The UK’s Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has announced the launch of G-Cloud 15 (GC15), the next iteration of the government’s flagship cloud-services framework
The new procurement, valued at £14 billion (excluding VAT), is in place to modernise and expand the way public-sector organisations buy cloud technology, platforms, and support services.
Success following G-Cloud 14
G-Cloud 15 replaces G-Cloud 14 (GC14), its specialist Lot 4 for Cloud Compute services, and the separate Cloud Compute 2 (CC2) agreement. Together, these frameworks have helped the UK public sector adopt cloud technologies at scale, with spending on G-Cloud alone reaching £3.1 billion in 2023/24.
According to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Government Digital Service, the UK public-sector cloud market is worth around £6 billion in 2024. The G-Cloud 15 framework is designed to accelerate that growth and further embed the government’s “Cloud First” approach, which encourages public bodies to consider cloud solutions before traditional IT systems.
What’s new in G-Cloud 15
G-Cloud 15 introduces several major changes intended to make procurement simpler, fairer, and more effective for both buyers and suppliers. One of the biggest updates is the integration of Cloud Compute services into the main G-Cloud structure, removing the need for a separate Cloud Compute 3 framework.
All framework Lots will now allow call-off contracts with or without competition, streamlining how organisations can access approved suppliers. CCS is also bringing in more traditional evaluation methods and introducing Economic and Financial Standing (EFS) criteria tailored to each Lot. This replaces the uniform “Bronze Plus” standard used under G-Cloud 14.
Other differences include a better playbook and policy compliance, the removal of the need for Ministerial exemptions for prompt payment, and several digital improvements to make it easier for buyers to find and compare services.
The five framework lots
The framework is divided into five Lots, covering the full range of cloud service needs:
- Lot 1a – Cloud Hosting (IaaS and PaaS): Core infrastructure and platform services provided by infrastructure owners or accredited partners.
- Lot 1b – Cloud Hosting (Above Official): Secure hosting services for systems operating above the “Official” security classification.
- Lot 2a – Infrastructure Software as a Service (iSaaS): Cloud-based software applications focused on infrastructure management.
- Lot 2b – Software as a Service (SaaS): General SaaS applications with specific quality award questions.
- Lot 3 – Cloud Support: Professional and consultancy services for cloud migration, management, and optimisation.
Framework operation and participation
G-Cloud 15 will run from September 2026 to September 2030, operating as an open framework with no limit on the number of suppliers. Successful suppliers will pay a 0.75% management fee on all contract charges. The framework is open to participation from SMEs and voluntary or community enterprises, continuing the government’s goal of widening access to public-sector procurement.
Submission deadlines and evaluation
Interested suppliers must submit enquiries by 12 December 2025 and full tenders by 30 January 2026 via the Digital Marketplace portal.
Awards are expected to be announced by 17 September 2026. Evaluation will balance quality, social value, and price, with different weightings across Lots for example, cloud hosting Lots will typically score 80% on quality and 20% on price-related factors.
