G-Cloud 10 will launch later this year as the government changed its mind on delaying the new framework until 2019.
In November Crown Commercial Service (CCS) extended G-Cloud 9 by up to a year, meaning the framework could have run for an unprecedented two-year period. This meant that suppliers would not have been able to add new services to their offering, or update pricing.
CCS has, however, today announced a U-turn, with G-Cloud 10 opening for £600 million worth of bids in April.
Oliver Dowden, minister for implementation, said: “I’m pleased to confirm that we will re-let the G-Cloud framework, which provides opportunities to many small businesses in the digital sector.
“This will provide innovative online solutions to government, supporting the delivery of efficient, effective public services. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, so it’s crucial that we listen to them when shaping policy, as we have done today.”
It appears that suppliers managed to lean on the government and get it to change its mind.
There does not appear to be any significant changes to G-Cloud for the tenth version, except for the possibility that the Cyber Security Services framework may be brought back into the G-Cloud.
The cost of not delaying the new programme was that the governing body is unlikely to have had a chance to make the sweeping changes after feedback from customers.
