Aggregation

Unlock the power of collective buying with Crown Commercial Service

With budgets and resources tighter than ever, public procurement is no easy task. That is why we are committed to helping public sector organisations save significantly through the power of collective buying. Our complimentary aggregation service combines the similar needs of customers from across the public sector, increasing our national buying power to achieve savings that would not be possible through individual buying.

Our team of experts will take care of the aggregated buying process for you, so that you can focus on other business priorities, or more complex procurements. We will make sure we get you the best possible deal, helping you achieve social and economic value.

Get in touch

Get involved

How to buy

Our aggregations are available to all public sector buyers.

To take part in an aggregation you should:

  1. Take a look at our current aggregation opportunities

Find further details for each aggregation by clicking on the event name. The date shown above each event is the closing date for taking part.

  1. Express your interest

To join an aggregation you will need to complete our online form. You should use the form to tell us:

  • what you need (a description of the product or service)
  • volumes
  • timescales

Potential opportunities

Can’t see an aggregation that meets your needs? Reach out and let us know.

We can consider any opportunity for aggregation, provided there is enough interest. We are currently exploring:

  • fibre roll out for schools
  • software asset management (SAM) services
  • Adobe software
  • IT hardware leasing
  • IT hardware longer term contract
  • funds disbursement
  • radio and CCTV
  • HSCN

We can also look into sector specific competitions. Fill in our online form stating your area(s) of interest in the comments box and we will get in touch to discuss your needs.

Not suitable for

Aggregations work best with common goods or services that will attract more than one customer and supplier. They are not suitable for

  • complex needs
  • services or needs unique to a single buyer
  • buyers with a specific or short deadline (it can take some time to get enough customers together to achieve the best savings)

Time to supply

We advertise open aggregation opportunities about 8 weeks before the tender is published.

Once the tender is published, it takes about 6 to 8 weeks for the procurement process to be awarded. After this, with support from the aggregation team, your orders can be submitted to the winning supplier. These timelines may vary depending on the size and complexity of the procurement.

For more specific timelines, take a look at our current aggregation opportunities.

Regular aggregations

You can explore our regular aggregations below.

Microsoft licensing

About the event

To support the CCS negotiated DTA21 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), we run a programme of aggregated competitions to help you secure a value for money Microsoft Licence Solutions Partner. (LSP).

What can you buy?

The programme of procurements covers all enrolment dates and covers all Microsoft licensed products.  

Who can join

Each procurement is available to all public and third sector organisations who buy their licenses through an LSP (reseller).

Please note that all participating customers will receive the maximum discounts available to them from Microsoft through this competition. This is normally the discounts within DTA21 negotiated by CCS, however some customers may receive greater discounts (for example, health customers may be eligible for the N365 discounts).

Why get involved?

The benefits of joining this opportunity are:

  • clear account management from the winning supplier including assistance in new products and true up/downs, suggestions to optimise your estate and ongoing contract management
  • specialist support from our in-house software team
  • no commitment to enter a contract
  • a legally compliant route to market to appoint an LSP (reseller)
  • price savings in a competitive market
  • process savings from not having to run the competition yourself

In our most recent aggregations, we helped customers from the various sectors save on average 3.5%.

Timetable

An outline of timelines is available within our Microsoft video. See our events page for precise dates for the next couple of competitions.

How to join the opportunity

See our Microsoft video for further information. To register your interest, complete our online form, quoting ‘Microsoft aggregation’ and one of our team will be in touch.

IT hardware

About the event

We run regular aggregations for IT hardware and associated services through lot 2 of Technology Products and Services (RM6068). These run roughly every 3 months throughout the year.

What can you buy?

Lot 2 provides hardware requirements, including but not limited to end user devices, infrastructure hardware, consumables and peripheral equipment. 

It also provides services such as end user support, service desk, integration, system installation, project management, training, leasing (hire of goods), security management, hardware asset management (HAM), network infrastructure management services, device as a service (DaaS).

Who can join

Each procurement is available to all public and third sector organisations, whether large or small.

Why get involved?

The benefits of joining this opportunity are:

  • potential savings
  • no commitment to enter a contract
  • a legally compliant route to market
  • process savings from not having to run the competition yourself

Timetable

See our events page for precise dates for the next couple of competitions.

How to join the opportunity

To register your interest, complete our online form, quoting ‘IT hardware’ and one of our team will be in touch.

Mobile voice and data services

About the event

For many public sector organisations, the routine purchase of mobile voice and data services can lead to varying contract end dates. This makes it difficult to switch suppliers to gain better value, as savings may be reduced due to early termination charges.

To support you with this challenge, we run regular national further competitions for mobile voice and data services under lot 2 of our Mobile Voice and Data Services (RM6261) agreement. This will help you achieve savings which will not be reduced by early termination of existing contracts.

