NHS Digital Tender for Terminology Solution

The Terminology Solution is required to store and link definitions in the use of clinical classifications, coding and terminology across the NHS and wider UK Health and Care sector.

United Kingdom-Leeds: Software package and information systems

2020/S 061-146754

Contract notice

Services

Legal Basis:

Directive 2014/24/EU

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1)Name and addresses

Official name: NHS Digital
Postal address: 1 Trevelyan Square, Boar Lane
Town: Leeds
NUTS code: UK
Postal code: LS1 6AE
Country: United Kingdom
Contact person: Rob Elliott
E-mail: robert.elliott1@nhs.net
Telephone: +44 7825053717

Internet address(es):Main address: https://digital.nhs.uk

I.2)Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

I.3)Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://nhsdigital.bravosolution.co.uk/esop/guest/go/public/opportunity/current

Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via: https://nhsdigital.bravosolution.co.uk

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the abovementioned address

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at: https://nhsdigital.bravosolution.co.uk

I.4)Type of the contracting authority

National or federal agency/office

I.5)Main activity

Health

Section II: Object

II.1)Scope of the procurement

II.1.1)Title:

Terminology Solution (TS)

Reference number: prj 1975

II.1.2)Main CPV code

48000000

II.1.3)Type of contract

Services

II.1.4)Short description:

The terminology solution (TS) is required to store and link definitions in the use of clinical classifications, coding and terminology across the NHS and wider UK Health and Care sector.

II.1.5)Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: 9 300 000.00 GBP

II.1.6)Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: no

II.2)Description

II.2.1)Title:

II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)

48600000

48610000

48620000

II.2.3)Place of performance

NUTS code: UK

Main site or place of performance:

The British Islands.

II.2.4)Description of the procurement:

The Terminology Solution (TS) is required to store and link definitions in the use of clinical classifications, coding and terminology across the NHS and wider UK Health and Care sector. Key attributes and functionalities of the TS are as follows:

• The ability to automatically download, through an API, updates to terminologies and classifications and hold alongside the current deployed version.

• The ability to manage centrally distributed terminologies and classifications alongside localised and/or organisation and use-case specific value sets and mappings.

• The ability to intelligently search and validate terminology and classification concepts dynamically from within an operational system.

• The ability to set constrained queries (e.g. SNOMED CT Reference sets) and link the output to an operational system or central data definition source.

• The ability to manage and maintain FHIR based code systems, concept maps, and value sets in the terminology server.

• The ability to include vocabularies, reference set definitions and enumerations of small value lists.

• The ability to intelligently search and validate other reference data including vocabularies, reference set definitions, value lists and maps.

Please note that this requirement is being procured through the open procedure and shall be awarded and delivered as framework agreement (FA).

The FA has an estimated value of GBP 9.3 m. Of this figure, GBP 0.3 m is the estimated value of the NHS Digital call off spend. The remaining £9m is an estimated figure for the call-off spend of all other organisations outside of NHS Digital, covering the health and social care sector. NHS Digital will have no role in determining, controlling or administering this estimated GBP 9 m of spend.

II.2.5)Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

II.2.6)Estimated value

II.2.7)Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months: 48

This contract is subject to renewal: no

II.2.10)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: yes

II.2.11)Information about options

Options: yes

Description of options:

Details of options and variants will be described and explained within the tender documentation.

II.2.12)Information about electronic catalogues

II.2.13)Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

II.2.14)Additional information

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1)Conditions for participation

III.1.1)Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

List and brief description of conditions:

As per the NHS Digital tender and contractual documentation to be supplied via the Bravo webportal.

III.1.2)Economic and financial standing

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

III.1.3)Technical and professional ability

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

III.1.5)Information about reserved contracts

III.2)Conditions related to the contract

III.2.1)Information about a particular profession

III.2.2)Contract performance conditions:

As per the NHS Digital tender and contractual documentation to be supplied via the Bravo webportal.

III.2.3)Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract

Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)Description

IV.1.1)Type of procedure

Open procedure

IV.1.3)Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

Framework agreement with a single operator

In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:

The Framework shall be for 48 months.

IV.1.4)Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue

IV.1.6)Information about electronic auction

IV.1.8)Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: yes

IV.2)Administrative information

IV.2.1)Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number in the OJ S: 2018/S 239-545971

IV.2.2)Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date: 23/04/2020

Local time: 17:00

IV.2.3)Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates

IV.2.4)Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted:

English

IV.2.6)Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Tender must be valid until: 30/09/2020

IV.2.7)Conditions for opening of tenders

Date: 23/04/2020

Local time: 18:00

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1)Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: no

VI.2)Information about electronic workflows

Electronic ordering will be used

Electronic invoicing will be accepted

Electronic payment will be used

VI.3)Additional information:

Suppliers should bear in mind when responding that NHS Digital requires that any eventual contract will enable other organisations across the health and social care system to purchase licences/subscriptions in their own right (in addition to the licences/subscriptions that NHS Digital purchases for its own needs).

The following link is provided to a UK Government website which provides a vision of the health and social care system.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-health-and-care-system-explained/the-health-and-care-system-explained

The full list of organisations and associated bodies can be found within the tender and contractual documentation.

VI.4)Procedures for review

VI.4.1)Review body

Official name: Health and Social Care Information Centre
Postal address: Trevelyan Square
Town: Leeds
Postal code: LS1 6AE
Country: United Kingdom
E-mail: robert.elliott1@nhs.net
Telephone: +44 7825053717Internet address: https://digital.nhs.uk

VI.4.2)Body responsible for mediation procedures

VI.4.3)Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:

The authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of a contract is communicated to tenderers. Applicants who are unsuccessful shall be informed by the authority as soon as possible after the decision has been made as to the reasons why the applicant was unsuccessful. If an appeal regarding the award of the contract has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No. 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland). Any such action must generally be brought within 30 days. If a declaration of ineffectiveness is sought, any such action must be brought within 30 days where the Authority has communicated the award of the contract and a summary of reasons to tenderers, or otherwise within 6 months of the contract being entered into. Where a contract has not been entered into, the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the circumstances, award damages, make a declaration of ineffectiveness, order the Authority to pay a fine, and/or order that the duration of the contract be shortened. The purpose of the standstill period referred to above is to allow the parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the contract is entered into

VI.4.4)Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained

VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:

23/03/2020