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G-Cloud 15 is the UK public sector’s open framework for buying cloud hosting, infrastructure and platform services, software and cloud-related support. It is agreement RM1557.15, let under the Procurement Act 2023. Buyers can award a call-off with or without competition, subject to the applicable procedure and documents; suppliers must bid through the framework’s tender process, and framework admission alone does not guarantee a sale.
What G-Cloud 15 covers
The Government Commercial Agency (GCA) describes G-Cloud 15 as a route for public-sector organisations to buy cloud-based computing services, including off-the-shelf and pay-as-you-go solutions. Its scope includes infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), infrastructure software as a service (I-SaaS), other software as a service (SaaS), and additional cloud support. The live agreement page identifies Lots 2a, 2b and 3; consult its current lot catalogue for the precise lot structure and service details.
GCA’s agreement page lists more than 50,000 services and more than 4,000 suppliers as framework benefits. These are headline counts, not a guarantee that any particular listing is currently available or that a supplier will win a contract. Check the live G-Cloud 15 agreement and catalogue.
Who can buy through the framework
GCA lists central government, charities, education, health, local authorities, blue-light organisations, devolved administrations and British overseas territories as eligible buyer groups. An organisation should confirm its eligibility and follow its own procurement requirements alongside the G-Cloud 15 procedures.
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How a buyer makes a call-off
G-Cloud 15 offers two award routes. Which one applies depends on the buyer’s requirement and the agreement’s rules; neither is universally the faster or better choice.
| Route | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Award with competition | Suppliers on the framework are invited to bid against the buyer’s stated requirement. | Use GCA’s current competition guidance and the relevant call-off documents to set out the requirement and assess bids. |
| Award without competition | The buyer makes a direct award under the agreement’s applicable rules. | Follow GCA’s current direct-award guidance and document how the selected service meets the requirement under those rules. |
For either route, check the service’s fit with the scope, the applicable award procedure, required schedules, price and terms, and the buyer’s documented needs. GCA provides separate buyer guidance for both routes on the agreement page.
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Complete the order and form the contract
The order form records what is being supplied, how it will be supplied, the cost, contact details and applicable schedules. According to GCA, a call-off contract forms when both parties agree to the completed order form, or when they agree to a binding electronic purchase order containing the required information. The framework’s core terms are mandatory and cannot be changed. GCA’s 10 August 2026 launch announcement says call-offs can run for up to 60 months; check the current schedule and order form for the particular procurement before setting a contract term.
What G-Cloud 15 does not cover
G-Cloud 15 is not a general technology or consultancy purchasing route. GCA excludes:
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- Hardware
- Contingent labour
- Co-location
- Recruitment
- Non-cloud services or consultancy
- Bespoke design and development
Support is permitted only when it relates to cloud services. The agreement page points buyers to other agreements for excluded requirements; do not use a G-Cloud 15 listing to procure an out-of-scope need.
What the framework’s dates and reopening mean
The G-Cloud 15 agreement page gives a start date of 6 August 2026 and an end date of 5 February 2028, but also says the framework runs for four years from 6 August 2026. Those statements conflict. Treat the operative term and end date as unconfirmed until checked against the current contract documents or a GCA notice, rather than relying on the displayed calendar end date alone.
GCA says the open framework reopens after 18 months and 36 months. Its general framework guidance explains that reopenings can allow new suppliers to bid, existing suppliers to seek readmission, suppliers to change or expand their offerings or pricing, and suppliers to leave and later rejoin. The precise opportunity and requirements at each G-Cloud 15 opening depend on its current tender documents. Read GCA’s general guidance on framework reopenings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How suppliers can apply
Suppliers should use the G-Cloud 15 tender pack, not assume older G-Cloud application instructions apply. GCA’s general supplier process is to find the tender opportunity, register on its eSourcing platform to access the invitation to tender and express interest, meet participation conditions, and submit a bid for assessment.
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- Find the G-Cloud 15 opportunity and open its current tender documents from the agreement page.
- Register on GCA’s eSourcing platform as directed in the opportunity, then access the invitation to tender and express interest.
- Check the participation conditions and prepare the response using the framework-specific tender pack.
- Submit the bid for assessment by the deadline and in the required format.
Registration and expressing interest do not guarantee a place on the framework. A place on the framework, in turn, is not a buyer’s call-off award. See GCA’s supplier guidance alongside the live G-Cloud 15 documents.
What the published figures do—and do not—show
In its 10 August 2026 launch announcement, GCA estimated the framework’s value at about £14 billion over four years and estimated that about £3 billion in annual public-sector cloud spend would flow through it. GCA also estimated that SMEs account for about 90% of suppliers. These are GCA estimates, not guaranteed expenditure, a supplier’s likely share, or a promise of bid success. The four-year estimate also does not resolve the conflicting term dates displayed on the agreement page.
GCA says Crown Commercial Service became the Government Commercial Agency on 1 April 2026. Older documents may still use the CCS name; GCA says they remain valid for existing and new contracts.
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