Integrated Core Systems (ICS)

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (the Trust) is undertaking a second stage of preliminary market engagement for its proposed Integrated Core Systems procurement. The requirement is intended to provide Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) capability across 999, NHS 111 and Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services, together with Electronic Patient Record (EPR) capability for frontline and remote clinicians.

The Trust’s current preference is to procure a combined solution covering both CAD and EPR through a single contractual delivery model. However, no decision has been made regarding the final procurement structure and the Trust is seeking feedback through this engagement to inform that decision. This could be delivered by one supplier providing the full solution, or by a prime contractor taking overall responsibility while working with one or more delivery partners to provide the other element. The Trust is using this engagement to test whether the market can support that preferred outcome with sufficient competition, affordability, deliverability and clear end-to-end accountability.

The Trust has not made a final decision on whether the procurement will be presented as one combined requirement or divided into separate EPR and CAD lots. Separate lots remain a potential alternative if the engagement indicates that a combined approach would materially restrict competition, create affordability concerns or reduce the Trust’s ability to proceed with part of the requirement should its circumstances change. Any future lotting, packaging and award approach will be confirmed in the tender documents.

Purpose of Stage 2 preliminary market engagement

• Establish which suppliers can deliver the complete combined CAD and EPR requirement, either independently or through a prime contractor, consortium, subcontracting or other partnership model and understand market interest in separate EPR and CAD opportunities if the Trust decides not to procure the requirement as one combined package.
• Obtain feedback on the proposed competitive flexible procedure, timetable, demonstrations, potential dialogue and negotiation activities and other aspects of procurement design.
• Support specification development and assess market readiness through discussion of themes and challenges arising from current system use. These discussions will take place through 1:1 supplier meetings.

Potential delivery and procurement models

The Trust wishes to test the following indicative models. They are not ranked tender options and do not represent a final lotting decision:

1. Combined solution from one supplier

Description: One supplier provides both CAD and EPR under one contract.

Purpose of market testing: Test whole-solution capability, competition and affordability.

2. Combined solution led by a prime contractor

Description: A prime contractor provides one or both elements and takes contractual responsibility for partners or subcontractors delivering the remaining capability.

Purpose of market testing: Test appetite for partnership delivery, integration and end-to-end accountability.

3. Separate EPR and CAD contracts or lots

Description: EPR and CAD are procured separately with defined interoperability and shared delivery obligations.

Purpose of market testing: Test fallback competition and interest if a combined approach is not adopted or cannot proceed.

NHS Pathways

NHS Pathways is integral to the Trust’s current operational model and is used as its primary telephone triage system. The Trust’s current intention is that any CAD element, whether delivered within a combined solution or through a separate CAD arrangement, will be required to support the use of and integration with NHS Pathways. The Trust is considering NHS Pathways compatibility as a mandatory requirement. The final requirement and assessment method will be confirmed in the procurement documents.

Information requested from the market

• Whether the supplier can provide the complete combined CAD and EPR solution itself.
• If not, whether the supplier could deliver a combined solution as a prime contractor or by working with another provider, and which element it would provide.
• Any barriers preventing or discouraging the supplier from forming such an arrangement.
• If the requirement is divided, whether the supplier would be interested in an EPR opportunity, a CAD opportunity, or both.
• Feedback on competition, affordability, deliverability and the proposed competitive flexible procedure.

All indications are preliminary and non-binding. The Trust will not require suppliers to have formed a partnership during PME and gives no assurance that organisations taking part in the engagement will be selected, shortlisted or contracted.