What you can buy

Mobile voice and data services.

Who can join?

Available to all public and third sector organisations.

To decide if this particular aggregation is right for you, consider the following:

  • this aggregation is not suitable if you have an urgent need
  • are you confident that your requirement will be fulfilled through this competition? 
  • are you able to accept the network coverage provided by the suppliers listed under lot 2 of the agreement?
  • are you in a position to migrate at least 80% of your nominated connections to the winning bidder within 12 months of award of the aggregated procurement?

Get in touch with the team if you want to learn more about the scope of this aggregation

Why get involved?

Benefits of join this aggregation include:

  • phased migration across a 12 month period: the requirement is for 80% of nominated connections to transition to the winning bidder within the first year of the contract award, giving flexibility when existing contracts are yet to terminate and helping to avoid early termination charges
  • co-terminus contract term: all connections will cease on a common end date helping to prevent inconsistent contract end dates to simplify future procurement
  • ‘build your own’ tariff approach: the aggregated procurement allows for a base connection with no line rental charge, negating zero-use costs

Timetable

See our events page for precise dates for the next couple of competitions.

How to join the opportunity

To register your interest, complete our online form, quoting ‘Mobile aggregation’ and one of our team will be in touch.

Joining the CCS aggregation for mobile voice and data has provided a 51% saving against the previous contract which under the current economic climate is essential. The aggregation attracted 16 buyers which increased the buying power, encouraging the suppliers to pass on savings because of the volume of the collective connections and data volume requirements.
Alicia Wydell
Senior Procurement Specialist, Kirklees Council

  • 800 schools benefit from enhanced broadband

    Requirement
    Schools across the UK were struggling to access fast and reliable broadband connectivity due to being in rural areas. Our support was required to procure gigabit-capable connectivity for the schools.
    Solution
    After a competitive procurement exercise under our Gigabit Capable Connectivity DPS, contracts were awarded to BT and Virgin Media to provide gigabit-capable connectivity to over 800 school sites.
    Results
    • the improved connectivity will have immeasurable positive effects on the lives of school children, staff and communities across the country, including an improved education
    Links

  • NHS trusts benefit from Microsoft license purchase

    Requirement
    58 NHS trusts needed to purchase multiple Microsoft licenses to enable the day-to-day running of their services.
    Solution
    After a competitive tender under our Technology Products and Associated Services 2 (TePAS 2) agreement, a contract was awarded to a Microsoft Licensing Solution Provider for the licenses.
    Results
    • the aggregation saved £3.2 million across the participating trusts, alongside saving a considerable amount of time and effort
    Links

  • Customers save on mobile voice and data services

    Requirement
    Customers across the public sector came together to make savings on their mobile voice and data services.
    Solution
    After a competitive procurement exercise under our Mobile Voice and Data Services agreement, an aggregation ran to provide coordinated contract end dates, reduced costs and enhanced savings.
    Results
    • the customers benefitted from monetary savings of 80%, amounting to £874,000
    Links

Latest blogs and case studies

  1. News and blogs | 1st October 2024

    Our new CEO, Sam Ulyatt sets out her vision and priorities for CCS

    Two months into her new role as CEO, Sam Ulyatt sat down with Civil Service World to talk all things procurement

    Read more about Our new CEO, Sam Ulyatt sets out her vision and priorities for CCS
  2. News and blogs | 24th July 2024

    More than £3.5 billion of central government spend given to small businesses in the last year

    Small businesses benefited from an increase of £370 million in central government spend over the last year through Crown Commercial Service (CCS).

    Read more about More than £3.5 billion of central government spend given to small businesses in the last year
  3. Case study | 25th August 2023

    Customers save over 39% on Adobe software

    Are you interested in this live aggregation opportunity? In this case study we explore how customers saved over 39% on Adobe software by joining our aggregation and how you can benefit too.

    Read more about Customers save over 39% on Adobe software

Browse all aggregation blogs and case studies

Upcoming events

View all

  1. 21 May 2025

    Procurex England 2025

  2. 30 April 2025

    Aggregation: IT Hardware, summer 2025

Resources

Explore our on-demand webinars and digital brochure to learn more about CCS aggregations.

Webinars (1 )

  1. Microsoft Licensing Aggregation

    Access webinar

Downloadable Resources (1 )

  1. Commercial agreements: digital brochure

    Download our updated digital brochure for the latest information on our agreements and how we can help you add power to your procurement.

    Download our digital brochure

Is there something we can help you with?

To learn more about how we can support your aggregation procurement needs, get in touch.

Your details

Let us know which current or potential aggregation(s) you are interested in joining

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Talk to us

You can also contact us by email or phone

Email: info@crowncommercial.gov.uk
Telephone: 0345 410 2222

CCS customer services team is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.