Editing Crown Commercial Service (section)

===Procurement services===
CCS provides professional procurement services to the public sector to enable organisations to deliver improved value for money in their commercial activities and provide professional support when it matters, advising on technical issues, energy-saving and environmental improvements.

CCS's operations, and formerly those of GPS, include a range of [[Framework agreement (procurement)|framework agreements]], which are a set of pre-tendered agreements with a range of suppliers from whom public sector customers can purchase goods and services. In the field of IT, historical examples of framework agreements include CITHS frameworks ([[commoditised]] IT hardware and software), ITHS (IT hardware and solutions), SPRINT II, Software Application Solutions,<ref>[[Softcat]], [https://www.softcat.com/ie/news/important-changes-being-made-to-public-sector-procurement-ahead-of-year-end The Softcat News Team], published 2014, accessed 10 September 2023</ref> and Desktop21 for [[desktop computer]] services.<ref>Best, J., [https://www.theguardian.com/government-computing-network/2012/jan/20/dwp-hp-desktop-21 DWP hands £316m Desktop21 deal to HP], published 20 January 2012, accessed 10 September 2023</ref> The SPRINT II agreement offered pre-negotiated deals on computer hardware and software.<ref>[[Belfast City Council]], [https://minutes.belfastcity.gov.uk/documents/s35400/ICT%20Procurements.pdf ICT Procurements], 24 January 2014, accessed 10 September 2023</ref> Its use was mandated from 4 March 2011, amidst some controversy,<ref>Kunert, P., [https://www.theregister.com/2011/07/07/home_office_to_review_sprintii/ Home Office to review future of Sprint ii framework], ''The Register'', published 7 July 2011, accessed 2 October 2023</ref> for purchases by [[List of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories#England and Wales|police authorities in England and Wales]] of commoditised ICT hardware and off-the-shelf software under government regulations issued in 2011.<ref>UK Legislation, [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/300/schedule/made The Police Act 1996 (Equipment) Regulations 2011], Schedule, made 9 February 2011, accessed 10 September 2023</ref> Claims were put forward during the currency of the agreement that supplies were more expensive via the Sprint ii route than through other sales channels, although the claims were later retracted.<ref>Kunert, P., [https://www.theregister.com/2011/09/21/wmpa_sprint_ii_procurement/ Police authority loves Sprint ii buying regime], ''The Register'', published 21 September 2011, accessed 2 October 2023</ref> A current ({{asof|2023|September|lc=y}}) example is the Crown Hosting Data Centres framework, which can be accessed by all central government departments, [[arm's length body|arm's length bodies]] and the [[wider public sector]].<ref>Crown Commercial Service, [https://www.digitalmarketplace.service.gov.uk/crown-hosting Physical datacentre space], accessed 10 September 2023</ref> A small [[commission (remuneration)|commission]] (typically less than 1%){{cn|date=September 2023}} is collected from the suppliers for each sale they make under these frameworks agreements.