COMPUTACENTER (UK) LIMITED

Computacenter - AI Platform As A Service on Nscale Sovereign AI Cloud

Computacenter's AI Platform as a Service on Nscale Sovereign AI Cloud enables UK public sector organisations to rapidly access a UK-hosted, sovereign AI platform. We provide secure, compliant platform services with dedicated GPU capacity, supporting modern AI training and inference without compromising data sovereignty.

Features

• UK sovereign, dedicated AI cloud platform
• Rapid access to GPU compute and storage for AI workloads
• From bare metal to PaaS delivery models for AI workloads
• Secure environments for training and inference
• Support for modern AI frameworks and tooling
• Scalable compute and storage on demand
• Isolation for sensitive public sector workloads
• Operational support and platform management

Benefits

• Guaranteed UK data sovereignty
• Faster access to scarce GPU resources
• Reduced infrastructure procurement delays
• Scalable platform for evolving AI needs
• Accelerated AI experimentation and delivery
• Lower operational overhead for AI platforms
• Increased confidence in sovereign AI capability

• Free trial available

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at Government@computacenter.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 15

Service ID

738771339426710

Contact

Colin Smith
+44 (0) 7386694023
Government@computacenter.com

About your service

• Service categories:

  IaaS

  IaaS Compute

  • Bare metal
  • Container and serverless engine compute
  • Arm-based instances

  Accelerated

  • GPUs

Service scope

• Service constraints: This services covers the provision of AI platforms on the Nscale Sovereign AI cloud - this is an evolving platform and as such any constraints can be found at https://www.nscale.com/
• System requirements: Nscale provides all software and services to deliver AI outcomes
• Cloud deployment model:
  • Public cloud
  • Private cloud

