Internet technology firm Free Rein is among just 183 companies to have won a place on the Government’s Digital Services Framework for 2014.

No work is guaranteed, but Free Rein will now be able to bid on a level playing field for a share of £40million worth of contracts to design and build public services.

More than 80% of firms on the Digital Services Framwork are SMEs like Free Rein, although the list also included major numes such as Accenture, Cap Gemini, IBM, and HP.

Free Rein, which is based in Hadleigh, is no stranger to winning contracts with the UK government. In 2011, the company was commissioned to develop the Business Events Finders service for HM Revenue & Customs as part of the reorganisation of the Business Link Services, and in 2012 Free Rein were asked by Government Digital Services to extend its responsibilities to include all aspects of the day-to-day operational support for this service.

Earlier this year, Free Rein was just pipped at the post for a major Intranet project at the Ministry of Justice.

Tony Addison of Free Rein said: “It is clear that the UK government has woken up to the benefits of working with smaller companies such as Free Rein, where flexibility, responsiveness, and innovation are part of our DNA.

“We missed out on this last occasion but with arrangements such as the Digital Service Framework now up and running it won’t be too long before Free Rein will be grabbing our share of the £40m in 2014.”