Government IT Tenders and Digital Services Contracts UK
Find active it and digital services contracts across NHS, local authorities, central government, and public sector frameworks.
IT and Digital Services procurement in the UK public sector
The UK public sector spends over £20 billion per year on IT and digital services, making technology one of the most active areas of government procurement. Central government departments, NHS trusts, local authorities, and educational institutions all procure software, managed services, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud infrastructure, and digital transformation programmes.
IT and digital procurement in the UK is distinctive because of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework agreements designed specifically for technology. G-Cloud (now G-Cloud 14) allows buyers to directly award contracts to suppliers on the framework without running a full competitive tender, while the Digital Outcomes and Specialists (now DOS6 / Spark) framework covers bespoke development, user research, and service design. These frameworks are particularly accessible to SMEs because qualification is based on capability rather than financial size.
For contracts outside framework arrangements, Find a Tender carries high-value IT notices above the £138,760 threshold (services, central government), and Contracts Finder captures below-threshold opportunities including software licences, support contracts, and smaller development projects. Many councils and NHS trusts publish IT contracts worth £30,000 to £500,000 that sit below framework minimums and are open to direct bidding.
Key requirements for public sector IT include Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus (mandatory for contracts involving handling government data), GDPR and UK Data Protection Act compliance, ISO 27001 for contracts handling sensitive data, and evidence of relevant case studies in comparable public sector environments.
Common contract types
- ✓Software licensing and SaaS subscriptions
- ✓Managed IT support and service desk
- ✓Cybersecurity assessments and monitoring
- ✓Cloud migration and infrastructure
- ✓Custom software development
- ✓Data analytics and business intelligence
- ✓Digital transformation programmes
- ✓ERP and business systems implementation
Key frameworks
- ›G-Cloud 14 (Crown Commercial Service)
- ›Digital Outcomes and Specialists 6 (DOS6 / Spark)
- ›Technology Products and Associated Services (RM6098)
- ›Network Services 3 (RM3808)
- ›Cybersecurity Services 3 (RM6106)
Frequently asked questions — IT and Digital Services tenders
What is G-Cloud and how do I get on it?
G-Cloud is a Crown Commercial Service framework that lets public sector buyers purchase cloud-hosted services — including SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS — without running a full tender process. Suppliers apply during periodic G-Cloud application windows, typically open for 4 to 6 weeks. You submit service descriptions, pricing, and terms, which are then published on the Digital Marketplace. Buyers search the catalogue and can award directly, which makes G-Cloud one of the fastest routes to public sector revenue for technology companies.
Is Cyber Essentials mandatory for all government IT contracts?
Cyber Essentials is mandatory for all central government contracts that involve handling personal information or providing certain ICT products and services. NHS contracts handling patient data typically require Cyber Essentials Plus (the independently assessed version). Local authority requirements vary: some mandate it, others accept it as a scoring criterion. If you supply to the public sector, achieving Cyber Essentials before tendering is strongly recommended as its absence is increasingly used as a pass/fail gateway.
What is the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework?
Digital Outcomes and Specialists (now rebranded as Spark) is a CCS framework for buying bespoke digital services — service design, user research, software development, and data science — that cannot be purchased from a cloud catalogue. Buyers post requirements and suppliers on the framework submit proposals in a competitive mini-competition. Over 90% of suppliers on the framework are SMEs, making it one of the most accessible government frameworks for digital agencies and specialist tech consultancies.
How do I find NHS digital transformation tenders?
NHS digital transformation tenders are published across Find a Tender (high-value contracts), Contracts Finder (below threshold), and NHS-specific portals. Many NHS trusts also procure through the NHS Shared Business Services IT frameworks and Health Systems Support Framework (HSSF). Setting keyword alerts in KimonBids for terms like "EPR", "digital transformation", "clinical systems", and "NHS" will surface relevant opportunities across all four procurement portals in real time.
What turnover do I need to bid for government IT contracts?
There is no universal minimum turnover for government IT contracts. Under the Procurement Act 2023, buyers cannot specify a minimum turnover that is more than twice the estimated annual contract value. G-Cloud has no minimum turnover requirement. Some larger framework lots specify minimum insurance levels (typically £1 million public liability) which correlates with a minimum business scale, but many IT contracts worth £50,000 to £500,000 are accessible to companies with turnover under £1 million.
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