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Yes
• Support response times: Our P1 response target in our standard SLA is 1 hr with a 4 hr resolution offered 24x7x365
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Phone support: No
• Web chat support: No
• Onsite support: Yes
• Support levels: Nscale provides two structured support levels designed to meet different operational needs, both aligned to enterprise and regulated environments. ; ; Standard Support delivers business-hours coverage (9am–5pm, weekdays) via a shared service desk and customer portal. It includes incident, problem, and change management for both hardware and software. Critical (P1) incidents receive a 15-minute response with a 4-hour resolution target, while P2–P4 incidents have a one-hour response and defined resolution SLAs. This tier is suitable for customers with in-house operational capability who require reliable, SLA-backed support.; ; Enhanced Support is designed for mission-critical AI platforms and includes 24/7 coverage, faster escalation, and a dedicated Technical Account Manager (TAM) or named support specialist. This role acts as a technical owner, coordinating proactive monitoring, patching, optimisation, and acting as the primary escalation point across Nscale and its OEM partners. ; ; Support pricing is integrated into Nscale’s commercial construct, typically bundled into the GPU-per-hour or platform consumption model rather than sold as standalone. ; ; Enhanced support pricing is tailored based on scale, geography, and operational complexity, and agreed using a RACI-based engagement model.; ; Across both tiers, Nscale provides UK-based L1–L3 AI-specialist support teams, with on-site data-centre coverage and back-to-back OEM support agreements to ensure end-to-end accountability.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: NScale provide full user documentation for onboarding and usage of the NScale Sovereign AI Cloud. This can be augmented through Computacenter's Lot 3 services to assist in onboarding and AI solution build.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats:
  • HTML
  • PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: Users can extract or destroy their data at the termination of contract using NScale tooling or their own tooling at no additional cost.
• End-of-contract process: There are no additional costs incurred at end of contract.
• Documentation accessibility standard: None or don’t know
• How the documentation is accessible: Nscale’s onboarding and offboarding documentation is designed to be accessible, reusable, and compliant with public-sector accessibility expectations. Documentation is delivered in web-based, searchable formats that conform to WCAG 2.1 AA principles, including clear heading structure, readable contrast, keyboard navigation, and screen-reader compatibility.; ; Content is written in plain, structured language and includes step-by-step guides, diagrams with text alternatives, and API/CLI examples available in copyable text formats. Where required, documentation can be exported to accessible PDF or Markdown. Customer-specific runbooks and offboarding checklists are reviewed to ensure accessibility is preserved in any customised or white-labelled materials.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Using the web interface: Nscale provides a secure, role-based web interface that allows customers to provision, operate, and monitor AI infrastructure and services without direct access to the underlying control planes.; What users can do via the web interface; • Set up services: Users can create and manage projects, tenants, and environments; provision GPU resources (bare metal, managed Kubernetes, or Slurm); deploy managed Kubernetes clusters (NKS / NKS Lite); create Slurm partitions; and configure storage access and quotas.; • Operational changes: Users can scale resources up or down, start/stop workloads, adjust quotas, manage namespaces, deploy or update AI services (training, fine-tuning, inference endpoints), and configure networking constructs exposed at the service layer.; • Monitoring and governance: The interface provides real-time visibility into usage, performance, quotas, billing/chargeback, identity and access controls, and audit logs. It also supports self-service access to observability dashboards and service health.; ; Limitations; • Users cannot directly modify physical infrastructure, low-level network fabric, firmware, or data-centre configuration. ; • Configuration options are intentionally policy-bounded: actions are constrained by RBAC, quotas, and guardrails defined per tenant.; • Advanced or non-standard changes (e.g. bespoke hardware layouts, custom fabric changes, or non-standard SLAs) require engagement via Nscale.
• Web interface accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Web interface accessibility testing: Nscale conducts accessibility-focused testing on its web interface as part of its broader UX and platform quality assurance process. This includes internal testing against WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines, covering keyboard-only navigation, screen-reader compatibility (e.g. NVDA and VoiceOver), colour contrast, focus management, and form labelling.; ; Where customer-facing portals are white-labelled or customised, accessibility checks are repeated to ensure branding changes do not introduce regressions. Feedback from enterprise and public-sector customers is also incorporated into iterative improvements.; ; Formal usability studies with assistive-technology user panels can be conducted on request during onboarding or pilot phases, ensuring the interface meets specific organisational accessibility requirements.
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: Nscale exposes a secure, OpenAPI-compliant API that provides full lifecycle control of services at the same logical level as the web interface, enabling automation and integration with customer tooling.; What users can do via the API; • Set up services: Programmatically create tenants, projects, and environments; provision GPU resources (bare metal, managed Kubernetes, or Slurm); deploy NKS or NKS Lite clusters; create Slurm clusters and partitions; and configure storage access, quotas, and identities.; • Make changes: Scale clusters and GPU capacity, update quotas, start/stop workloads, deploy or update AI services (training jobs, fine-tuning pipelines, inference endpoints), manage namespaces, credentials, and network constructs exposed at the service layer.; • Operate and integrate: Retrieve real-time metrics, usage and billing data, audit logs, and service health; integrate with CI/CD, IaC tools, and customer portals.; What users cannot do; • Users cannot modify physical infrastructure, low-level networking (e.g. InfiniBand fabric), firmware, or core platform components (OpenStack underlay, storage internals, security appliances). These remain operator-controlled by Nscale.; Limitations; • All API actions are policy-bound by RBAC, quotas, and guardrails per tenant.; • Certain changes (e.g. bespoke hardware layouts, fabric reconfiguration, non-standard SLAs) require operational engagement rather than API calls.
• API automation tools:
  • Ansible
  • Chef
  • OpenStack
  • Terraform
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats:
  • Open API (also known as Swagger)
  • HTML
  • PDF
• Command line interface: Yes
• Command line interface compatibility: Linux or Unix
• Using the command line interface: Nscale provides a command line interface (CLI) designed for advanced users who require scripting, automation, and low-latency operational control, while maintaining the same safety and governance boundaries as the web interface and API.; What users can do via the CLI; • Set up services: Authenticated users can initialise projects and tenants, provision GPU resources, deploy managed Kubernetes clusters (NKS / NKS Lite), create and configure Slurm clusters and partitions, and attach storage and networking constructs exposed at the service layer.; • Make changes: Users can scale clusters, adjust quotas, manage namespaces and credentials, submit and manage Slurm jobs, deploy or update AI workloads, and query real-time usage, performance, and audit data.; • Automation: The CLI is commonly used for scripting, CI/CD pipelines, and Infrastructure-as-Code workflows, complementing Terraform and API-based provisioning.; What users cannot do; • Users cannot access or modify physical hardware, low-level network fabric, firmware, or core control-plane components such as OpenStack internals, InfiniBand configuration, or storage internals. These are operated exclusively by Nscale to protect platform integrity.; Limitations; • CLI actions are constrained by RBAC, quotas, and tenant-level guardrails.; • Non-standard configurations (e.g. bespoke hardware changes or fabric redesign) require operational engagement rather than CLI control.

