDS). The two had previously said the framework would undergo iterations often, but this delay will mean G-Cloud 9 has been the same for two years.
In a message to suppliers today, the CCS said: “Previously, we have undertaken continuous and regular refreshes for each of the individual agreements.
“However, this hasn’t always given us adequate time for the Digital Marketplace to be developed beyond simply the refresh of these agreements, to meet identified user needs.
“More time is now needed to transform the platform and make it scalable and more flexible, enabling more framework services and improved customer and supplier functionality based on what user needs have identified.”
The CCS says it aims to focus on scalability, new flexible contract models, improved technology service categorisation, better MI capture and providing a speedier service.
The changes are all part of plans to make government easier to work with, but this delay will mean many of the initial advantages of moving to the G-Cloud system will be limited.
Other services offered by the CCS also have confirmed end dates. DOS 2 will expire on or before 27 January next year, while Cyber 2 will go out on February 2.
In May this year, James Passingham, chief technical officer at Foehn, wrote for PSE on how to get the most out of G-Cloud 9.
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