Quick summary: G-Cloud 14 has three lots — Cloud Hosting (Lot 1), Cloud Software (Lot 2), and Cloud Support (Lot 3). Buyers purchase via direct award through the Digital Marketplace — no mini-competition needed. Suppliers apply during CCS competition windows advertised on Find a Tender. Once listed, you can receive orders from any UK public sector buyer.
What is G-Cloud 14?
G-Cloud 14 is the 14th iteration of the Crown Commercial Service's G-Cloud framework agreement — the main procurement route for cloud services to UK public sector. It replaced G-Cloud 13 and covers cloud hosting, cloud software (SaaS), and cloud support services.
The framework works differently from most public sector procurement. Instead of a traditional tender process, buyers search a catalogue — the Digital Marketplace — and place orders directly with listed suppliers. This makes G-Cloud significantly faster for buyers and more accessible for suppliers than a full open competition.
For IT suppliers, getting onto G-Cloud is one of the most valuable things you can do to open up public sector revenue. A single application gives you access to central government, NHS, councils, universities, police forces and hundreds of other public bodies — without bidding individually for each contract.
The three G-Cloud 14 lots
Cloud Hosting
Services covered
- ▸Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- ▸Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- ▸Cloud storage and backup
- ▸Content delivery networks
- ▸Private and hybrid cloud
Typical suppliers
AWS, Azure and GCP resellers, specialist UK sovereign cloud providers, managed hosting for public sector.
Typical buyers
Central government departments, HMRC, DWP, NHS Digital, councils needing sovereign or compliant hosting.
Cloud Software
Services covered
- ▸SaaS applications (any category)
- ▸Productivity and collaboration tools
- ▸Case management and workflow software
- ▸Analytics and data platforms
- ▸Security and compliance software
Typical suppliers
Case management SaaS, HR and finance tools, cybersecurity platforms, document management systems.
Typical buyers
Any public sector buyer procuring a software subscription — the most widely used G-Cloud lot.
Cloud Support
Services covered
- ▸Cloud migration planning and delivery
- ▸Cloud architecture and strategy
- ▸Managed cloud services
- ▸Cloud security assessment
- ▸Training and adoption support
Typical suppliers
Cloud consultancies, managed service providers, DevOps specialists, cloud security firms.
Typical buyers
Departments migrating to cloud, agencies needing managed services, organisations building cloud capability.
How buyers purchase from G-Cloud 14
G-Cloud operates on a direct award model — the simplest purchase mechanism in UK public procurement:
Search the Digital Marketplace
Buyers visit digitalmarketplace.service.gov.uk and search for services meeting their requirements — filtering by lot, service category, price, and features.
Evaluate and shortlist
Buyers review matching suppliers' service descriptions, pricing and supporting documentation. For smaller purchases, this can be a straightforward comparison. For larger requirements, buyers may engage shortlisted suppliers for further information.
Place the order
Buyers award directly to their chosen supplier using CCS call-off terms. No mini-competition is required. Orders above £1m may need additional assurance steps depending on the buyer's internal governance.
Contract performance
Contracts run under standard G-Cloud call-off terms. Buyers must publish contract award notices on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder above threshold. PSIP tracks these notices so you can monitor competitor wins and buyer activity.
How to apply to G-Cloud 14
Watch for competition windows
CCS periodically opens G-Cloud to new supplier applications and re-applications. Competition windows are advertised on Find a Tender. Set a PSIP alert for "G-Cloud" or "Digital Marketplace" keywords on Find a Tender to be notified when the next window opens.
Create a Digital Marketplace account
Applications are submitted through the Crown Commercial Service Supplier Portal. You will need your Companies House number, contact details, and basic company information.
Complete the supplier declaration
Answer mandatory questions about your company — legal status, GDPR compliance, information security, and other standard public sector requirements. These are pass/fail rather than scored.
Write your service descriptions
For each service you want to list, write a clear description covering what the service does, who it is for, key features, and pricing. This is your shop window on the Digital Marketplace — buyers read these descriptions to decide whether to shortlist you. Quality here directly affects how many call-offs you receive.
Set your pricing
G-Cloud pricing is published on the Digital Marketplace. You can list services from £0 (freemium) upwards. Pricing must be your best government pricing — you cannot charge public sector buyers more than commercial customers for equivalent services.
