G-Cloud is the Crown Commercial Service framework that lets UK public sector organisations buy cloud services without running a full competitive tender. This guide explains how the process works in practice, from searching the Digital Marketplace to placing a call-off order.
What is G-Cloud?
G-Cloud is a UK government procurement framework run by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS). Suppliers are approved onto the framework and list their services on the gov.uk Digital Marketplace, where public sector buyers can search, compare and buy them.
Because suppliers have already been assessed to join the framework, buyers can use it to award a contract directly to the supplier that best meets their needs, rather than running a lengthy OJEU-style tender of their own.
Who can buy through G-Cloud?
G-Cloud is open to UK public sector bodies. That includes central government departments, local authorities, NHS organisations, schools, colleges and universities, police and fire services, and many charities and housing associations that are covered by the framework's eligibility rules.
If you are unsure whether your organisation is eligible, the CCS can confirm this before you start.
Step by step: buying a cloud service
The process is the same whatever service you are buying.
- Define your requirement: what you need, your timescales, security needs, and your budget range.
- Search the Digital Marketplace for the relevant service type (for example cloud hosting, cloud software or cloud support) and shortlist suppliers.
- Read each service definition carefully. It sets out scope, pricing, onboarding and offboarding, security and service levels.
- Compare shortlisted services against your requirement. Ask suppliers clarifying questions if the definition is unclear.
- Choose the best match and award the contract directly using the G-Cloud call-off contract. Follow your own organisation's internal approval process.
What to check in a service definition
Service definitions follow a standard structure, which makes comparison easier. Pay particular attention to the items below.
- Scope: exactly what is and isn't included.
- Pricing: the pricing unit (per day, per user, per month) and any minimum commitment.
- Onboarding and offboarding: how you start, and how you leave and get your data back.
- Security: certifications, data location and access controls.
- Service levels: response times, support hours and reporting.
Common mistakes buyers make
The most common mistake is comparing suppliers on headline price alone. Pricing units differ, so a cheaper day rate can still cost more once scope is taken into account. Another is leaving requirements vague, which makes it hard to tell whether a service really fits. Finally, buyers sometimes forget to plan the exit: check that offboarding and data return are clearly covered before you award.
Baywater Consulting on G-Cloud 15
Baywater Consulting has eight live G-Cloud 15 listings covering cloud migration planning, set-up and migration, security, quality assurance and performance testing, cloud support, cloud financial management, ongoing support and training. You can see them all, with links to each Digital Marketplace listing, on our G-Cloud 15 page.