The G-Cloud framework is the UK government's pre-competed route for buying cloud software, hosting, and support services. Public sector bodies — NHS trusts, local councils, government departments — can purchase from suppliers listed on the framework without running a full procurement process. The competition happens once, when the framework is established. After that, buyers browse an online catalogue called the Digital Marketplace and call off contracts directly.

The G-Cloud framework is the UK government's pre-competed route for buying cloud software, hosting, and support services. Public sector bodies — NHS trusts, local councils, government departments — can purchase from suppliers listed on the framework without running a full procurement process. The competition happens once, when the framework is established. After that, buyers browse an online catalogue called the Digital Marketplace and call off contracts directly.

G-Cloud 15 launched in August 2026. With its £14 billion ceiling, the largest in the framework's history, understanding how to use it effectively matters more than ever for any company selling cloud or digital services into the public sector.

G-Cloud 15 launched in August 2026. With its £14 billion ceiling, the largest in the framework's history, understanding how to use it effectively matters more than ever for any company selling cloud or digital services into the public sector.

What is the G-Cloud framework?

G-Cloud is a framework agreement run by the Government Commercial Agency (GCA, formerly Crown Commercial Service). It covers three lots:

G-Cloud is a framework agreement run by the Government Commercial Agency (GCA, formerly Crown Commercial Service). It covers three lots:

• Cloud hosting: infrastructure and platform services

  Cloud hosting: infrastructure and platform services

• Cloud software: software as a service and applications

  Cloud software: software as a service and applications

• Cloud support: implementation, migration, and ongoing support services

  Cloud support: implementation, migration, and ongoing support services

Suppliers apply to join during a defined application window. The GCA evaluates submissions against quality, security, and financial criteria, and admits successful suppliers to the relevant lot. Once admitted, suppliers list their services on the Digital Marketplace, a public-facing catalogue where buyers can search, compare, and purchase.

Suppliers apply to join during a defined application window. The GCA evaluates submissions against quality, security, and financial criteria, and admits successful suppliers to the relevant lot. Once admitted, suppliers list their services on the Digital Marketplace, a public-facing catalogue where buyers can search, compare, and purchase.

G-Cloud runs in iterations. G-Cloud 14 generated £1.67 billion in evidenced spend between October 2024 and August 2026 across 1,913 buying organisations and 1,687 suppliers with spend. G-Cloud 15 introduces an open framework model under the Procurement Act 2023, meaning the framework can re-open to new suppliers at 18 and 24 months after launch, removing the single application window that previously locked suppliers out until the next re-let.

G-Cloud runs in iterations. G-Cloud 14 generated £1.67 billion in evidenced spend between October 2024 and August 2026 across 1,913 buying organisations and 1,687 suppliers with spend. G-Cloud 15 introduces an open framework model under the Procurement Act 2023, meaning the framework can re-open to new suppliers at 18 and 24 months after launch, removing the single application window that previously locked suppliers out until the next re-let.

New to procurement frameworks? Start here: What Is a Framework Agreement?

New to procurement frameworks? Start here: What Is a Framework Agreement?

How do suppliers use the G-Cloud framework?

Suppliers use the G-Cloud framework to access public sector buyers without responding to individual tenders. Once listed, a buyer can call off a contract directly, either through a direct award to a single supplier, or through a mini-competition among suppliers on the relevant lot.

Suppliers use the G-Cloud framework to access public sector buyers without responding to individual tenders. Once listed, a buyer can call off a contract directly, either through a direct award to a single supplier, or through a mini-competition among suppliers on the relevant lot.

In practice, using it effectively comes down to three things.

In practice, using it effectively comes down to three things.

Getting listed with the right service descriptions. The Digital Marketplace is a searchable catalogue. Buyers filter by category, price, and keywords. A service description that accurately reflects what a buyer is looking for, in language a buyer would use rather than supplier marketing copy, determines whether a supplier appears in relevant searches.

Getting listed with the right service descriptions. The Digital Marketplace is a searchable catalogue. Buyers filter by category, price, and keywords. A service description that accurately reflects what a buyer is looking for, in language a buyer would use rather than supplier marketing copy, determines whether a supplier appears in relevant searches.

