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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: November 2020
Next review: February 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Occupational health Project code: prj_1332 |
TBC | Recruitment | Reprocurement | B |
|
EMC support contract Project code: prj_2180 |
2020 Q4 | Disk storage system maintenance | Reprocurement | B |
|
Identity and access management software renewal Project code: prj_3257 |
2021 Q1 | Authentication server software | Reprocurement | B |
|
Cyber - Advance Threat Detection (ATD) - Discovery Phase Project code: prj_3755 |
April 2021 | Cyber support services and systems | Pipeline - idea | E |
|
Cyber - accredited training packages Project code: prj_3756 |
April 2021 | Development and training - unclassified | Pipeline - idea | D |
|
Federated data query for analytics - cyber Project code: prj_3757 |
April 2021 | Cyber support services and systems | Pipeline - idea | B |
|
Zero trust authentication - cyber Project code: prj_3758 |
April 2021 | Cyber support services and systems | Pipeline - idea | E |
|
Attack simulation platform - cyber Project code: prj_3759 |
April 2021 | Cyber support services and systems | Pipeline - idea | E |
|
Encryption enhancements - cyber Project code: prj_3760 |
April 2021 | Cyber support services and systems | Pipeline - idea | F |
|
HSCN full fibre delivery Project code: prj_4066 |
2023 Q1 | Internet related services | Pipeline - idea | H |
|
Accessing professional services - complex transformation support Project code: prj_4119 |
2020 Q4 | Strategy consultancy | Pipeline - planned | F |
|
Online recruitment assessments system Project code: prj_4368 |
2021 Q3 | Human resources software | Pipeline - planned | C |
|
Learning management system (new requirement) Project code: prj_4369 |
April 2021 | Human resources software | Pipeline - planned | C |
|
Manned security services for Exeter Project code: prj_4465 |
April 2021 | Security guard services | Pipeline - planned | C |
|
Oracle Database Support Renewal 2021 Project code: prj_4503 |
April 2021 | Technical support or help desk services | Pipeline - planned | E |
|
Testing digital test platform Project code: prj_4575 |
TBC | Technical services - unclassified | Pipeline - idea | G |
|
Data analysis migration and meta analysis Project code: prj_4600 |
October 2020 | Software or hardware engineering | Pipeline - planned | D |
|
Payroll 2021 onwards Project code: prj_4724 |
February 2021 | HR services - unclassified | Pipeline - planned | E |
|
Product design and user research for health and social care services Project code: prj_4744 |
December 2020 | Software or hardware engineering | Pipeline - idea | E |
|
MHCYP survey 2024 Project code: prj_4368 |
2022 Q4 | Market research telephone surveys | Pipeline - idea | Unknown |
|
Data Access Request Service transformation - phase 2 Project code: prj_4769 |
December 2020 | Data base management system software | Pipeline - idea | C |
|
Mental health of looked after children Project code: prj_4795 |
2021 Q4 | Research services | Pipeline - planned | E |
|
Smoking, drinking and drugs use among young people 2023 Project code: prj_4796 |
2022 Q2 | Research services | Pipeline - planned | E |
|
Enterprise architecture strategic partner Project code: prj_4818 |
March 2021 | Data services | Pipeline - idea | E |
|
Data tooling - strategic solution for national metadata collaboration Project code: prj_4842 |
December 2020 | Data services | Pipeline - idea | D |
|
Remote signing platform Project code: prj_4852 |
November 2020 | Software | Pipeline - planned | D |
|
Tableau professional services Project code: prj_4863 |
October 2020 | Data services | Pipeline - planned | X |
|
NHS APP live development and devops delivery - re-tender Project code: prj_4882 |
2021 Q3 | Software or hardware engineering | Pipeline - planned | G |
|
NHSD ERP solution Project code: prj_4958 |
April 2021 | Software | Pipeline - idea | G |
|
Data services technical delivery partner Project code: prj_4974 |
January 2021 | Technical consultancy | Pipeline - idea | Unknown |
|
Terminology management: identification of semantic duplicates Project code: prj_4983 |
TBC | Data services | Pipeline - idea | Unknown |
|
Terminology management: analyse, identify, and prepare terminology content Project code: prj_4985 |
TBC | Data services | Pipeline - idea | Unknown |
|
Veeam licensing and support renewals Project code: prj_4991 |
January 2021 | Software | Pipeline - planned | B |
|
Product development transition and transformation client side delivery and support Project code: prj_5033 |
January 2021 | Technical consultancy | Pipeline - idea | Unknown |
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 Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), agree and sign to confirm agreement of all associated terms and be awarded a place on the framework.
Contact us
If you have any queries regarding procurement opportunities, please email: nhsdigital.industryqueries@nhs.net
Last edited: 6 November 2020 3:50 pm