Crown Commercial Service (CCS) launched the Technology Services 3 framework (TS3) in 2021. The framework, a replacement for the expiring Technology Services 2 framework (TS2), was designed to provide access to technology-focused services, ranging from high-level strategy through to implementation and support. CCS provides various examples of services covered by TS3, which include: provision of helpdesks; support for end-user devices; network support; safe disposal of hardware and IT support.
As with its other procurement frameworks, CCS developed TS3 to provide public sector buyers with a faster and cheaper procurement route, via a catalogue of high-quality approved suppliers. Bramble Hub is a thin-prime supplier on TS3; we offer our partners’ services and products on seven of the framework’s eight lots. The framework allows for both Direct Award and Further Competition procurement approaches.
Bramble Hub has successfully bid on numerous projects on CCS TS3, alongside many of our partners, for customers including the Department for Work and Pensions, the Ministry of Justice, the National Lottery Community Fund, the NHS Business Services Authority, Dumfries and Galloway Council and Oxford Brookes University.
In November 2023, CCS announced that TS4 (RM6190) was now under development, and would eventually replace TS3.
Bramble Hub can supply services via the following TS3 lots. Direct Award is available on all lots listed below, except for Lot 4.
This lot supports the purchase and delivery of technology service design (such as capability analysis, enterprise architecture and IT financial management) or the design of IT services that are strategy-led (such as demand management, service availability and risk mitigation). Lot 1 allows for contracts of up to two years in length.
Lot 2 supports the purchase of services to help implement business strategy or relocations. Services may include risk analysis and management, audit of existing estate and the decommissioning of legacy systems. Maximum contract length is three years.
This is a broad lot covering many aspects of technical operations. All of the following sub-lots within Lot 3 allow for maximum 5-year contracts.
This covers two sets of services: end-user support (such as incident management, the dispatch of technicians or parts, end user training); and end-user computing and device management (such as full lifecycle management of computing devices and safe disposal of devices).
Lot 3b covers two sets of services: IT operations and technology estate management (such as day-to-day systems management and setup of support); and security management (such as network security, identity and access management and device security).
Lot 3c covers two sets of services: network infrastructure management (including the delivery and management of local area networks and the management of network hardware); and hardware and software asset management (including the acquisition and disposal of hardware and software assets and the review and consolidation of software licenses).
This lot covers two sets of services: data warehouse, database and data management (including the installation, configuration and support of databases); and application management, support and development (including development of new applications and the management of processes for the maintenance of custom applications).
This supports the delivery of complex, large or high-risk programmes and projects which may fall into any of the categories outlined in Lots 1 to 3. The maximum project length for this lot is seven years, and contracts must awarded through a Further Competition process.