Targeting the right buyers. G-Cloud 14 data shows that spend is concentrated among a relatively small number of active buying organisations. HMRC, DWP, and the Ministry of Defence were the top three buyers by spend. NHS England spent £23.8 million through the framework. Suppliers who understand which buyers are actively spending in their category, and build relationships with those organisations before a call-off is initiated, win more work than those waiting to be discovered.

Targeting the right buyers. G-Cloud 14 data shows that spend is concentrated among a relatively small number of active buying organisations. HMRC, DWP, and the Ministry of Defence were the top three buyers by spend. NHS England spent £23.8 million through the framework. Suppliers who understand which buyers are actively spending in their category, and build relationships with those organisations before a call-off is initiated, win more work than those waiting to be discovered.

Understanding that G-Cloud is a compliant award mechanism, not a sales channel. The framework enables buyers to award contracts compliantly. It does not create demand. The most successful G-Cloud suppliers are those who have established buyer relationships and use G-Cloud as the route to formalise them, not those who list and wait.

Understanding that G-Cloud is a compliant award mechanism, not a sales channel. The framework enables buyers to award contracts compliantly. It does not create demand. The most successful G-Cloud suppliers are those who have established buyer relationships and use G-Cloud as the route to formalise them, not those who list and wait.

For a deeper dive into NHS-specific routes: How to Get on an NHS Framework

For a deeper dive into NHS-specific routes: How to Get on an NHS Framework

What has changed on G-Cloud 15?

G-Cloud 15 introduces several significant changes from previous iterations that suppliers need to understand.

G-Cloud 15 introduces several significant changes from previous iterations that suppliers need to understand.

The open framework model means suppliers can apply to join at 18 and 24 months, not just at the initial window. Cyber Essentials certification is now mandatory for all suppliers on all lots. The evaluation now explicitly scores quality, social value, and price, rather than applying a single standard to all submissions. Economic and financial standing criteria are now lot-specific.

The open framework model means suppliers can apply to join at 18 and 24 months, not just at the initial window. Cyber Essentials certification is now mandatory for all suppliers on all lots. The evaluation now explicitly scores quality, social value, and price, rather than applying a single standard to all submissions. Economic and financial standing criteria are now lot-specific.

The framework also operates under the Procurement Act 2023, which introduced new notice types including pipeline notices and preliminary market engagement notices. Buyers running procurements above the relevant thresholds are required to publish forward-looking signals before a formal procurement begins. Suppliers who track buyer activity through pipeline notices, market engagement notices, and formal tender activity, not just the Digital Marketplace, get earlier visibility of where spending is planned.

The framework also operates under the Procurement Act 2023, which introduced new notice types including pipeline notices and preliminary market engagement notices. Buyers running procurements above the relevant thresholds are required to publish forward-looking signals before a formal procurement begins. Suppliers who track buyer activity through pipeline notices, market engagement notices, and formal tender activity, not just the Digital Marketplace, get earlier visibility of where spending is planned.

What G-Cloud 14 data tells G-Cloud 15 suppliers

G-Cloud 14 generated £1.67 billion in evidenced spend. SMEs captured 50.1% of that spend, a notably more equal split than the broader cross-framework picture where large suppliers take nearly 64%. The top 10 suppliers captured around 15% of total G-Cloud 14 spend, meaning 85% was distributed across more than 1,600 other suppliers.

G-Cloud 14 generated £1.67 billion in evidenced spend. SMEs captured 50.1% of that spend, a notably more equal split than the broader cross-framework picture where large suppliers take nearly 64%. The top 10 suppliers captured around 15% of total G-Cloud 14 spend, meaning 85% was distributed across more than 1,600 other suppliers.

Those figures show G-Cloud is a genuinely competitive market at the framework level — though competitive intensity varies significantly by lot and category, which is where a well-targeted approach matters most.

Those figures show G-Cloud is a genuinely competitive market at the framework level — though competitive intensity varies significantly by lot and category, which is where a well-targeted approach matters most.

Read the full Arcamus G-Cloud 14 report, including top buyers, top suppliers, what the SME split actually means, and how to build a G-Cloud 15 commercial strategy from the data. Get in touch for your copy today.

Read the full Arcamus G-Cloud 14 report, including top buyers, top suppliers, what the SME split actually means, and how to build a G-Cloud 15 commercial strategy from the data. Get in touch for your copy today.