The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is tendering for suppliers for £3bn worth of IT contracts.

The first contract, to supply desktop PC services, has been issued this week.

Other contracts for maintaining and upgrading its hosting services, for voice and data networks, for application maintenance and for support and integration services, will all be awarded before 2015.

“We are reviewing our future plans for our major IT service contracts as our principal existing contracts expire during 2010-11. We are committed to ensuring that future IT services continue to be provided in a way which delivers the best service to the citizen and maximum value for the taxpayer," said DWP chief information officer Joe Harley.

The DWP has an ongoing contract with EDS to run its datacentres.

The department will go live with its new Employment Support Allowance system –a key part of its IT strategy – by November.