As well as using their own frameworks and procurement systems, public sector clients can choose to use official frameworks, provided by the cabinet office. There are some benefits to them doing this – they get a lot of support and guidance with everything from their initial listing through to billing.
There are various frameworks on offer for different kinds of requirement, and the one that’s most interesting to a team supplying digital work is the DOS framework (short for Digital Outcomes and Specialists). This framework deals with digital delivery such as software, web sites etc. (that’s the outcomes bit), and even finding specific suppliers to work contract (that’s the specialists bit).
The frameworks renew, historically every year or so (though Brexit really messed this up – more on that below). What’s important is, when a renewal opens up, if you want to be on that framework, you MUST apply for it then. Once applications are closed, you cannot get yourself on the framework until the next one opens up.
Why does this matter? Because you cannot bid for any project on the DOS framework if you are not a registered supplier on that framework.
SO…it stands to reason that you should put in the effort to get yourself on there, even if you don’t think you’ll use it…because you can always be on it and never use it, but you cannot get on there if you weren’t at the right time.
Historically, not ALL opportunities have been on the DOS framework, but this goes back to when public sector procurement was much more entangled with the EU, and to be honest, the previous frameworks have been fairly lightweight in terms of what you needed to do to get on there – just a bunch of questions, essentially.
DOS7 – which opens May 12th for applications – promises to deliver a bit more punch. It’s not known exactly what they’ll be requiring, but as a minimum it’s expected that they’ll be much more effort required to provide evidence of your financial stability and capability. Basically, it should clean out all the dodgiest of suppliers, if nothing else.
This, along with (presumably) some changes internally to reflect the New Normal regarding leaving the EU (yes, it’s really taken that long to sort this out), as well as lots of changes right through government in the last few years, could well mean that more public sector clients choose to use the framework for their procurement.
So, to ensure you have the best chance of responding to every job that suits you, you need to be on the DOS7 framework.
And there are benefits to these jobs, too – historically, responding to DOS opportunities is quite different to normal tenders, as they focus on shortlisting BEFORE a real tender writing process, by asking a number of questions with strict word limits. Basically, they’re very handy for putting together quick responses, as you literally cannot waffle on all day with a bespoke proposal – it’s a bunch of direct questions and 100 word answers format.
That said, it DOES mean that you have to be super clear in your responses. 100 words is NOTHING. Every word counts, so clarity is vital.
We’ll get some guidance together when we know more about how the new framework will work, but for now – just watch out for it going live (9am, 12th May – we’ll post the link on this site) and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to understand the requirements and get your application in.
