Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland) (NSS)
1 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh
EH12 9EB
Telephone
+44 1312756000
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
National Solution for Scotland Newborn Hearing Screening Programme Patient Management Support System
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
NHSScotland is exploring options for a single national patient management IT support solution for the newborn hearing screening programme that will ensure consistent application across all of NHSScotland. This will replace the existing systems across Health Boards and action the recommendation set out in the Scottish National audiology review ‘To recommend a strategic direction for an IT solution to support newborn hearing screening across all Health Boards”.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHSScotland is exploring options for a single national patient management IT support solution for the newborn hearing screening programme that will ensure consistent application across all of NHSScotland. This will replace the existing systems across Health Boards and action the recommendation set out in the Scottish National audiology review ‘To recommend a strategic direction for an IT solution to support newborn hearing screening across all Health Boards”.
The aims of the programme are:
- To identify permanent moderate, severe, and profound hearing impairment in newborn babies (more than 40dB of loss in the better ear). The Newborn Hearing screening programme offers all parents/carers/legal guardians in Scotland the opportunity to have their baby's hearing screened shortly after birth. Early identification gives babies a better 'life chance' of developing speech and language skills and of making the most of social and emotional interaction from an early age.
- To support the screening programme with IT processes, which will maximise patient safety and ensure effective communication at all parts of the screening pathway.
There are currently two screening models used to perform the newborn hearing screening assessment in Scotland, the otoacoustic emissions (OAE) model and the automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) model. These use different techniques to evaluate the hearing pathway of the infant. The system will be required to support both screening model. The screening pathways can be found as appendices.
The national solution will need to:
- Integrate and be interoperable with NHS Scotland existing systems as specified.
- Provide efficient local and national reporting.
- Provide real time data (e.g. providing alerts to flag identification of outstanding screens, provide up to date reporting)
- Be available 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.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
3 November 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
Please download the NBHS PIN v1.0 from this Public Contracts Scotland prior information notice and return completed, and as instructed in the PIN, by 12:00 Friday 16 May 2025.
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=796477.
(SC Ref:796477)