Scaling

• Independence of resources: NScale provides a segregated service per tenant which has pre-defined and pre-allocated resource for the duration of their contract. This can be uplifted subject to capacity availability at their chosen site.
• Usage notifications: Yes
• Usage reporting:
  • API
  • Email
• Optimising consumption: Yes
• Automatic scaling: Yes

Analytics

• Infrastructure or application metrics: Yes
• Metrics types:
  • CPU
  • Disk
  • HTTP request and response status
  • Memory
  • Network
  • Number of active instances
  • Other
• Other metrics:
  • GPU usage
  • Temperature
  • NCCL Faults
  • Power usage
• Reporting types:
  • API access
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
• Resource tagging: Yes
• FOCUS resource tagging: No

Resellers

• Supplier type: Reseller providing extra features and support
• Organisation whose services are being resold: NScale

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Other security clearance
• Government security clearance: Developed Vetting (DV)

Asset protection

• Knowledge of data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Data storage and processing locations:
  • United Kingdom
  • European Economic Area (EEA)
• User control over data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Datacentre security standards: Complies with a recognised standard (for example CSA CCM version 4.0)
• Penetration testing frequency: At least once a year
• Penetration testing approach: ‘IT Health Check’ performed by a CHECK service provider
• Protecting data at rest:
  • Physical access control, complying with SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
  • Encryption of all physical media
  • Scale, obfuscating techniques, or data storage sharding
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Equipment disposal approach: Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001
• Data sanitisation type:
  • Deleted data can’t be directly accessed / Cryptographic Erasure
  • Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation / Secure Erase
  • Physical Destruction / Hardware containing data is completely destroyed

Backup and recovery

• What’s backed up:
  • Files: User datasets, training data, models, checkpoints across shared filesystems
  • Object storage: S3-compatible buckets containing datasets, artifacts, and logs
  • Virtual machines: VM images, system disks, and attached persistent volumes
  • Kubernetes persistent volumes: PVC-backed data for stateful containerised workloads
  • Slurm job data: Job outputs, scratch data, and user directories
  • Databases: Managed platform databases supporting metadata, billing, and control planes
  • AI models: Trained and fine-tuned model binaries and weights
  • Configuration state: Cluster, tenant, quota, and policy configurations
  • Audit logs: Security, access, and operational audit records
  • Snapshots: Point-in-time snapshots of storage volumes and datasets
• Backup controls: Through the API or Web Interface they can choose what to backup and at what frequency
• Datacentre setup: Multiple datacentres with disaster recovery
• Scheduling backups: Users schedule backups through a web interface
• Backup recovery: Users can recover backups themselves, for example through a web interface
• Backup and recovery: Yes
• RPO/RTO: Yes

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks:
  • Private network or public sector network
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
• Data protection within supplier network:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: Nscale targets ≥99.9% service availability for its managed AI infrastructure and platform services. Availability SLAs are defined per service tier and documented contractually. The Standard SLA provides availability aligned to business-hours operations, while the Enhanced SLA supports 24/7 operations for mission-critical workloads. If availability falls below the agreed SLA in a billing period, service credits are applied in line with the contract, typically as a percentage of the affected service charges. Credits are calculated transparently from monitored uptime metrics and reflected in subsequent billing cycles.
• Approach to resilience: Resilience is designed in at every layer, aligned with the UK Government’s Asset protection and resilience principle. Data centres use redundant power, cooling, and network paths, with no single points of failure and high-availability designs. GPU clusters, storage, and control planes are deployed with redundancy and fault isolation, enabling maintenance and component failure without service interruption. Multi-tenant isolation, automated failover, proactive monitoring, and non-disruptive upgrades further strengthen resilience. Detailed physical site designs and DR architectures are available on request.
• Outage reporting: Nscale reports service status through:; • A customer-facing status dashboard; • APIs exposing health and availability metrics; • Email alerts for incidents and maintenance notifications; These channels provide real-time visibility and post-incident reporting.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Nscale restricts access to management interfaces and support channels using strong identity and access management controls. Access is enforced through role-based access control (RBAC), ensuring users and staff can only perform actions appropriate to their role and tenant. Authentication integrates with federated identity providers and supports multi-factor authentication. Management interfaces, APIs, and CLIs are protected by network controls, encryption in transit, and audit logging of all actions. Support channel access is similarly controlled, with customer identity verification, scoped case visibility, and segregation between customer, operator, and third-party access. Access rights are reviewed regularly and revoked promptly through joiner-mover-leaver processes.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Devices users manage the service through: Any device but through a bastion host (a bastion host is a server that provides access to a private network from an external network such as the internet)

