What is the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework?

[Last modified: January 2022]

The Digital Outcomes and Specialists 6 framework is now open. 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 5 

If your business is already registered on Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5, 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 who are looking to tender for contracts. 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
• 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:

• 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
• 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
• 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
• Finding and recruiting 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 14^th January 2022 – Applications open and you can start asking clarification questions.

Friday 4^th February 2022, 3pm – Deadline for asking clarification questions.

Tuesday 15^th February 2022 – Answers to all clarification questions will be published.

Thursday 24^th February 2022, 3pm – Applications close.

Friday 17^th June 2022 – Successful suppliers will be notified.

Saturday 18^th June to Monday 27^th June 2022 – Standstill period. 

Tuesday 28^th June 2022 – Framework award letters issued.

Wednesday 29^th June to Tuesday 9^th August 2022 – Framework mobilisation. 

Wednesday 10^th August 2022 – Expected start date for the Digital Outcomes and Specialists 6 framework.

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