Cloud and Hosting
Framework Description
The Scottish Government's Cloud and Hosting Services Framework (SP-22-023) is a multi-supplier national framework for cloud infrastructure and hosting. It started on 1 November 2023 and runs to 31 October 2027. Five suppliers are appointed: BrightSolid, DataVita, Iomart Hosting, Softcat and Storm ID. It covers public, private, hybrid and community cloud, co-location and cloud transition, delivered within the European Economic Area. This framework is used by Scottish Government and APUC.
Context & Use Case
Central government, health boards, councils, universities, colleges, the third sector and other Scottish public bodies use it to move workloads to the cloud or host systems in secure data centres. Buyers can run a mini-competition or make a direct award. The Scottish Government's Cloud First programme helps organisations scope their requirements before they buy.
Scope of Services
Public cloud Private cloud Hybrid cloud Community cloud Co-location Cloud transition services
Lots
See framework link
Who Can Apply
It suits cloud and hosting providers with ISO/IEC 27001, third-party cyber security accreditation and energy-efficient data centres. Applications for this framework are closed, and more than 60% of the current suppliers are SMEs. Firms not on it will need to wait for the re-tender, likely to be around its 31 October 2027 end date.
Buyer Benefits
Buyers get hosting that can meet secret and top secret classifications, services kept within the EEA for data protection, and suppliers whose power usage effectiveness is below 1.6. All suppliers pay above the real Living Wage and hold cyber accreditation, which reduces a buyer's due diligence. SaaS, managed IT and web development are out of scope.
Next Steps
Appointed suppliers should prepare reusable evidence on security clearance, data residency and energy efficiency for further competitions. Others should plan for the re-tender ahead of 31 October 2027: confirm ISO 27001 and cyber accreditation are in place, document power usage effectiveness, and collect Scottish public sector migration and hosting case studies. The Cloud First programme is a useful guide to buyer priorities.
How Athena Can Help
For the five appointed providers, Athena's competitive bid writing helps win further competitions with answers on security, data residency and transition planning that score well, and pricing checked against likely rivals. We also run a Bid Health Check on drafts before they go in.
For cloud SMEs aiming at the 2027 re-tender, our framework entry service plans the application 6 to 12 months ahead, and our public sector IT bid support covers standalone hosting tenders in the meantime.