Pass the CCS assessment
CCS reviews applications for completeness and compliance. Successful suppliers are listed on the Digital Marketplace within a few weeks of the competition closing. You will receive a framework agreement reference number.
Using PSIP to maximise your G-Cloud pipeline
G-Cloud is a direct award framework — buyers come to you rather than publishing tenders. But PSIP still helps G-Cloud suppliers in three important ways:
Competition window alerts
PSIP alerts you when CCS publishes a new G-Cloud competition window on Find a Tender. Never miss an opportunity to apply or re-apply with updated service descriptions.
Contract award tracking
Buyers must publish G-Cloud contract award notices on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder above threshold. PSIP aggregates all seven portals — so you can see which G-Cloud suppliers are winning which contracts, at what values, and with which buyers. Essential competitive intelligence.
Buyer intelligence
PSIP's buyer intelligence shows you which public sector organisations are actively spending on cloud services, who currently holds their contracts, and when those contracts expire. This helps you prioritise which buyers to target on the Digital Marketplace.
Key requirements for G-Cloud 14
GDPR compliance
All services must comply with UK GDPR. You must demonstrate how personal data is handled, stored and protected.
Cyber Essentials
Required for all G-Cloud suppliers. Cyber Essentials Plus is preferred for services handling sensitive or official data.
ISO 27001
Not mandatory but strongly preferred, particularly for Lot 1 (hosting) and any service handling OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE data.
UK data residency
Many public sector buyers require data to be stored in the UK. Be clear in your service description about data locations.
OFFICIAL handling
Services must be capable of handling data classified at OFFICIAL level. Specify clearly whether your service can handle OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE.
Accessibility
Public sector digital services must meet WCAG 2.1 AA. If your software is used by public sector staff, accessibility compliance is expected.
Frequently asked questions
What is G-Cloud 14?
G-Cloud 14 is the 14th iteration of the Crown Commercial Service's G-Cloud framework agreement. It gives UK public sector buyers a compliant route to procure cloud hosting, cloud software and cloud support services without running a full open tender. Suppliers apply to join the framework during a competition window; buyers then search the Digital Marketplace and place orders directly with listed suppliers.
What are the lots in G-Cloud 14?
G-Cloud 14 has three lots: Lot 1 (Cloud Hosting — infrastructure and platform services including IaaS, PaaS and storage), Lot 2 (Cloud Software — SaaS products and applications), and Lot 3 (Cloud Support — professional services supporting cloud migration, management and optimisation). Most IT suppliers apply under Lot 2 (SaaS) or Lot 3 (support services).
Who can use G-Cloud 14?
Any UK public sector organisation can buy from G-Cloud 14, including central government departments, NHS trusts, local authorities, universities, police forces, and arm's-length bodies. Buyers access the framework through the Crown Commercial Service Digital Marketplace at digitalmarketplace.service.gov.uk.
How do buyers purchase from G-Cloud 14?
All G-Cloud purchases are direct award — buyers search the Digital Marketplace for services meeting their requirements, evaluate listed suppliers, and place an order directly without running a mini-competition. There is a financial threshold of £1 million per contract (indexed), above which buyers are expected to run a further evaluation process.
How do I apply to G-Cloud 14?
G-Cloud 14 applications are submitted via the Digital Marketplace Supplier Portal during an open competition window. You complete a supplier declaration, provide service descriptions for each service you want to list, and set your pricing. CCS assesses applications against eligibility criteria. New competition windows open periodically — PSIP alerts you when they are published on Find a Tender.
How long does G-Cloud 14 last?
Framework agreements like G-Cloud typically run for 24 months from award date, with the option to extend. CCS may also run G-Cloud 15 to succeed it. Check the current G-Cloud framework notice on Find a Tender for the current expiry date. PSIP's contract expiry tracker shows when the framework is due for renewal.
Can small IT companies apply to G-Cloud 14?
Yes. G-Cloud is specifically designed to be accessible to SMEs and was one of the government's key tools for increasing SME participation in public sector IT procurement. There are no minimum turnover requirements, and the application process is self-certification rather than requiring extensive financial evidence. Many small specialist IT suppliers successfully list on G-Cloud.
Track G-Cloud competitions and IT contract awards
PSIP alerts you when G-Cloud competition windows open on Find a Tender, and tracks contract award notices so you can monitor competitor wins across all seven UK portals. 7-day free trial, no credit card required.
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