Buying and selling on the Digital Marketplace
Guidance for buyers and suppliers of cloud technology, digital outcomes, digital specialists, user research participants and labs.
The Digital Marketplace is an online service for public sector organisations to find people and technology for digital projects.
Suppliers must apply to sell services. Any public sector organisation, including agencies and arm’s length bodies, can buy using the Digital Marketplace.
Services and frameworks on the Digital Marketplace
Frameworks are agreements between the government and suppliers to supply certain types of services under specific terms.
Buyers and suppliers still need to sign a contract (a ‘call-off contract’) for each service bought through a framework.
These services are on the Digital Marketplace:
- cloud software and services (the G-Cloud framework)
- digital outcomes, digital specialists and user research services (the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework)
- physical data centre space (the Crown Hosting Data Centres framework)
Suppliers cannot apply to join the Crown Hosting Data Centres framework.
Sell services on the Digital Marketplace
The process is different for each framework.
To find out more, read the:
You can only apply when an Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) contract notice has been issued. At this point, suppliers will have 4 to 6 weeks to apply to the framework.
On average, a contract notice will be issued every:
- 9 to 18 months for Digital Outcomes and Specialists
- 12 months for G-Cloud
Sign up for emails about when you can apply and for updates on frameworks.
Buy services through the Digital Marketplace
Any public sector organisation, including agencies and arm’s length bodies, can buy using the Digital Marketplace.
You can create an account and buy at any time.
The buying process is different depending on what services you’re buying.
Read the guidance for more information:
- G-Cloud buyers’ guide
- Digital Outcomes and Specialists buyers’ guide
- Crown Hosting Data Centres framework guide
Working out what services you need
Working with both procurement and technical professionals can help you decide on the high-level requirements and how long your project will take.
You should consider:
- the funds you have available to buy the services
- the technical and procurement requirements of the project
- the selection criteria on which your choice will be based
Identify what the ‘must-have’ requirements are and what the ‘wants’ are. Read the government’s Service Design Manual to help you describe your needs.
Getting funding approval
The Government Digital Service (GDS) manages central government’s digital and IT spend controls.
This means that all funding requests for new or redesigned digital services need formal approval by GDS before they can go ahead. You’ll also need to have approval from within your organisation.
You must make your decision-making process auditable when you buy services on the Digital Marketplace.
Updates to this page
Last updated 17 November 2020 + show all updates
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Updated: Applications for Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5 are now closed.
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Updated closing date to Tuesday 17 November 2020
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Applications for Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5 are now open
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Updated to show G-Cloud 12 is closed for applications.
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Changing application closing data.
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Applications for G-Cloud 12 are open and close on 22 April 2020.
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Updated to add G-Cloud 12 application date
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First published.