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: At least 12 months
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: At least 12 months
• How long system logs are stored for: At least 12 months

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards:
  • CSA CSM version 4.0
  • ISO/IEC 27001
• Information security policies and processes: Nscale operates a formal Information Security Management System (ISMS) aligned to ISO/IEC 27001. Policies cover access control, asset management, cryptography, incident response, supplier security, and business continuity. Governance is owned by executive leadership, with day-to-day accountability held by the security and operations functions. Security events, risks, and incidents are reported through defined escalation paths to senior management and, where required, customers. Compliance is enforced through role-based access control, mandatory training, documented procedures, internal audits, and continuous monitoring. Third-party suppliers are assessed against security requirements, and adherence to policies is validated through audits and operational reviews.

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Configuration and change management approach: Nscale follows structured configuration and change management processes aligned with ITIL principles. All service components (hardware, firmware, platform software, and configurations) are tracked throughout their lifecycle using configuration management records. Changes are logged, categorised, risk-assessed, and approved through formal change control, with separation between standard, normal, and emergency changes. Each change is assessed for security, availability, and tenant impact, including regression and rollback planning. Changes are tested in non-production environments before deployment and implemented using automation where possible. Audit logs and post-implementation reviews ensure traceability, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Vulnerability management type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Vulnerability management approach: Nscale operates a structured vulnerability management process aligned with ISO 27001 controls and best practice for cloud and HPC platforms. Potential threats are assessed through continuous vulnerability scanning, configuration review, and risk analysis across infrastructure, platform software, and exposed services. Vulnerabilities are prioritised based on severity, exploitability, and tenant impact. Security patches are deployed using a risk-based cadence: critical vulnerabilities are addressed as a priority, while lower-risk issues follow scheduled maintenance cycles with customer notification. Threat intelligence is sourced from vendor security advisories, OEM partners, open-source communities, CVE/NVD feeds, and managed security monitoring inputs, ensuring timely awareness and response.
• Protective monitoring type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Protective monitoring approach: Nscale uses continuous protective monitoring across infrastructure, platform, and network layers to identify potential compromises. Logs, metrics, and security events are centrally collected and analysed using an enterprise observability and alerting stack, with correlation rules to detect anomalous behaviour, unauthorised access attempts, or policy violations. When a potential compromise is identified, incidents are immediately triaged by on-call security and operations teams, following documented incident response runbooks. Containment, remediation, and root-cause analysis are executed in line with severity. For critical incidents, response is initiated within minutes, with escalation, customer notification, and post-incident reporting handled through formal processes.
• Incident management type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example, CSA CCM v4.0 or ISO/IEC 27035:2011 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Incident management approach: Nscale operates a formal incident management process aligned with ITIL and ISO 27001 practices. Pre-defined runbooks exist for common events such as service degradation, hardware failure, security alerts, and network issues, enabling rapid and consistent response. Users can report incidents via the service desk, web portal, API, or email, depending on their support tier. Incidents are categorised, prioritised, and tracked through to resolution with clear escalation paths. Customers are kept informed through status updates and notifications. Following significant incidents, Nscale provides post-incident reports detailing impact, root cause, remediation actions, and preventative measures.
• Post-quantum cryptography secure: No

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Independent review of processes (for example CESG CPA Build Standard, ISO/IEC 27034, ISO/IEC 27001 or CSA CCM v4.0)

