The Digital Outcomes framework is a way for public sector organisations to find a team to deliver an outcome who have been vetted and work to verified high standards.
The newest framework is due for launch later this year, and is dropping Lot 2: Digital Specialists. Thus, it’s now simply called Digital Outcomes. This program will still follow the name of its successors and, therefore, will be known as DOS 6. The Specialists aspect will be moved into its own dedicated program, Digital Specialists and Programs.
We’re proud to announce that AMDH Services Ltd has successfully applied to move across to the new framework, DOS 6. This blog will let you know why this makes life easier for you and for us, and how to use it.
What is DOS 6?
DOS 6 is the sixth generation of the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework. It’s still in its rollout phase, but suppliers have had the opportunity to apply for access since January 2022. See a complete description of the rollout timetable here.
The Digital Outcomes (and Specialists, as it used to be) framework is a way for public sector organisations to find, assess and hire digital services providers. Many of these are ICT consultants like us, but you’ll also find tech support and market research teams.
It looks a bit different to previous iterations. Many of you may still be using DOS 5, scheduled to keep running during the changeover period and coming to an end in April 2023. Therefore, we encourage all public sector organisations to get familiar with DOS 6 as soon as possible.
What does DOS 6 mean for contracting organisations?
DOS 6 will be broadly similar to the previous iterations. It’s a relatively simple setup and shouldn’t be too difficult to get to grips with.
As DOS 6 is now completely separate from Digital Specialists and Programs, it’s now a more concentrated and specialised market. If buyers are looking for either individuals or a team to complete some work but don’t want to describe the exact outcome, or don’t know the outcome, then Digital Specialists and Programmes is the right framework. However, if they have a defined outcome they want to be achieved – or a clear set of deliverables, this can be delivered through DOS 6.
Generally, opportunities advertised in Digital Specialists and Programmes are likely to be inside IR35, while those advertised in DOS 6 are likely to be outside IR35.
Where organisations are looking for ‘staff’, these would likely be offered on Digital Specialists and Programmes. However, these could now be offered on Digital Outcomes if the buyer spends time clearly defining what they want to achieve. In many cases, this could well be a more affordable and cost-effective option, as it would avoid the higher day rate for the customer that inside roles typically attract, while also reducing the risk of non-delivery.
As a contracting organisation, you’ll still need to assess your would-be suppliers as usual. Narrow down your applicants by asking for specific experience, skills and qualifications before interviewing several companies to decide which is right for you.
The benefits of choosing AMDH via the DOS 6 framework
If you’re a public sector organisation, the DOS framework enables you to check which of the suppliers who responded to the requirement have the experience and skills needed to deliver the outcomes desired. By using the framework itself rather than going to market via an open tender you can be sure that all organisations on the framework have been pre-vetted and thus meet governmental minimum standards for cybersecurity, confidentiality and other contractual responsibilities. This means you’re taking reasonable measures to protect your systems and stored data from negligence and other threats.
Here at AMDH Services, we always strictly adhere to our exceptionally high standards. However, we know the importance of using a compliance procurement vehicle such as the DOS framework and always encourage all our public sector clients to do so. You can also compare our services to others in the same field and see how we differ in our commitment to providing the best solutions. All we’d ask is that you spend some time considering the wording of your requirements to ensure they’re not prejudicial against micro businesses.
As a small business, it’s often difficult to compete with larger suppliers, so structuring your procurement questions in a way that ensures the opportunities are more accessible to micro businesses will help level the playing field.
Enlist AMDH Services Ltd to help
AMDH Services Ltd is a private IT consultancy specialising in cloud-based solutions. Based in the Midlands, we send our highly experienced team members to join your public sector organisation as a partner. We’ll chat with you and your staff to establish the key ways digital transformation can upgrade and future-proof your organisation, developing an efficient strategy to help you in the near and far future.
If you are a public sector organisation, we’d love the opportunity to talk to you about your requirement before you commence a public procurement process such as the DOS 6 framework. We’ll explain how we can help and what we’d recommend you do next – whether that be to procure via a competitive DOS 6 process or otherwise.
If you’d like to ask us any informal questions or want to learn more about our company, check out the About Us page. Alternatively, check out our Case Studies. Give us a ring on 01332 322 588 if there’s anything more you’d like to know!
Thanks for checking out this page, and we look forward to potentially working with your public sector organisation in future.
Addendum
As required by CCS we asked them to review this blog post prior to releasing it. Their comments centred around whether the “Digital Specialists and Programmes” framework allows buyers to ask suppliers to provide a team or a specialist without describing the exact outcome and our use of the word “staff”. In particular they said there were two areas in the blog they were not content with:
Firstly, the generalisation of the IR35 status between DSP and DOS as both agreements are outcome based, and the IR35 status is largely determined by how the buyer intends to work with the supplier (such as a blended or rainbow team, rather than completely outsourced).
Also, the use of the term 'staff' may suggest contingent labour - which is out of scope for both agreements.
To us this seems disingenuous as on the CCS website here the following statement is made in the “Description” of the “Digital Specialists and Programmes” framework:
"You might want to hire staff with DDaT skills to integrate into your organisation and help to achieve strategic objectives through a single project or multiple projects that may involve user research, design or building and supporting the service, for example.”
and also:
You may also need DDaT staff for any strategic objectives or scope of services that have no clearly defined outcomes or deliverables that will enable digital transformation.
Furthermore, the buyers guide for the “Digital Outcomes” framework clearly states that procurement under Digital Outcomes is outside IR35. No similar statement can be found in the “Digital Specialists and Programmes” framework customer guide.
We responded to CCS by quoting their website to them and asking them to clarify but in four weeks have had no reply, so we’ve decided to publish the article as it is with this addendum.
