This agreement offers central government departments, wider public sector organisations and charities the opportunity to buy services related to:
Assisted Digital – providing support to anyone who can’t access government digital services independently to help them find information and complete transactions.
Digital Inclusion – helping users gain basic digital skills so that they can access government digital services independently and make the most of the internet.
The maximum contract length on the framework is 5 years, this includes any extensions:
- if the contract is less than 5 years, the buyer can extend the contract up to the 5 year limit
- this extension can only be up to 2 years in length maximum.
- a 3 year contract + 2 year extension (5 year total) is acceptable, whereas a 1 year contract + 3 year extension is not within the 2 year extension limit
Product types:
You are able to buy 3 services through the DPS:
- Lot 1: Support
Includes the delivery of support to help users navigate through all or part of a government digital service.
- Lot 2: Design
Includes services relating to the design of a Digital Inclusion training course, product or intervention for any website or digital service
- Lot 3: Delivery
Includes the delivery of Digital Inclusion training on any channel
- gives freedom and flexibility for buyers to define their requirements to meet assisted digital and/or digital inclusion users’ needs
- creates a competitive and fair commercial environment
- places the right value on service providers’ capabilities and rewards them accordingly
- supports and encourages innovation and continuous improvement in service delivery
- supports and encourages strong collaboration across all sectors
- builds digital democracy for citizens, and delivery of inclusion and diversity
Please read the 'How to buy' tab below for detailed instructions on how to find out which suppliers are on this agreement.
- Lot 1: Digital Inclusion and Support DPS
-
Expires:
You must run a mini competition as outlined below to select a supplier.
There is no option for direct award.
Before you run your mini competition, find out which suppliers could meet your needs using the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) Marketplace.
This DPS is organised into three distinct categories:
- services
- delivery method
- location
To search for suppliers and create a shortlist:
- Register as a buyer on the Dynamic Purchasing System Marketplace. Please note that although the pages are headed “Supplier Registration” this is also where you can register as a buyer.
- Navigate to the “Digital Inclusion and Support DPS” under “Technology” and choose the “Access as a Buyer” option and confirm your acceptance of the customer access agreement.
- On your “Manage your DPS Category Exports” page you now have 2 options:
- View appointed suppliers.
- Click on the link to create a new category export. This is how you filter the suppliers that can meet your needs.
- When creating a new category use the filtering tool to specify your needs and create your supplier shortlist.
- Save your filtered list of capable suppliers by clicking the “Save Category” option and give the shortlist a unique name specific to your competition. From the “Manage your Category Exports” page you can then export the list of suppliers and contact details (the export is to an Excel spreadsheet).
- Quit the DPS.
- Use the list to run a further competition. Invite the suppliers identified by the DPS to bid against your detailed specification, evaluation criteria and contract format.
- Important: The list is only valid for 2 working days, from the date it is created. This is because new suppliers may be apply to join at any point. If your further competition excludes eligible suppliers it could breach procurement regulations. Get a new supplier list (steps 3.2 to 5) if you don’t use your list within 2 working days by clicking the Search Again option for your export.
- You can use CCS’s eSourcing tool to run a further competition. The tool is free to use for public sector buyers.
- Your tender process should be proportionate to the value and complexity of your requirement. Suppliers will need a reasonable period of time to review and prepare a response. This includes allowing enough time for suppliers to ask clarification questions and consider your answers before the deadline for written responses.
- Evaluate the responses.
- Request from winning supplier(s) any required evidence that they can meet your needs. Set them a deadline for submitting evidence of 2 days.
- If you’re satisfied with the evidence, award the contract.
- Where appropriate, notify the award on Contracts Finder.
You also have the option to run an e-auction. For more information about how to do this email: info@crowncommercial.gov.uk