G Cloud 6? No, not for us, say hundreds of suppliers

It just so happens ... that Stealthy Alien Services are more than just Secret IntelAIgent Sources

This says all that I need y'all to know about how switched on for the future are government digital services. It was posted today 1240hrs on the cited blog page and received the following unhelpful return and inane statement ...... Your comment is awaiting moderation.

It is unfortunate, and a definite impediment to rapid digital progress, to have as a mandatory prerequisite one securing a DUNS number for a business/service/process which be novel and virtually based and with no official history or SCADA record.

The service provided by the Digital Marketplace and G-Cloud, and by extension and support, HM Government and the Civil Service, does then by mandating such a requirement, exclude and isolate itself from the very virtually creative sectors and agents that systems of good and great governance and future secure programming desperately require of government and servants of peoples. .... https://digitalmarketplace.blog.gov.uk/2015/03/27/digital-services-a-fresh-start/

It'll end in tears

A big problem is how G-Cloud eliminates any form of loyalty. Do a great job and you're no better off for any future bidding as nothing benefits you.

Then there's the scoring. Once you've hit the "quality" mark, it's purely price based. So a race to the bottom. Even the offshorers can't make money and recover their costs!

So once you've done the very significant amount of work to get on, you've no guarantees of any work as a result. Only benefits the bureaucrats who get lots of (virtual) paper to push around and not make a decision.

It's definitely not in the country's best interests.

Anyone not selling services through G-Cloud is not trying hard enough. Also it should be noted that you really only have to apply to every other one.

For the avoidance of doubt ...

G-Cloud sales figures are always quoted from inception. They are the total turnover since 1 April 2012, when G-Cloud opened for business over three years ago. £431 million may sound quite good if you think that's sales to date this year. But it's actually the value of public sector sales in 37 months.