At least 41 suppliers have been given the nod for a delayed public sector tech framework seen as being second only to TePAS 2 in magnitude.
Going live on 1 October 2025, the ‘Digital Workplace Solutions 2 Framework’ has an estimated £2.5bn purse over its likely four-year lifespan.
Unlike TePAS 2 – which is run by Crown Commercial Service – DWS2 is the preserve of NHS Shared Business Services (the NHS’ back-office services joint venture).
Bigger and wider in scope than its DWS1 predecessor, it will be used not only by the NHS but also the wider public sector.
It aims to provide public sector buyers with the full range of digital workplace building blocks, including servers, storage and networking, client devices, virtualisation, software and services.
“It’s less about box shifting”
DWS2’s £2.5bn estimated purse makes it second only to TePAS 2 when it comes to public sector IT framework value, one onlooker noted.
It also offers public sector buyers some advantages over its larger competitor, they added.
Unlike TePAS, which is “playing catch up” here, DWS has always allowed direct awards and features just one Lot, they pointed out.
It’s also less about box shifting and more about digital transformation, they added.
“The reason a lot of customers like it, is because it’s simple and quick to use – simplifying the procurement process,” they said.
Four-month delay
According to the initial contract notice, DWS2 was original slated to go live in May.
It will run until 30 September 2028, with an option to extend for up to 12 months.
The list of 41 suppliers displayed on the framework’s web page is not yet complete, SBS stresses.
It includes VARs including Softcat, Computacenter, XMA, Bytes Software Services, Insight, boxxe, Trustco and Telefónica Tech UK Limited and vendors including HP and Dell.
Michelle Cope, Sales Director of Trustco, branded the framework “more than just a procurement route”.
“Being part of DWS2 gives our NHS and wider public sector customers a trusted, compliant, and cost-effective way to access the expertise, hardware, software, and services they need to modernise their digital workplaces,” she told IT Channel Oxygen.
