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The Digital, Data and Technology Sourcing Playbook

HM Government has today published the Digital, Data and Technology Sourcing Playbook. The Cabinet Office, in collaboration with industry, other government departments, the Central Digital and Data Office and the Digital, Data and Technology Function, has developed a ‘Digital, Data & Technology Playbook’. It both mandates how central government departments and Arms Length Bodies (ALBs) should approach sourcing digital, data and technology products and services, whilst laying out best practice for the wider public sector.

The Playbook reflects HM Government’s focus on maximising value for money for the taxpayer by setting projects and programmes up for success from the start. Alongside achieving value for money, our approach to commercial delivery will enable the government to procure innovative and transformative ways of delivering public services whilst ensuring a focus on cyber security, tackling legacy IT and delivering on the government’s SME agenda.

The Playbook will support the government in opening the door to SMEs and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises in the digital sector, who often lead the way in innovation and will support economic growth, employment and investment opportunities across the UK.

Applying the policies and principles from the Digital, Data and Technology Playbook will enable the government to deliver on six cross-cutting priorities which set out the ethos for the government's digital work and underpin what we need to consider as we undertake commercial activity:

• Taking an outcome-based approach to delivering products and services focusing on user needs;

• Avoiding and remediating Legacy IT and tackling our technical debt;

• Ensuring cyber security to maintain operational resilience;

• Enabling innovation from continuous improvement to transform new products and services;

• Driving sustainability in our environment, commercial practices and economy;

• Levelling the playing field for SMEs to enable economic growth, employment and investment opportunities.

Digital, data and technology underpins everything we do and enables HM Government to provide vital services for millions of citizens every day. By improving our commercial approach to digital goods and services, we will progress to a more innovative and accessible digital sector which will benefit all of our citizens. The Digital, Data and Technology Playbook can be viewed in full on GOV.UK.

A copy of the Digital, Data and Technology Sourcing Playbook will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses in Parliament.