Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland) (NSS)
Gyle Square (NSS Head Office), 1 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh
EH12 9EB
Contact
Jim Binnie
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.nss.nhs.scot/browse/procurement-and-logistics
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA11883
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Infection Prevention Control eSurveillance Solution PIN
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Scottish Government and NHS Scotland are exploring options for a single national IPC eSurveillance solution that will ensure consistent application across all of NHS Scotland. The objective of this exercise is to obtain up-to-date information and feedback from the market in order to:
- understand current and, in development, market capabilities and solutions in relation to the functionality required; and
- provide NHS National Services Scotland, on behalf of NHS Scotland with indicative costs associated with the incremental
implementation and ongoing support of a suitable solution
The information to be provided will help us better understand the current and developing market and to consider the way forward.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Scottish Government and NHS Scotland are exploring options for a single national IPC eSurveillance solution that will ensure consistent application across all of NHS Scotland. This will replace the existing disparate systems across Health Boards and action the recommendation set out in the Infection Prevention Workforce Strategic Plan – 2022 to 2024 ‘To progress the work for a national eSurveillance system for Scotland, with the support of local and national stakeholders’.
The Infection Prevention Workforce: Strategic Plan for 2022 to 2024 was published in 2022. This Workforce Plan aims to build capability of Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS), Health Protection (HP) (with relevance to IPC) and IPC workforce in all health and care settings, to enable recovery and development, reflecting on the need for planning post pandemic across all health and care and as part of the wider system infection management needs. The eResources Subgroup review found that NHS Scotland would benefit from a single IPC eSurveillance solution both at local and national level. To ensure the implementation of a single solution the Workforce Plan includes the recommendation ‘to progress the work for a national eSurveillance solution for Scotland, with the support of local and national stakeholders’.
A national solution will enable a common approach to IPC management. The solution will include having up-to-date information available at the point of care, irrespective of care provider or care setting. It will include reporting and management at a national level which will inform and support effective decision making, and prioritisation of future policy requirements.
Information and digital systems (eSurveillance) have already positively supported the management of IPC in Scotland. This was extremely important during the COVID-19 pandemic. The information can also be used by National Boards to support local management of these situations.
However, boards are not consistent in their approach which brings challenges to the implementation of a national ‘whole system’ approach. Currently nine boards have different versions of a single digital system and therefore there is no standardisation or national approach to surveillance and reporting. The remaining boards have bespoke systems including web-based systems and excel spreadsheets.
Issues presented by current Status include:
- There is a recognised lack of interoperability and integration for IPC systems with other electronic information systems across health and care. This impacts on the ability to share information and IPC alerts across boards and the care sector.
- Current systems do not allow for boards to report outbreaks and incidents centrally in a standardised and efficient way. This impacts on the ability of organisations including PHS to make timely decisions and monitor trends.
- During COVID-19, the existing systems did not support effective and timely national decision making.
The solution’s functionality is essential for providing IPC services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and must have an extremely high degree of resilience in order to minimise any periods of scheduled or unscheduled downtime. Vendors of future solutions should note that this resilience should include but not be limited to Failover and Disaster Recovery of the system with limited technical intervention.
This soft market test is being conducted to determine what solutions may be available, determine the scope of any future procurement to enable the delivery of a national solution, and to ascertain indicative costs.
two.2.14) Additional information
A questionnaire has been attached to this notice. Please complete and respond as per the instructions in the document. This is a market testing exercise which will allow the Authority to consider future options in this area.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
20 January 2025
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=757467.
(SC Ref:757467)