Scope
Description
The procurement is for a centrally hosted Terminology Server solution to support the management and distribution of clinical and administrative coding systems (e.g. SNOMED CT, ICD-11, OPCS) across Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI). The solution will be cloud-based, delivered as a managed service, and accessible to clinical and operational systems in real-time or via scheduled synchronisation.
Accurate and governed use of standardised terminologies is essential to ensure patient safety, clinical interoperability, compliance with data standards, and quality health analytics.
HSCNI currently lacks a unified mechanism to manage terminology content, resulting in duplication of effort, local variations, and missed opportunities for system integration. A central Terminology Server will enable HSCNI to safely manage terminology releases, ensure consistency across systems, and support transition to national standards such as ICD-11 and SNOMED CT.
It is our intention to complete a Direct Award to the value of £780,000.00 (exclusive of vat).
Contract 1
Supplier
Contract value
- £780,000 excluding VAT
- £936,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
30 January 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 February 2026 to 1 February 2029
- Possible extension to 1 February 2031
- 5 years, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
Annual extensions of 2 x 1 year
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Single supplier - technical reasons
The procurement is for a centrally hosted Terminology Server solution to support the management and distribution of clinical and administrative coding systems (e.g. SNOMED CT, ICD-11, OPCS) across Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI). The solution will be cloud-based, delivered as a managed service, and accessible to clinical and operational systems in real-time or via scheduled synchronisation.
Dedalus is the only supplier with a proven, national-scale Terminology Server solution (Ontoserver) currently deployed and operational across the UK and Ireland. It supports terminology infrastructure for:
NHS England, covering SNOMED CT, dm+d and national content distribution;
NHS Scotland, aligned to their national digital strategy;
HSE Ireland, selected following open competition in 2025.
Dedalus was previously the sole supplier on the now-expired NHS England terminology server framework, and whilst it is expected that they will succeed in the renewal framework, given the timing of this procurement, no active framework is available.
We wish to rely on schedule 5 section 6 (a) due to Dedalus being the only supplier for technical reasons. They are the only supplier able to provide the services.
Supplier
DH OPCO UK LTD
- Companies House: 12888223
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PGGH-3911-NQJP
Suite 2, Riverside Studio, 2 Embankment
Leeds
LS1 4BA
United Kingdom
Email: UKIBids@dedalus.com
Website: https://www.dedalus.com/uki
Region: UKE42 - Leeds
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
Business Services Organisation Procurement and Logistics Service
- NHS Organisation Data Service: PWNJ-1991-NGDW
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PCQH-8657-NGMT
2 Franklin Street
Belfast
BT2 8DQ
United Kingdom
Email: keli.mcteague@hscni.net
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland