Provision of an Enterprise-wide Medical Imaging Management and Processing System for eight Trusts in the East Midlands

1. Purpose

This preliminary market engagement will inform the development of EMRAD's specification and its procurement strategy. EMRAD wishes to:

• test its draft requirements with the market for realism, deliverability and cost;
• test with the market whether imaging outside radiology, such as cardiology, digital pathology and point-of-care ultrasound, should be included in scope or interfaced with the new platforms;
• understand current market capability, innovation and good practice;
• see how solutions perform against real clinical workflows, through supplier demonstrations in the next stage of market engagement;
• understand the key performance indicators and service levels the market can commit to;
• understand implementation approaches, timescales and supplier capacity, given that other regional PACS and RIS procurements may run at the same time;
• understand market practice on key commercial and contractual risks and terms, including insurances and indemnities;
• understand market practice on lifecycle considerations, including pricing models, support and maintenance, product development, sustainability, social value and whole-life value for money; and
• test which contractual structures and contract terms are feasible across eight Trusts.

2. Engagement stages

Stage 1 - expressions of interest, supplier briefing session and questionnaire. This stage is open to the whole market and does not include issuing the draft specification. Suppliers who register their interest will be invited to a virtual supplier briefing session at 3:00 pm on 11th November 2026, covering what is going to market, the timeline and the Trusts involved. A short questionnaire will follow the session, covering:

• suggestions on key performance indicators and service levels;
• whether imaging outside radiology should be included in scope or interfaced with the new platforms;
• contractual structures and contract term;
• key commercial and contractual risks and terms, including insurances and indemnities;
• lifecycle considerations, including pricing models, support and maintenance, product development, sustainability, social value and whole-life value for money; and
• other risks and dependencies.

Stage 2 - draft specification review and supplier demonstrations, by invitation only. Once the route to market is decided and the Trust specification workshops are complete, EMRAD intends to share its first draft specification for feedback and to invite suppliers to demonstrate their solutions against real clinical workflow scenarios. