The Digital Outcomes and Specialists Framework
By: John Hudson - Hudson Succeed
Tags: Digital Business, Framework, Digital Marketplace, Software, Digital Services

What is the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework?

The Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework 5 will be open for applications as of Friday the 9th of October 2020. The framework is an opportunity, hosted by the government’s Digital Marketplace.

This particular framework helps more than 1,000 suppliers to provide digital specialist services, including;

Digital outcomes

For this service, you would provide teams to deliver digital support such as creating a booking system or undertake an accessibility audit.

Digital specialists

You would provide specialists to work on specific projects, such as product managers or developers.

User research studios

To deliver this service, your business would provide the facilities to deliver interviews and usability testing.

User research participants

This would require you to find participants for research such as interviews and testing.

Suppliers who are already on Digital Outcomes and Specialists 4

If your business is already registered on Digital Outcomes and Specialists 4, you must re-apply to the new framework. The previous services will be removed once the new version is live.

However, you can reuse your previous declaration and services.

Who can apply?

One of the best things about the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework is that it’s open to all businesses. You don’t have to be a huge corporation to be accepted. This is great news for SMEs and more recently established companies who are looking to build their experience.

Subcontracting is allowed to help you deliver larger projects. Alternatively, you can provide services as a consortium with other suppliers. However, the buyer must agree to either of these arrangements before purchasing your services.

Suppliers are required to meet a set of minimum standards. Only those suppliers who can meet the requirements will be considered for the framework.

You must also confirm the following;

That you agree with the terms and conditions of the framework;

You haven’t broken any laws in the last five years;

That you will be fully accountable for the work you do on the framework, and;

That you work in accordance with Civil Service values, the government’s digital-by-default service standard and the technology code of practice.

Digital outcomes

For digital outcomes providers, your services must fit within at least one of the following categories;

design

performance analysis and data

security

service delivery

software development

support and operations

testing an auditing

user research

user experience and design

In order to list your services on the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework, you must;

Comply with the technology code of practice, as mentioned above;

Deliver services in accordance with the government service design manual;

And understand what it means to work on different phases of agile delivery.

More details regarding each of these requirements can be found on the dedicated page of the government’s website.

Digital specialists

If you wish to supply digital specialist services, you must;

Demonstrate your competence in each role, if requested;

Ensure that all roles support the government service design manual’s description of what you need to build a successful service, and;

Ensure that your specialists are employed, or subcontracted, by you.

Learn more.

The roles your specialists provide must fall under one of the following;

agile coach

business analyst

communications specialist

content designer or copywriter

cyber security specialist

data architect

data engineer

delivery or project manager

designer

data scientist

developer

performance analyst

portfolio manager

product manager

programme delivery manager

quality assurance analyst

service manager

technical architect

user researcher

web operations engineer

User research studio providers

To list your services under the user research studio category, you must provide;

research studio hire in the required location, on the specified dates;

a safe and comfortable environment for all parties;

the required space to conduct interviews, usability tests or focus groups, and;

where possible, the facility to watch and record participants as they engage with the research.

User research participants

In order to list your services under the user research participants section, you must be capable of;

recruiting participants whilst considering diversity, people who are digitally excluded, those with lower literacy skills or who require digital support, and;

find and recruit participants who best reflect the users of a service.

How to apply

If you are new to the framework, you will need to create a supplier account. You can do this via the government’s website.

If you feel confident in applying to the framework, simply visit the website to proceed. However, if you require expert support, please feel free to call or email us for a quote. Our team have been supporting digital businesses, globally, for almost two decades.

Important dates

Friday 9th October — Applications open and you can start asking clarification questions.

Friday 30th October, 5pm — Deadline for asking clarification questions.

Friday 6th November — Answers to all clarification questions will be published.

Friday 13th November, 1pm — Applications close.

Tuesday 5th January 2021 — Successful suppliers will be notified.

Wednesday 6th January — Tuesday 19th January — Standstill period.

Wednesday 20th January — Expected start date for the Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5 framework.

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