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Finding contracting opportunities
We publish regular pipeline information to provide a forward look of potential contracting opportunities.
Page contents
Important information
Procurement pipeline published: March 2021
Next review: June 2021
The pipeline identifies projects greater than £185,000 for procurements not yet awarded.
Please be aware that there is no guarantee that any published pipeline project will lead to a tender publication as we may decide not to proceed with the contract.
The information reflects our anticipated procurement pipeline as at the report date, and is subject to change.
The information and material contained in this report is provided for general information purposes only. We cannot accept responsibility for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies.
NHS Digital makes no commitment that the:
- requirements identified will be procured
- annual value of any contract will be as stated
- timing of any future procurement exercises will be as stated
The procurement pipeline provides a forward view of potential commercial activity and can be accessed below.
The information includes the:
- project title
- estimated value
- estimated date when the contract will be awarded
You can also search for 'NHS Digital contract opportunities' on the government's Contract Finder. It provides details of all ‘closed’ opportunities where the tender process has finished as well as procurements not yet awarded.
How to use the procurement pipeline
Understanding the headings
Description: description of the procurement along with its reference number (project code)
Contract award forecast: proposed schedule date for awarding the contract
Category: type of spend
Procurement status: see procurement status definitions
Value band: see value banding
Value banding
B: £185,000 to £250,000
C: £250,000 to £500,000
D: £500,000 to £1 million
E: £1 million to £5 million
F: £5 million to £10 million
G: £10 million to £25 million
H: £25 million to £50 million
I: £50 million to £100 million
J: £100 million to £250 million
Procurement status definitions
Pipeline idea: in define stage, the need is being understood and the likely commercial requirements are not yet known
Pipeline planned: in define stage, the need is understood and high level specification being developed - we can predict with some confidence indicative key dates for the project
In flight: in define stage, procurement resources assigned
Reprocurement: procurement of goods and services that are a recurring requirement
Procurement pipeline
| Description | Contract award forecast | Category | Procurement status | Value band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Akamai renewal 2018 Project code: prj_1636 |
May 2021 | Security and protection software | Reprocurement | B |
|
Support and maintenance for EMC hardware Project code: prj_2180 |
March 2021 | EMC support contract | Reprocurement | B |
|
Supplier Audit Management Project code: prj_2409 |
2022 Q1 | Supplier audit management | Reprocurement | D |
|
NHS login Public Beta Technical Services Project code: prj_3099 |
TBC | NHS login Public Beta Technical Services | Reprocurement | B |
|
Smartcard Reader Supply, Storage and Distribution Service Project code: prj_3265 |
August 2021 | Smartcard Reader Supply, Storage and Distribution Service | Reprocurement | B |
|
Advice and/or delivery of programmes or portfolios of work which are complex multi-disciplinary transformational and large scale Project code: prj_4119 |
July 2021 | Accessing professional services - complex transformation support | Pipeline - planned | F |
|
Manned security services for Hexagon and Hembury Houses Project code: prj_4465 |
December 2021 | Manned security services for Exeter | Pipeline - planned | D |
|
Self-drive short-term vehicle hire Project code: prj_4483 |
September 2021 | Self-drive vehicle hire | Pipeline - planned | C |
|
Renewal of support contract for Oracle Database for 2021 onwards Project code: prj_4503 |
April 2021 | Technical support for help desk services | Pipeline - planned | E |
|
HSCN full fibre delivery Project code: prj_4066 |
2023 Q1 | Internet related services | Pipeline - idea | H |
|
Mental Health for Children and Young People Survey 2024 Project code: prj_4767 |
November 2022 | Market research telephone surveys | Pipeline - idea | E |
|
Mental health of looked after children survey Project code: prj_4795 |
TBC | Research services | Pipeline - idea | E |
|
Procurement of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for NHS Digital Project code: prj_4958 |
TBC | Software | Pipeline - idea | G |
|
Replacement for the current Telephone Appointment Line Service Project code: prj_5163 |
TBC | Scope to be confirmed | Pipeline - idea | TBC |
|
Identity Checking Strategic Solution Project code: prj_5203 |
2021 Q2 | Software | Pipeline - idea | E |
|
PAT small electrical items - all NHSD sites Project code: prj_4482 |
September 2021 | Electrical services | Pipeline - planned | B |
