Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department of Health & Social Care
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU
Contact
Emily Wells
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI32 - Westminster
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
Buyer's address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
DHSC - ASC: Interoperability and Architecture platform - Discovery
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
The SCIP is designed to address the priority data needs of Direct Care within CQC
registered Residential and Community-based Adult Social Care (ASC) services. It will
ensure seamless access to critical health and care information, supporting key use cases
such as:
• Access to care information for assessment and planning.
• Safeguarding and safety alerts for health and care professionals.
• Efficient transfer of records between social care providers.
For the purposes of this procurement, the scope is to build the first stage of the MVP for the
Social Care Interoperability Platform (SCIP).
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £1,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72212517 - IT software development services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI32 - Westminster
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The SCIP is designed to address the priority data needs of Direct Care within CQC
registered Residential and Community-based Adult Social Care (ASC) services. It will
ensure seamless access to critical health and care information, supporting key use cases
such as:
• Access to care information for assessment and planning.
• Safeguarding and safety alerts for health and care professionals.
• Efficient transfer of records between social care providers.
Beyond these core capabilities, SCIP will establish a foundation for future interoperability
and evolving needs, including:
• Enhanced Direct Care services, such as secure messaging and citizen access to
records.
• Planning, oversight, and service management, including business continuity and
regulatory access.
• Population health management to enable proactive and preventative care.
• Research and innovation, leveraging social care data for AI and automation.
Digital Social Care Record (DSCR) solutions have been assured by NHS England to meet
the core functional requirements for ASC providers. Together, SCIP, DSCRs, and access to
national health data systems will provide a robust, scalable, and future-proofed digital
ecosystem for social care, ensuring seamless information flow and improved outcomes for
individuals and care providers alike.
For the purposes of this procurement, the scope is to build the first stage of the MVP for the
Social Care Interoperability Platform (SCIP).
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
Framework Call-Off (CCS Digital Outcomes 6)
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
2 September 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 41
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 41
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Softcat Plc
Solar House, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, SL7 1LW
Marlow
SL7 1LW
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKK11 - Bristol, City of
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £1,000,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,000,000
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted
Value or proportion likely to be subcontracted to third parties
Value excluding VAT: £469,060
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom