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The Crown Commercial Service is creating a procurement framework for big data and analytics services with an expected value of £2bn.

In a procurement notice, the CCS says that it intends put in place a pan-government agreement which will be the recommended vehicle for all big data and analytics across the UK’s public sector organisations.

The framework will be available to central government departments and all the UK’s other public sector bodies, including local authorities, health, police, fire and rescue, education and devolved administrations.

It will run from April 2022 until April 2026, with the budget spread evenly across the years.

The CCS says that big data and analytics is an emerging and evolving capability that has been heightened by the pandemic.

It is fast becoming recognised as business critical and a core business function, with many government departments now employing chief data officers.

In addition, the government’s National Data Strategy requires organisations to access and interrogate government data more effectively to improve public services.

The CCS believes that by offering a range of buying options and pricing mechanisms, it will enable competitive procurements across a pool of specialist suppliers.

The framework will meet a wide variety of needs, from individual niche packages to complete data service transformations and entirely new services.

A key aim of the framework will be to develop the capabilities of in-house staff and reduce skills gaps across the UK public sector.

To participate in this procurement, suppliers will have to demonstrate that they are Cyber Essentials Plus certified.