Closed consultation

Supplier standard for digital and technology service providers

Published 7 September 2016

The government is committed to a new way of delivering services to users.

Programmes like ‘Government as a Platform’ mean we’re moving away from long-term, large-scale contracts towards more flexible, digital, agile and transparent interactions focused on joint delivery.

The supplier standard for digital and technology service providers describes our expectations of, and commitments to, the technology companies we’ll need to work with to make this approach successful.

The following 6 shared principles outline our standards for working together to create good value for everyone in future contracts and, where possible, under renegotiated legacy arrangements.

1. User needs first

We’ll work with suppliers to deliver simpler, clearer and faster services that meet user needs. We’ll support needs within government, but more importantly those of businesses and citizens who use government services.

The government and its suppliers will put user needs first. Suppliers will have to:

• understand user needs as set out in the Digital Service Standard
• respond quickly and efficiently to changes in user needs
• work within the scope of user needs without adding unnecessary extras

2. Data is a public asset

Government service data is a public asset. It should be open and easily accessible to the public and third-party organisations. To help us keep improving services, suppliers should support the government’s need for free and open access to anonymised user and service data, including data in software that’s been specially built for government.

3. Services built on open standards and reusable components

The user experience should be consistent across all government services. The government aims to use quality services and technology which can be easily built into (or removed from) its services and platforms. We expect suppliers to work in ways that support:

• the use of standard, accessible data protocols, such as open standards principles
• the government’s aim, where possible, to buy once and as one government, for the whole of government
• government’s ability to reuse purchased assets across its platforms
• the government’s new security principles, which should allow the use of standard solutions for the vast majority of services
• the government’s open standards principles and implementation of open standards selected for use across government
• publishing software they’ve made for government under the appropriate open source licence so other people can use and improve it

4. Simple, clear, fast transactions

Suppliers should be able to easily compete for contracts, preferably through transparent, online buying tools. These should give buyers straightforward access to products and services at competitive prices. We aim to help suppliers compete more easily by making the Digital Marketplace:

• the default place for buying digital products and services
• an end-to-end service, so users can buy services without help

We’ll work with suppliers to:

• stimulate a responsive, evolving market that contains the right range of products and services, the right people to provide them, at the right price
• build communities so suppliers and government buyers can talk to, and learn from, each other to deliver successful projects

5. Ongoing engagement

Implementing the Government as a Platform strategy will mean that suppliers and government will need to work together. The government will work with suppliers in ways that support:

• open discussions between the appropriate people from both parties
• the Digital Service Standard and the Service Design Manual
• the Civil Service values

6. Transparent contracting

Suppliers should be paid fairly for delivering services that meet user needs. They should also be able to showcase their work for government to other clients, particularly where this reflects operational excellence or innovation in the use of technology. The government:

• expects suppliers to be transparent about their financial performance in line with government policy on open book contract management
• will publish our contracts with suppliers in line with government policy on the Open Contracting Data Standard

You can give feedback on this standard.