Scope
Description
Guardian Case Informtaion System (GCIS) holds data on CCGANI's cases involving children and young people who are subject to public law and adoption proceedings. This includes all case management data, case review information, performance reporting data and the tool assists in responses to Data Subject Access Requests (DSAR's) and FOIs.
CCAGNI's guardian and administrative staff use GCIS system to centrally record and update the status of all its cases and without this system CCAGNI would not have a centralised repository of case data and ultimately would not have an online tool to fulfil its statutory function. % of the 7 staff Children Court Guardian Agency staff use GCIS including 5 self-employed guardians who also access the system. It is important to note that the demand for CCGANI services is evergrowing with the Agencys greatest challenge being its ability to allocate cases to Guardians, in a timely way. Allocation of cases is done via this system.
Due to the nature of the work CCAGNI undertakes, the GCIS system is a very unique requirement to this particular Arm's Length Body (ALB) within the Health and Social Care System.
A new retendering exercise began following the approval of the existing contract extension to allow sufficient time to scope a further business case. CCGANI plan to start the re-tendering exercise as soon as we have secured the extension of the existing contract (due to expire on 31st January 2026). CCGANI have one know "upgrade" included as the SOW (statement of works) which needs undertaken in advance of next October (2026). DHCNI have not approved additional spend in terms of maintenance/upgrades. These are to be submitted as additional busines cases if required. There is one known upgrade which has been approved to be undertaken in advance of October 2026.
Contract 1
Supplier
Contract value
- £180,000 excluding VAT
- £216,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Date signed
1 February 2026
Contract dates
- 1 February 2026 to 30 January 2028
- Possible extension to 30 January 2029
- 2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Description of possible extension:
The extended Contract shall commence on 1st February 2026 and shall
continue until 31st January 2029 'the Extended Contract Period' unless
terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the Contract."
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights
he current supplier owns the intellectual property rights of the GCIS system and due to the nature of the work CCGANI undertakes (and its statutory obligations), the GCIS system is very unique to CCGANI. It is important to note that the demand for CCGANI services is ever-growing with the Agencys greatest challenge being its ability to allocate cases to guaradians, in a timely way and current system holds all the data replating to childrens cases. Due to the legal obligations around data retention (up to 7 years) it is important we maintain the current system until such times as the retendering exercise is complete.
Supplier
FLUENT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
- Companies House: NI040683
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBND-4885-LJVJ
21 Botanic Avenue
Belfast
BT7 1JJ
United Kingdom
Email: info@fluenttechnology.com
Website: http://www.flexigrant.com
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
Business Services Organisation ITS
- NHS Organisation Data Service: PWNJ-1991-NGDW
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PCQH-8657-NGMT
2 Franklin Street
Belfast
BT2 8DQ
United Kingdom
Email: ITSPMO@hscni.net
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland