The Ministry of Defence is to set up a £1.5bn multi-year framework to address its need for external contractors in IT and digital roles.
The MoD has published a prior information notice outlining its intent to “revise its approach” to the use of temporary tech employees. Its new strategy will involve the creation of a procurement vehicle containing multiple lots covering a variety of areas of expertise.
The ministry intends that the deal will be able to supply all “capability and expertise required to deliver MoD digital and IT programmes and transformation for the next three to five years”.
It is not yet clear how many lots will be featured, nor what areas each of them will address. But the MoD expects to ultimately appoint to the framework a total of between six and nine “strategic delivery partners”.
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“The MoD will define the lot and initial capability required, but will not constrain what capability suppliers can put forward as long as it fits with the capability family under the specific lot,” the ministry said.
The framework will last for an initial term of three years, and could be extended for a further two. The MoD anticipates that it will spend about £300m a year via the deal – adding up a potential overall outlay of £1.5bn.
To help shape the details of the framework, the ministry is hosting an event – alongside industry body techUK – in London on 6 November. Interested suppliers are invited to attend and discuss with the department the best way to proceed with the procurement.
The MoD ultimately plans to sign contracts with its chosen partners in July 2020.