Athena Commercial has been awarded a place on the Digital Outcomes and Specialists 7 (DOS 7) framework, one of the most significant procurement vehicles in UK public sector technology and digital services. This placement enables public sector organisations across the UK to engage our commercial, procurement, and data specialists quickly and compliantly through the Digital Marketplace.
In this article, we explain what DOS 7 is, why it matters in the current digital transformation landscape, what Athena Commercial specifically offers through the framework, and how public sector buyers can access our services.
What Is the DOS 7 Framework?
The Digital Outcomes and Specialists 7 framework, formally designated RM1043.9, is managed by the Government Commercial Authority (GCA), formerly Crown Commercial Service (CCS). It provides a compliant procurement route for all UK public sector organisations to access digital, data, and technology services in line with government policies, standards, and best practices, including the Government Digital Service (GDS) standards and the Technology Code of Practice.
DOS 7 represents a significant consolidation. It reunifies two previously separate frameworks -- RM1043.8 Digital Outcomes 6 and RM6263 Digital Specialists and Programmes -- into a single, streamlined agreement. This was a deliberate policy decision to simplify procurement for buyers who previously had to navigate two separate agreements to access closely related services. For public sector buyers, this means a single procurement route to both project-based digital delivery and individual specialist deployment.
The Scale of Opportunity
The numbers behind DOS 7 underscore its importance as a procurement channel. The framework is expected to run for six years, during which a projected £14.4 billion inclusive of VAT will be spent by government buyers through the agreement. This positions DOS 7 as one of the primary channels through which the UK Government's digital transformation agenda will be delivered.
The framework's predecessor agreements demonstrated significant scale: Digital Outcomes 6 featured more than 3,000 suppliers, while Digital Specialists and Programmes had a more select base of 75 providers. DOS 7 has attracted over 1,700 suppliers, of which 89% are Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, demonstrating the framework's strong track record of supporting specialist firms alongside larger providers.
The demand for the services available through DOS 7 is substantial and growing. Nearly 56,000 public sector contracts worth £386 billion are due to expire in the next 12 months, creating significant re-procurement activity. Additionally, the UK public sector AI procurement market has seen nearly a quarter of a billion pounds in signed contracts across 134 awards in 2026 alone, reflecting the accelerating pace of digital and data-driven transformation across government.
DOS 7 Under the Procurement Act 2023
DOS 7 holds a distinctive position in UK procurement history: it is the first major CCS/GCA digital framework to be let under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into effect in February 2025. This makes it significant not just as a procurement vehicle but as a test case for the new legislative regime.
The Procurement Act 2023 introduces several changes that are reflected in how DOS 7 operates:
Enhanced Transparency. The Act establishes "transparency by default" across the full commercial lifecycle. More information about contracts, performance, and outcomes is publicly available, raising the standard for both suppliers and buyers.
New Notice Types. The framework procurement incorporated the new notice regime, including pipeline notices and planned procurement notices, providing earlier visibility to potential suppliers and enabling better resource planning.
Simplified Supplier Registration. DOS 7 introduces a new, free platform that allows suppliers to register their core business details once and use them for multiple bids. This directly addresses "bid fatigue" -- the administrative burden of repeatedly submitting the same organisational information for each competition -- and is particularly beneficial for SMEs with limited bid team resources.
Broader Accessibility. The Procurement Act's emphasis on opening public procurement to SMEs and voluntary, community, and social enterprises aligns with the framework's demonstrated commitment to SME participation. Pipeline notices, designed to provide 18-month forward visibility of major procurements, support smaller firms in planning resources and building partnerships ahead of formal competitions.
For public sector buyers, procuring through a framework that is fully compliant with the Procurement Act 2023 provides confidence that their procurement processes meet the latest regulatory requirements.
Framework Structure: Four Lots Covering the Full Digital Spectrum
DOS 7 is structured across four lots, covering a comprehensive range of digital, data, and technology services:
Lot 1 -- Digital Outcomes
Suppliers deliver outcome-based digital and commercial projects tailored to organisational needs. This includes agile development, user research, service design, data analysis, and digital transformation projects. Engagements are typically project-based with defined deliverables and measurable outcomes.
Lot 2 -- Capability and Delivery Partnerships
This lot covers larger-scale partnerships where suppliers provide teams and capabilities to support ongoing digital delivery programmes.
Lot 3 -- Individual Digital Specialists
This lot covers the provision of individual specialists across Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT) roles. This includes commercial and procurement specialists, data analysts, data engineers, data scientists, delivery managers, product managers, programme delivery managers, and technical architects.
Lot 4 -- User Research Services
Specialist user research services, including participant recruitment, lab facilities, and research expertise.
What Athena Commercial Offers Through DOS 7
Athena Commercial's placement on Lots 1 and 3 positions us to deliver both outcome-based projects and individual specialist deployments, covering the full range of commercial and procurement consulting needs within the framework.
