Technology Products & Associated Services 3, or TePAS 3, is being developed as the next major public sector framework for technology hardware, software and associated services. With an estimated value of £20 billion excluding VAT, RM6398 is likely to be a significant opportunity for manufacturers, resellers, software providers and technology service businesses.
The framework is expected to replace RM6098 Technology Products & Associated Services 2, which remains live until October 2027. Formal tender documents have not yet been published, but the current timetable points towards a Find a Tender notice in January 2027, followed by framework award around August 2027.
For suppliers interested in securing a place, this gives time to assess the emerging scope, strengthen relevant evidence and prepare the compliance information likely to be needed once the competition opens.
What is RM6398 Technology Products & Associated Services 3?
RM6398 will provide central government and the wider public sector with a route to purchase technology hardware, software and supporting services.
It is the successor to RM6098 TePAS 2, with the existing agreement being used as the foundation for the new framework. The aim is to retain the breadth that made TePAS 2 a significant technology purchasing route while improving both its scope and the buying journey.
The planned framework is being developed under the Procurement Act 2023 and is expected to support a range of purchasing models, including outright purchase, leasing, consumption-based arrangements and technology supplied as a service.
Suppliers unfamiliar with these agreements can also read our GCA framework support guidance to understand how Thornton & Lowe helps businesses assess opportunities, select suitable routes to market and prepare framework submissions.
RM6398 TePAS 3 timetable
The procurement is still in development, so suppliers should treat dates as provisional until the formal tender notice is released.
Stage |
Current position |
|---|---|
Pre-market engagement |
October 2025 to September 2026 |
Procurement documentation |
From September 2026 |
Find a Tender notice |
Estimated January 2027 |
Framework award |
Estimated August 2027 |
TePAS 2 expiry |
October 2027 |
Current planning therefore gives suppliers a useful preparation period before the live tender. As the procurement develops, suppliers should continue checking the official RM6398 Technology Products & Associated Services 3 page for updated dates, engagement activity and tender documents.
What could suppliers provide through TePAS 3?
The final framework structure has not yet been published, but the emerging scope is broad. RM6398 is expected to cover three main areas: hardware, software and associated services.
End-user technology
The planned hardware scope includes everyday user devices and peripherals such as:
- laptops and desktop computers
- smartphones and tablets
- monitors
- printers and scanners
- peripherals and human-interface devices
- radio frequency identification equipment
These products may be available through several commercial models rather than straightforward outright purchase alone.
Infrastructure hardware
TePAS 3 is also expected to accommodate larger-scale infrastructure requirements, including:
- servers and storage
- switches, hubs and routers
- backup devices
- high-performance computing
- networking infrastructure
- security-related hardware
- infrastructure supporting cloud connectivity
This makes the framework relevant not only to general technology resellers, but also to suppliers supporting complex public sector infrastructure environments.
Software
The planned software scope includes commercial off-the-shelf software and open-source products, together with software licensing. Purchasing options may include traditional licences and subscription models.
Although the final categories have not been confirmed, TePAS 2 currently encompasses areas such as productivity, business applications, data and analytics, security and cloud products. Suppliers should not assume that the TePAS 2 lot structure will simply be repeated, but it gives useful context for the type of technology requirement the agreement has historically supported.
Specialist technology
The emerging scope also extends beyond standard corporate IT. Current planning includes tactical communication systems, covering specialist military-grade communication and information technology, together with assistive technology and technology-enabled care designed to support safety, communication, convenience and health management. This could broaden the supplier base beyond businesses that would traditionally associate themselves with a general IT hardware and software framework.
Associated services
The services surrounding the technology are also an important part of the planned agreement. These may include:
- design and implementation
- end-user support
- maintenance
- build and imaging
- warranties
- service desk provision
- installation
- project management
- training
- leasing
- security management
- asset management
- network and infrastructure management
- device as a service
- recycling and disposal
- data cleansing
For many suppliers, this creates an opportunity to demonstrate value beyond the product itself. Buyers may be looking for support across more of the technology lifecycle, from deployment and ongoing management through to reuse and disposal.
Sustainability and circular IT will remain important
One of the clearest themes within the planned scope is the lifecycle of technology products. Hardware may include both new and refurbished devices, while recycling, extended support and non-OEM support are expected to help public sector organisations keep equipment in use for longer or dispose of it appropriately. This aligns TePAS 3 with wider carbon reduction, sustainability and circular IT objectives.
Technology suppliers should therefore consider whether they can provide evidence around areas such as:
- extending device life
- refurbishment and reuse
- recycling
- responsible disposal
- secure data cleansing
- sustainable supply chains
- carbon reduction
- asset lifecycle management
This is particularly important for businesses that have historically treated sustainability as a short policy section rather than part of their core delivery proposition. If Carbon Reduction Plans are relevant to your organisation or future tender requirements, our guide to Carbon Reduction Plans for public sector bids explains the evidence suppliers should be considering.
How will TePAS 3 differ from TePAS 2?
TePAS 2 currently contains eight lots covering combinations of hardware, software, information-assured technology, health and social care technology, education technology, sustainability and circular IT, and catalogue-based purchasing.
That does not mean suppliers should plan around the same eight lots for RM6398. TePAS 2 is being used as the foundation for the replacement, but the scope, structure and buying journey have all formed part of the market-engagement process.
The latest planning information also includes areas such as tactical communications alongside a broad range of associated services. The final structure could therefore differ materially from the current framework. Until the tender documents are released, the best approach is to prepare around capability and evidence, rather than attempting to second-guess which lot number a product or service will eventually sit within.
Who should be watching RM6398?
TePAS 3 could be relevant to a wide cross-section of the technology market. Potential suppliers include hardware manufacturers and resellers, software vendors, licensing specialists, infrastructure providers, managed technology businesses and device-as-a-service providers.
More specialist suppliers may also find opportunities, particularly businesses working in:
- assistive technology and technology-enabled care
- secure or specialist communications
- refurbished technology
- circular IT
- equipment recycling and disposal
- lifecycle and asset management
- support and maintenance
The framework is also intended to provide public sector buyers with access to SMEs alongside larger technology suppliers. Smaller suppliers should not assume that the estimated £20 billion framework value means RM6398 is only aimed at major multinational technology businesses. The more important question will be whether your organisation can satisfy the requirements of the final procurement and demonstrate relevant delivery capability.
What should suppliers do before the TePAS 3 tender?
There is no scored tender to respond to yet, but there is still useful preparation work that can be completed before the competition begins.
1. Map your offer against the emerging scope
Start by identifying the products and services where you have the strongest position. Separate core capability from areas that you could provide but where your evidence, supply chain or delivery infrastructure is weaker. Once the final lot structure is available, this will make bid/no-bid and lot-selection decisions much faster.
2. Refresh your contract evidence
Review your strongest technology contracts and projects now. For each example, capture the customer requirement, scale, products or services supplied, implementation approach, measurable outcomes and any challenges overcome. Where the framework requires evidence against specific service areas, having this information organised in advance can save substantial time.
3. Review certifications and policies
Technology procurements can involve substantial compliance requirements. Check that relevant security, information assurance, environmental, insurance and supply chain documentation is current and readily accessible. The exact RM6398 conditions of participation will only become clear when the tender is published, but identifying obvious gaps now is preferable to discovering them during the response period.
4. Strengthen your sustainability evidence
If you provide refurbished products, recycling, maintenance, extended support or lifecycle services, document the results. Useful evidence might include reductions in waste, devices reused or refurbished, longer equipment lifespans, responsible disposal processes or carbon savings. Avoid relying entirely on commitments about what you plan to do in future. Strong bids usually benefit from evidence of what your organisation is already delivering.
5. Plan your bid resource
A framework of this scale is likely to attract significant supplier interest. Once the tender launches, businesses may need to manage eligibility information, technical evidence, commercial requirements and scored responses at the same time. Decide early who will own the submission, who can approve commercial decisions and where you may need additional writing or review capacity.
Thornton & Lowe's bid writing services can provide support ranging from an independent review through to additional writing resource and end-to-end tender management.
Preparing for RM6398 with Thornton & Lowe
The TePAS 3 competition is not yet live, so suppliers do not need to begin drafting speculative tender answers.
The preparation period is better used to understand where your offer fits, strengthen evidence and make sure the people and information needed for a major framework bid will be available when the documents arrive.
Once the RM6398 tender is published, Thornton & Lowe can help with:
- bid/no-bid and lot assessment
- evidence mapping
- compliance reviews
- tender planning
- response writing
- independent bid reviews
- bid management and submission support
We also track RM6398 alongside other upcoming GCA frameworks, helping suppliers identify major procurement opportunities before they reach the live bidding stage.
If TePAS 3 is likely to be an important route to market for your technology business, speak to Thornton & Lowe. Preparing the right evidence and internal resource now can put you in a much stronger position when RM6398 formally opens for bids.