|
Delivery team working Data Services Alliance tribes Project code: prj_4853 |
TBC | Data services | Pipeline - idea | F |
|
Data Services Technical Delivery Partner Project code: prj_4974 |
July 2021 | Technical consultancy | Pipeline - idea | F |
|
NHS APP Live Development and DevOps Delivery Project code: prj_4882 |
2021 Q3 | Software or hardware engineering | Pipeline - planned | G |
|
Supply of marketing communication services Project code: prj_5326 |
July 2021 | Services | Pipeline - planned | E |
|
New contract for payroll provision. Full service to commence July 2021 on expiry of current contract. Project code: prj_4724 |
February 2021 | HR Services - Unclassified | Pipeline - planned | E |
|
Procurement of Smoking Drinking and Drugs Use Among Young People 2023 survey Project code: prj_4796 |
2022 Q1 | Research services | Pipeline - idea | E |
|
Spine Core Dev Ops Project code: prj_5207 |
April 2021 | Services | Pipeline - planned | G |
|
Risk stratification Project code: prj_5266 |
April 2021 | Services | Pipeline - planned | F |
|
Live services support for the NHS App Project code: prj_5249 |
2021 Q2 | Services | Reprocurement | H |
|
Future development under agile for NHS.UK Project code: prj_5313 |
2021 Q1 | Services | Pipeline - planned | G |
|
Aptitude tests such as psychometric ability tests, numerical, verbal, general ability, diagrammatic and inductive reasoning tests to be used for candidate screening Project code: prj_4368 |
2021 Q2 | Human resources software | Pipeline - planned | C |
Download a copy of the procurement pipeline
We have provided some extra information within the read me first section within this spreadsheet. This includes information on how to submit your interest in potential opportunities.
Opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)
We want to buy goods and services from SMEs whenever they are offering the best value for money.
Find out more about bidding for government contracts in the doing business with government guide for SMEs.
Frameworks
Frameworks are agreements put in place with a supplier or range of suppliers that enables us to place orders for services without running lengthy full tendering exercises. Framework agreements provide an efficient and effective means of combining the benefits of reduced process costs and enhanced buying power resulting from a consolidation of requirements.
An increasing amount of our procurement is through a range of frameworks that have been negotiated by Crown Commercial Service (CCS) or other public procurement organisations.
Tenders will be invited from all suppliers on the framework agreement or relevant lot within the framework if it is broken down by lots. If there are many potential suppliers, the commercial team might carry out a capability assessment before inviting bids.
How we decide which framework to use
Our aim is to acquire goods and services at best value, ensuring a fair and reasonable involvement of stakeholders and suppliers.
Once a requirement has been identified, we will evaluate whether there is an existing framework in place which could meet that need. Only If there are no existing arrangements will an alternative sourcing strategy will be developed.
We have procured through the following frameworks over the last 6 months.
| Live framework agreements | Value of procurements through this route |
|---|---|
| NHS SBS - IT Solutions (Networks, Software, Hardware & IT Services) | F |
| CCS - Technology Services 2, RM3804 | F |
| CCS - G-Cloud 11 (All Lots) | D |
| CCS - RM6068 Technology Products and Services | E |
| CCS - Network Services 2, Lot 13 (RM3808/13) | C |
| CCS - Technology Products 2, Lot 2 (Software) (RM3733) | C |
| South of England Procurement Services (SOEP) - Back Office Functions F10749 | C |
| NHS Digital - BIS DPS | B |
Some of these frameworks have now expired and been replaced with newer versions, some are live but closed to further applications and some will be accepting supplier applications.
| Framework agreements replaced with newer versions | Replacement framework agreement | Value of procurements through this route |
|---|---|---|
| CCS - Digital Outcomes and Specialists 3, Lot 1 | RM1043.6 | G |
| CCS - Digital Outcomes and Specialists 2 | RM1043.6 | E |
| CCS - G-Cloud 10, Lot 2 (Cloud Software) | RM1557 | D |
| CCS - G-Cloud 9, Lot 2 (Cloud Software) | RM1557 | D |
| CCS - G-Cloud 10, Lot 3 (Cloud Support) | RM1557 | B |
| CCS - Technology Products 2, Lot 2 (Software) | RM6068 | A |
To become a supplier on a framework you need to respond successfully to a contract notice published in the Find a Tender (FTS) service. The new UK e-notification service where notices for new procurements are required to be published in place of the Official Journal of the European Union’s Tenders Electronic Daily (OJEU/TED)
Contact us
If you have any queries regarding procurement opportunities, please email: nhsdigital.industryqueries@nhs.net
Last edited: 25 March 2021 9:50 am