Through Lot 1: Outcome-Based Projects
We deliver project-based engagements with defined outcomes, including:
- Data analysis, cleansing, and visualisation -- transforming raw procurement and commercial data into actionable intelligence
- Performance frameworks and statistical modelling -- building the measurement infrastructure that drives evidence-based decision making
- Business analysis and process optimisation -- identifying and implementing improvements to procurement and commercial operations
- Programme and project management -- providing structured delivery leadership for commercial transformation initiatives
- Procurement strategy and category management -- developing and implementing sourcing strategies that deliver measurable value
Through Lot 3: Individual Specialists
We deploy experienced specialists across key DDaT roles, including Analytics Engineers, Data Analysts, Data Engineers, Data Scientists, Delivery Managers, and Programme Delivery Managers. Our specialists hold security clearance up to SC level, enabling deployment on sensitive government programmes, and are available for deployment across the UK.
Each specialist brings deep domain expertise in procurement and commercial operations, combining technical capability with practical understanding of public sector procurement processes, policy frameworks, and organisational dynamics.
Benefits for Public Sector Buyers
Engaging Athena Commercial through the DOS 7 framework provides several distinct advantages:
Compliance and Reduced Procurement Risk
All suppliers on the framework have been pre-qualified through a rigorous assessment process. By procuring through DOS 7, your organisation is assured of supplier capability and full compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 and current public sector procurement regulations. This eliminates the need to run a full open procurement for each engagement, saving significant time and administrative cost.
Speed of Engagement
Through the Digital Marketplace, public sector buyers can run focused competitions between approved suppliers and award contracts significantly faster than running a full open procurement. For organisations facing urgent digital transformation or commercial challenges, this speed can be the difference between delivering on time and falling behind programme milestones.
Access to Specialist Expertise
The framework provides direct access to specialists with deep domain knowledge in procurement, commercial management, and data analytics. Our team combines public sector experience with private sector rigour, bringing practical expertise that delivers results rather than theoretical recommendations.
Value for Money
Competition between approved suppliers on the framework, combined with standardised terms and conditions, helps ensure value for money. The framework's scale enables the GCA to negotiate beneficial terms on behalf of the wider public sector, while individual competitions ensure pricing remains competitive.
Security-Cleared Personnel
Our specialists hold security clearance up to SC level, enabling deployment on sensitive government programmes where security requirements restrict the available supplier pool. This clearance, combined with our procurement and commercial domain expertise, positions us to support programmes across central government, defence, and security sectors.
Athena Commercial's Dual Framework Position
Our DOS 7 placement complements our existing position on the G-Cloud 14 framework, creating a comprehensive offering for public sector clients. Through G-Cloud 14, we provide technology platform services including procurement analytics, spend management, and contract lifecycle management solutions. Through DOS 7, we provide the consultancy expertise and specialist deployment needed to implement, optimise, and derive maximum value from these technology investments.
This dual framework presence means public sector buyers can engage Athena Commercial for both technology solutions and the specialist expertise to implement them, through fully compliant procurement routes that minimise administrative burden and accelerate time to value.
How to Engage Athena Commercial Through DOS 7
The process for engaging our services through the DOS 7 framework is straightforward:
1. Define your requirement. Identify whether you need an outcome-based project (Lot 1) or individual specialist deployment (Lot 3), and define the scope, duration, and outcomes required.
2. Publish on the Digital Marketplace. Post your requirement on the Digital Marketplace, where it will be visible to all approved framework suppliers.
3. Evaluate responses. Review and evaluate supplier responses against your stated requirements and evaluation criteria.
4. Award and mobilise. Award the contract to the successful supplier and begin mobilisation. Our standard mobilisation timelines are designed to get specialists deployed and projects started rapidly.
Alternatively, you can contact us directly to discuss your requirements before publishing on the Digital Marketplace. We are happy to help you scope your needs and ensure your requirement is structured to attract the strongest possible responses.
The Broader Digital Transformation Context
Our DOS 7 placement sits within a broader UK Government strategy for digital transformation. The Government is developing a digital sourcing strategy to ensure procurement of digital services becomes more transparent, efficient, and cost-effective while improving competition and innovation. The emphasis on outcomes-based delivery, reflected in Lot 1 of DOS 7, aligns with the Government's focus on user-centred design and measurable results.
As the Committee of Public Accounts has noted, procurement processes in government are often "inflexible and do not comfortably fit with the complexities and uncertainties of digital programmes." Frameworks like DOS 7 are designed specifically for agile digital delivery, providing the flexibility and speed that traditional procurement routes often lack.
Athena Commercial is proud to be part of this national effort, contributing our procurement and commercial expertise to help public sector organisations deliver better outcomes for citizens and taxpayers.
Get in Touch
Whether you are a public sector organisation looking to procure commercial and procurement expertise through DOS 7, or a specialist consultant interested in joining our delivery team, we would welcome a conversation.
Visit www.athena-commercial.co.uk (add link - https://www.athena-commercial.co.uk) to learn more about our services, or contact us directly to discuss how we can support your organisation's commercial and digital transformation objectives.
