The launch of the new Crown Hosting Data Centres framework agreement means all public sector bodies in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are now free to call on the data centre and connectivity services they need – eradicating any requirement for a full tender or competitive procurement process.

This revolutionary approach radically cuts the time and complexity involved in commissioning hosting services – opening the way to significant cost and carbon savings that deliver maximum value for all.

It’s why organisations as diverse as the Home Office – along with a number of Whitehall departments and wider UK public sector bodies – have already taken advantage of Crown Hosting Data Centres to cut their spend on legacy facilities and infrastructure services that can’t be transitioned to the cloud at the present time.

The list of public sector organisations entitled to use the framework agreement is extensive and includes:

• All central and devolved administrations
• Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs)
• Local government, local authorities and councils
• Police authorities, Fire and Rescue services, Ambulance services
• Schools, universities and colleges (but not independent schools)
• NHS bodies
• Hospices
• Citizens Advice
• Housing associations
• National Parks authorities
• Public service broadcasters
• Third sector organisations and charities
• Prisons, probation services, courts

Over 50,000 public sector organisations qualify to purchase hosting and connectivity services via the framework agreement.

To find out if your organisation is one of them, simply access the Public Sector Classification Guide at http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/na-classification/national-accounts-sector-classification/index.html.

Steve Hall, CEO