The Technical Guideline For Vendor Classification in ICT Sector

Published 08/12/2025

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1. Introduction

The Digital Government Authority (DGA) is committed to enhancing the digital performance of government agencies, elevating the quality of services provided, and improving the overall service experience. These efforts align with the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 and support the DGA’s strategic objectives of boosting investment efficiency by increasing private sector participation and fostering the development of local content.

Also, based on the importance of clarifying and facilitating the Technical Classification journey for Vendors in the ICT sector, the Digital Government Authority has prepared “The Technical Guidelines for Vendor Classification in the ICT Sector” which explains the most prominent instructions in terms of the technical classification, and the steps to be followed by Vendors.

These guidelines focus on digital government solutions and services for ICT vendors provided to government agencies on high value chain such as research, development, innovation and integration and implementation services, as the current situation is concentrated on low-value chains such as after-sales support services, sales and distribution services.

2. Objectives

The guideline aims to achieve the following:

o Getting Vendors to know about the Technical Classification process for Vendors in the ICT sector, which contributes to complying with the regulations issued by DGA in this regard, including:

Procedures
Evaluation Mechanism
Technical Instructions

o Providing guidance to private sector vendors on how to apply for a Technical Classification through Digital Government Cluster (DGC).

o Linking the National Classification for Economic Activities (ISIC4) and the Digital ICT Taxonomy for Governmental Procurements.

3. Scope

The guideline explains instructions on the technical classification of ICT sectors’ vendors and includes the objectives, procedures, and outcomes. In addition to the guidance on how the vendors can get the Technical Classification, and the support required through Digital Government Cluster (DGC). The guideline includes:

Classification Journey
Registration Guidelines
Technical Qualification
Classification of vendors and issuance of certificates
Certificates update and renewal

4. Target Audience

The guideline targets the private sector (ICT vendors) who are seeking to provide government agencies with technical solutions or services.

5. Guideline Statement

For more information; Check the digital version.

6. Table of Definitions

Term	Definition
Authority (DGA)	Digital Government Authority.
Digital Government	Promotes administrative, organizational and operational processes between various government agencies in their transitioning to a comprehensive digital transformation to allow easy and effective access to government digital information and services.
Government Agency	Ministries, authorities, public institutions, councils, national centres including any additional form of a public agency.
Vendor	A physical or legal person who is legally authorized to carry out - individually or jointly - the execution of government contract.
Category / Categories	The six digital Categories shown in DGA's digital Categories classification: hardware - software - networks and communications - cloud computing - emerging technologies - technical professional services – in the field of communications and information technology.
Activity / Activities	A type of subsidiary business in a category
Final Technical Score	The total technical result obtained by the Vendor when evaluating him technically
Digital classification	Categorizing digital government solutions and services into relevant Categories and activities. For more details, please see Appendix 8.1
Financial Classification	The financial evaluation of Vendors prepared by the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing.
Classification Mechanism	The methodology for calculating the score to determine the grade of the vendor by DGA
National Classification for the Economic Activities (ISIC4)	A guideline that unifies description of economic activities for each sector and economic activity, within a unified classification and code. The (National Classification for the Economic Activities) stems from the International Standard Industrial Classification of all economic activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - (ISIC4) issued by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Overall Classification Certificate	The certificate issued by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs that combines the Technical Classification from the Digital Government Authority and the Financial Classification from the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing.
Portal	The electronic Portal managed by DGA to carry out the Technical Classification process (Digital Government Cluster (DGC). https://sdif.dga.gov.sa/
Questionnaire	An approved set of questions in the Portal, which consists of 4 levels, as following: The first level: questions related to the company's profile. The second level: questions related to categories. Third level: questions related to activities. Fourth level: questions related to the value chain.
Register	Register in the Portal (Digital Government Cluster (DGC).
Technical Classification	Technical evaluation of the Vendor’s technical capabilities by DGA, in accordance with the National Classification of Economic Activities (ISIC4), which includes the relevant Categories and activities, as well as the levels of the value chain as shown in Figure 4 (Minimum criteria of classification).
Technical Classification Certificate	The certificate issued by DGA, which summarizes the results of Vendor Technical Classification.
Technical Qualification	The technical evaluation of vendor capabilities by DGA using a questionnaire to be deemed qualified or not qualified in each value chain that he has chosen for each activity.
Value chain	The process by which a vendor adds value to a product or service. It covers (research, development and innovation), (implementation and integration services), (support services), and (sales and distribution). The four levels of the value chain are: 1- Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) – focusing on innovation, research and development, and improvement of products, services, and processes. For example, creating an ERP platform. 2- Implementation and Integration Services (IIS) - Design and implementation of a product and/or service where the Vendor provides end-to-end solutions. For example, the implementation and customization of ERP system. 3- Support Services (SS) - Maintenance work required after implementation or delivery support of a product and/or service. For example, maintain ERP platform or technical support and service for hardware/software users. 4- Sales and Distribution (S&D) – Selling and exchanging products or services for cash value, for example, selling licenses to an ERP platform or selling and distributing hardware to users.
Vendor Management Department	A department in DGA responsible for managing Vendors' relations in digital government projects and evaluating their performance in them.
Priority factor	A digital factor ranging between (1.00 -1.10) indicating the priority of the technical Activity based on the strategic directions of the digital government, so that the activity with the highest priority is 1.10 and the activity with the lowest priority is 1.00

Abbreviation	Description
SDIF	Saudi Digital Investment Frontier
DGC	Digital Government Cluster
ISIC4	National Classification of Economic Activities
ERP	Enterprise Resources Management
CR	Commercial Register
RDI	Research, Development, and Innovation
IIS	Implementation and Integration Services
SS	Support Services
S&D	Sales and Distribution

Abbreviation	Description

Abbreviation	Description

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The Technical Guideline For Vendor Classification in ICT Sector

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