Separation between users

• Virtualisation technology used to keep applications and users sharing the same infrastructure apart: Yes
• Who implements virtualisation: Supplier
• Virtualisation technologies used: KVM hypervisor
• How shared infrastructure is kept separate: Nscale enforces strict multi-tenancy through layered isolation across compute, network, storage, and control planes. Tenants are provisioned into isolated environments with dedicated namespaces, virtual networks, and access boundaries managed by RBAC and identity federation. Network traffic is segmented using virtual networks and policy enforcement to prevent crossover. Storage is namespaced and encrypted per tenant, with independent quotas and access policies. Workloads run on isolated Kubernetes clusters or Slurm partitions, while platform operations remain centrally managed, ensuring tenants share physical infrastructure without visibility, access, or performance impact on each other.

Energy efficiency

• Energy-efficient datacentres: Yes
• Description of energy efficient datacentres: Nscale’s data centres are designed and operated in alignment with the EU Code of Conduct for Energy-Efficient Data Centres, following best-practice principles for power usage effectiveness (PUE), efficient cooling, workload optimisation, and responsible energy management. Facilities prioritise high-efficiency hardware, advanced cooling designs, and renewable energy sources, with continuous monitoring and optimisation to minimise environmental impact.

Pricing

• Discount for educational organisations: No
• Free trial available: Yes
• Description of free trial: Full NScale functionality can be explored during the free trial

Discount

• Provide your minimum discount applicable to your baseline prices: 0%

Formula for calculating price of your services

• Formula for calculating price of your services:

  Which of the core deployment models you intend to offer

  Public Cloud

  Public Cloud - Formula for calculating price of your services

  ---

  Total Cost

  The Total Cost for a buyer's call off requirement in a Public Cloud Deployment

  =

  Baseline Pricing

  As we are a reseller for Lot 1a baseline or list price can be found on our vendor's web sites. We will also provide links to vendor list prices on our GCloud landing page : https://www.computacenter.com/en-gb/sectors/public-sector/GC15

  Baseline Pricing - Web link

  https://www.computacenter.com/en-gb/sectors/public-sector/GC15

  -

  Minimum Discounting

  0%

  +

  Onboarding Activity

  Onboarding costs may vary based on your specific requirements, please confirm with suppliers during the clarification process

  +

  Additional sources of cost

  None

  -

  Additional sources of cost reduction

  We would work with our vendor partners to secure discounts from list price if possible.

  ---

• Total Cost: The Total Cost for a buyer's call off requirement in a Public Cloud Deployment
• Baseline Pricing: As we are a reseller for Lot 1a baseline or list price can be found on our vendor's web sites. We will also provide links to vendor list prices on our GCloud landing page : https://www.computacenter.com/en-gb/sectors/public-sector/GC15
• Baseline Pricing - Web link: https://www.computacenter.com/en-gb/sectors/public-sector/GC15
• Minimum Discounting: 0%
• Onboarding Activity: Onboarding costs may vary based on your specific requirements, please confirm with suppliers during the clarification process
• Additional sources of cost: None
• Additional sources of cost reduction: We would work with our vendor partners to secure discounts from list price if possible.

Mandatory certifications

• Mandatory certifications:

  Are you are bidding to offer IaaS and/or PaaS as a reseller or are you in sole control of the infrastructure

  Reseller

  Cloud service suppliers you intend to resell with evidence

  Organisation 1

  Organisation name

  AWS

  Website address/upload for organisation

  Website address

  Website address

  https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/search/results?searchTerms=computacenter

  Organisation 2

  Organisation name

  Microsoft Azure

  Website address/upload for organisation

  Website address

  Website address

  https://marketplace.microsoft.com/en-us/partners?filter=sort%3D0%3BpageSize%3D18%3Bcountry%3Dus%3Bradius%3D100%3Blocname%3DUnited%2520States%3Bfreetext%3Dcomputacenter%3Bsuggestion%3Dtrue%3BlocationNotRequired%3Dtrue

  Organisation 3

  Organisation name

  Nscale

  Website address/upload for organisation

  Website address

  Website address

  https://www.nscale.com/

  ISO 9001 certification

  Provided

  ISO 27001 certification

  Provided

  ISO 20000-1 certification

  Provided

  Are you reliant on the Cloud Service Provider for some accreditations

  Yes

Cyber Essentials

• Do you have a Cyber Essentials Plus certificate?: Yes
• Cyber Essentials Plus certificate Number: 7aa420c0-18dd-4cf4-99da-183fce210190

