Technology Services 3 - Lots 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d & 4

Crown Commercial Service as the Contracting Authority has put in place a Pan Government Collaborative Framework Agreement for use by UK public sector bodies (and any future successors to these organisations), which include Central Government Departments and their Arm's Length Bodies and Agencies, Non Departmental Public Bodies, NHS bodies and Local Authorities.

Public Sector Bodies have a need for a technology service Framework Agreement, which will deliver local, regional and national technology service provides for the range of service outlined below.

The agreement will include but not be limited to the following tech support services:

• Hardware management and support
• Software management and support
• Network management and support
• Data management
• Enterprise security (Security Operations Centre - SOC services)
• Tech service discovery
• Tech service disaggregation
• Transition and transformation of existing tech services
• Tech strategy & service design

Additional information: This Modification Notice is to extend Lots 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and Lot 4.

CCS' view is that this modification to the Framework value is permitted pursuant to Regulation 72(1)(e) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Regulation 72(1)(e) provides a modification is permitted where irrespective of value it is not substantial within the meaning of Regulation 72(8).

Regulation 72(8) provides a modification will be considered substantial if any one or more of the following conditions is met:

• (a)the modification renders the framework materially different in character from the one initially concluded;
• (b)the modification introduces conditions which, had they been part of the initial procurement procedure, would have-
• (i)allowed for the admission of other candidates than those initially selected,
• (ii)allowed for the acceptance of a tender other than that originally accepted, or
• iii)attracted additional participants in the procurement procedure;
• (c)the modification changes the economic balance of the framework in favour of the contractor in a manner which was not provided for in the framework;
• (d)the modification extends the scope of the framework considerably;
• (e)a new contractor replaces the original contractor in cases other than those provided for in paragraph (1)(d).

CCS' view is that the increase is not a substantial variation because the:

-framework will not be materially different in character from the one originally concluded;

-increase would not have allowed for a different tender to be accepted or attracted additional bidders; -increase does not change the economic balance of the Framework in favour of the supplier(s); and

-increase does not extend the scope of the Framework considerably.