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
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
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
NHS Scotland Business Systems Technology & Systems Integration Services
Reference number
NP607425
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
NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) wishes to procure an integrated, cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution for Finance, HR, Payroll and Procurement functions for all NHS Scotland Boards and a Systems Implementer to design, deliver and implement the chosen SaaS solution to meet the requirements.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £206,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), on behalf of NHS Scotland, is conducting a single procurement process which integrates both aspects of the scope for NHS Scotland Business Systems Technology & Systems Integration Services through a Competitive Procedure with Negotiation (under Regulation 30 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015).
NHS Scotland requires the SaaS Technology and System Integrator suppliers to work together in partnership from the outset ("Bidding Partnership") to jointly propose a cohesive solution and delivery approach which meets NHS Scotland’s outcome-based requirements and demonstrates they are a compatible supplier partnership.
There will be one procurement exercise, but two separate national contracts will be created:
a contract between NSS and the System Integrator for the delivery of the implementation services
a contract between NSS and the Technology Platform vendor for the consumption of the technology services
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £206,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
192
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Each contract will include the option to extend for up to two periods of 12 months.
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged minimum number: 4
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
The full list of criteria can be found within the NHS Scotland Business Services Programme SPD Instructions, saved within the Attachments area of PCS-Tender.
The SPD selection process will be carried out in two stages:
Stage One:
Compliance Check and Exclusion Grounds (Mandatory and Discretionary)(Pass/Fail) – that the Economic Operator has submitted a complete and compliant SPD response; and whether any of the Economic Operators, consortium members and/or reliant entities (if any) are in breach of the mandatory grounds for exclusion or, in the case of the discretionary exclusion grounds, are considered ineligible at the discretion of NHS Scotland, in accordance with Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Minimum Requirements (Pass/Fail) - that the Economic Operator meets the requisite economic and financial standing selection criteria deemed appropriate for the Programme set out in the NHS Scotland Business Services Programme SPD Instructions; and meets the technical and professional ability selection criteria set out in the NHS Scotland Business Services Programme SPD Instructions.
Stage Two:
Project Specific Questions - Bidding Partnerships who pass Stage One will have their response to the Project Specific Questions scored. The Project Specific Questions are set out in section 3.1 of NHS Scotland Business Services Programme SPD Instructions. The criteria will be applied to all Bidding Partnerships that pass Stage 1 to reduce the number of Bidding Partnerships that are invited to submit an initial tender.
It is the intention of NHS Scotland that a minimum of four Bidding Partnerships achieving the highest scores will be invited to submit an initial tender.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
The contract value listed in sections II.1.5 and II.2.6 includes the initial contract durations and the optional extension periods. The split is as follows:
Systems Integrator - 56m GBP
SaaS Technology - 120m GBP
The initial contract duration listed in section II.2.7 is split as follows:
Systems Integrator - 36 months
SaaS Technology - 156 months
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
SPD Question 4B.1.1: Economic Operators are required to provide statement of accounts or extracts relating to their business for the previous 3 years. NSS may require Economic Operators to provide additional information to demonstrate financial standing.
Additional information can include but not limited to:
- parent company accounts (if applicable) –
- deeds of guarantee banker’s statements and references - accountants’ references
- management accounts
- financial projections, including cash flow forecasts
- details and evidence of previous contracts, including contract values
- capital availability
- guarantees may be required from parent companies and from banks.
Economic Operators who cannot provide suitable evidence of a secure financial standing may be excluded from the procurement.
SPD Questions 4B.5.1a, 4B.5.1b and 4B.5.2: Economic Operators must confirm they have or will be able to obtain the required level of insurance listed below.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
SPD Question 4B.1.1: Economic Operators must demonstrate the following financial capacity over the last 3 years:
- turnover in respect of its most recent three full financial years must have been equal to or more than GBP 10m per annum.
SPD Questions 4B.5.1a, 4B.5.1b and 4B.5.2: Economic Operators must confirm they have or will be able to obtain the required levels of insurance:
- Employer’s (compulsory) liability insurance = GBP 5 million;
- Public liability insurance = GBP 10 million;
- Professional indemnity insurance = GBP 5 million;
- Product liability insurance = GBP 10 million;
- Product liability insurance is not less than the sum of GBP 1 million in respect of any one incident.
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
SPD Question 4C.1.2 - please refer to the Project Specific Questions within section 3.1 of the NHS Scotland Business Services Programme SPD Instructions for full detail of the requirement for this section. The scoring methodology is detailed in section 3.2 of the NHS Scotland Business Services Programme SPD Instructions.
SPD Question 4C.2 - Economic Operators must confirm that they are certified under ISO27001.
SPD Question 4C.6.1 - Economic Operators must confirm the number of UK based staff they have certified and trained on the SaaS technology that they have chosen to use within their tender.
SPD Question 4C.10 - Economic Operators must provide details of the proportion (i.e. percentage) of the contract that it intends to subcontract.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
four.1.4) Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated
four.1.5) Information about negotiation
The contracting authority reserves the right to award the contract on the basis of the initial tenders without conducting negotiations
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2022/S 000-012217
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
18 June 2025
Local time
5:00pm
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
21 July 2025
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 9 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
Full information about the SPD stage is included in the NHS Scotland Business Services Programme SPD Instructions, found in the Attachments area of PCS-Tender.
All dates, timescales and values set out in this notice and the procurement documents are estimates only and therefore subject to change during the tender process, if required.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this PQQ exercise. The Project code is 6601. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
All Bidders must agree to support the concept, provision and ongoing development of community benefits provision in relation to this Agreement. Bidders will be required to provide a brief summary of the community benefits that have recently been delivered within Scotland, and also what impact and outcomes these have achieved. Bidders are also required to summarise any community/social benefits that will be delivered as part of this Agreement if successful, or, alternatively, confirm that they will engage with the NHS Scotland Community Benefits Gateway (CBG).
(SC Ref:794410)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Sheriff Court House
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Economic operators should approach the contracting authority in the first instance. However, the only formal remedy is to apply to the courts:
An economic operator that suffers, or is at risk of suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.