Non-mandatory Standards and certifications

• ISO 28000:2022 certification: No
• Quality management systems (QMS): Yes
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications: INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - ISO/IEC 27001:2022

Social value

• Section B - Commitment for Future: Delivery:

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 1: Fair work: That offers fair wages and good working conditions. Help people get a job, stay in work, and progress in their careers, with good employment opportunities across the country. Notes: Where there is a large proportion of labour costs in the contract, commercial teams should consider MAC in Outcome 1 as a priority

    • New or retained jobs on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b, 1c and 1d
    • New apprenticeships on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b
    • Providing opportunities for, and measuring and monitoring of, staff workforce conditions over time, including employee engagement, involvement in decision-making and satisfaction and adapting to any changes in the results, with clear processes for acting on issues identified
    • Plans to engage the contract workforce in deciding the most important workplace issues to address
    • Ensuring new workers are informed of their right to join a trade union
    • Monitoring of employee engagement rates (by protected characteristic) and, where necessary, the development of actions to ensure all voices are heard across the diversity of the workforce
    • Employment contracts that reflect actual hours worked; steps taken to ensure employees understand their contracts and have the ability to review and adjust them if actual hours regularly exceed contracted hours
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about, and feel empowered to, address their physical wellbeing
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about and feel empowered to report and address bullying and harassment
    • Activities to cascade good practice on fair working conditions throughout the supply chain
    • Payment of more than the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage (as appropriate) to the contract workforce
    • Entitlement to sick pay for the contract workforce, with provision in place for any staff who do not meet the earnings threshold for statutory sick pay, payment of sick pay from day one of absence and payment of staff on the contract workforce who are off sick a replacement income of 100% of their usual earnings for as long as possible
    • Understanding of in-work progression issues affecting the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
    • Measures to support in-work progression to help people in the contract workforce, to move into higher paid work by developing new skills relevant to the contract
    • Support for the contract workforce by providing career advice, and providing opportunities for staff working on the contract with in-work progression career development into known skills shortages or high growth areas
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Volunteering opportunities for staff
    • Understanding of the modern slavery risks and issues affecting the market, industry, sector or country (of origin or of source) relevant to the contract, and the workforce in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key subcontractors
    • Measures to identify, mitigate and manage modern slavery risks relating to the contract and how these will be implemented
    • Outline policies and practices to be applied to or put in place for the contract to mitigate and manage modern slavery risks, including: Pre-employment checks, recruitment practices. Workplace conditions, safeguarding plans and processes in place and regular monitoring with relevant groups considered, which may include sampling
    • How these flow down the supply chain and are monitored Illustrative examples include reporting, site visits, audits, etc.
    • How to ensure business decisions re: price/cost, short lead times, payment timescales do not create modern slavery risks in the supply chain
    • How the supplier will work with NGOs, trade unions or other businesses to address modern slavery risk
    • Means of influencing staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders with respect to modern slavery risks relating to the contract

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 2: Skills for growth: Supporting growth sectors and addressing skills gaps.

    • Understanding of employment and relevant skills issues, and of the education and training issues relating to the contract. Illustrative examples: demographics, skills shortages, new opportunities in high growth sectors, geographic/local community and skills/employment challenges
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Activities to support relevant sector related skills growth and sustainability in the contract workforce. Illustrative examples: careers talks, curriculum support, literacy support, safety talks and volunteering
    • Delivery of apprenticeships, supported internships and T Level industry placement opportunities (Level 2, 3 and 4+) in relation to the contract

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 3: Resilient, innovative and flexible supply chains: Support economic growth through enabling resilient businesses, opportunities for small businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises

    • Understanding of the types of businesses in the market and the level of participation by new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
    • Activities to identify opportunities to open up sub-contracts under the prime contract to a diverse range of businesses, including new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
    • Plans for engaging a diverse range of businesses in engagement activities prior to appointing subcontractors (including activities prior to award of the main contract and during the contract term)
    • Activities that demonstrate a collaborative way to work with a diverse range of businesses as part of the supply chain
    • Ensuring accessibility to contracting and subcontracting opportunities for disabled business owners and employees
    • Structuring of the supply chain selection process to ensure fairness (e.g. anti-corruption) and encourages participation by a diverse range of businesses, including with regard to new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutual
    • Understanding of local demographics, needs and opportunities for the co-design of the goods, services and works to be delivered under the contract
    • Methods for engaging with different parts of the community (including the education system and charities representing the community) and how communities come together to inform decisions, strategy and projects to leave a positive legacy for future generations
    • Measures to involve local stakeholders and/or users in design (e.g. in the design of services, systems, products or buildings)
    • Plans for positive actions with community groups.
    • Measures for making facilities used in the delivery of the contract available for community groups, education or training
    • Measures to engage users and communities and build relationships to increase community integration build trust and influence how the contract is delivered
    • Plans to respond flexibly and adapt approaches to community engagement and initiatives
    • Support for community-led initiatives relevant to the contract. Illustrative examples: improving transport links; reducing loneliness; helping with English language proficiency; and facilitating social mixing among people with different backgrounds
    • Collaborating with anchor institutions and community groups to make facilities available for education, training or community events

  • Mission: Make Britain a clean energy superpower: To cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero

    Policy Outcome 4: Sustainable procurement practices: Reducing carbon footprints, minimising waste, and promoting the use of clean energy and green technologies.

    • Understanding of opportunities for additional environmental benefits delivery in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Collaborative ways of working with the supply chain to deliver additional environmental benefits in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Delivery of additional environmental benefits through the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Understanding of how to influence staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders through the delivery of the contract to support climate and nature protection and improvement
    • Activities to reconnect people with the environment and increase awareness of ways to protect and enhance it

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 6: Employment and training: For those who face barriers to employment

    • Understanding of employment and skills issues, and of the skills and employment shortages of high growth sectors relating to the contract
    • Creation of employment opportunities particularly for those who face barriers to employment, such as prison leavers, care leavers and/or who are located in deprived areas, and for people in industries with known skills shortages or in high growth sectors
    • Delivery of training schemes and programmes to address any identified skills gaps and under-representation in the workforce for the contract (e.g. prison leavers, care leavers, kinship carers, disabled people)
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
    • Understanding of the issues affecting the representation of disabled people in the workforce in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
    • Collection of the views and expertise of disabled people and their representative organisations on successfully supporting disabled employees or applicants
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, and retention-focused activities, including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition
    • Introducing transparency to pay and reward processes
    • Offering a range of quality opportunities with routes of progression if appropriate, e.g. T Level industry placements, students supported into higher level apprenticeships.
    • Working conditions which promote an inclusive working environment and promote retention and progression
    • Other measures to provide equality of opportunity for disabled people and those with health conditions into employment, including becoming a Disability Confident employer and inclusion of supported businesses in the contract supply chain
    • Understanding of the issues affecting inequality in employment, skills and pay in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors. Measures to tackle inequality in employment, skills and pay in the contract workforce
    • Inclusive and accessible development practices, including guidance for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 7: Creating a pipeline of opportunities: For the contract workforce, reducing barriers to entry for under-represented groups.

    • Understanding of the issues affecting the development of new skills by target cohort
    • Understanding of the underlying factors affecting improvements to reduce barriers to entry and training schemes for the target cohort(s) related to the contract workforce
    • Other measures to offer development opportunities for the target cohort(s) in the contract workforce
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
    • Understanding of issues relating to entering the contract workforce
    • Creation of outreach activities to create a pipeline of employees for the future contract delivery
    • Content of the outreach activity is designed to suit the target cohort
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort

  • Mission: Build an NHS fit for the future: That is there when people need it; with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers; in a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer.

    Policy Outcome 8: Increasing productivity through physical and mental wellbeing: In the supply chain and communities in the relevant area.

    • Understanding of issues relating to health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health, in the contract workforce
    • Understanding barriers to access to health and social care services or employment opportunities e.g. digital inclusion
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, development practices and retention policies that support-focused activities including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing which support people with a disability or health condition
    • Actions to invest in the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the contract workforce

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at Government@computacenter.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.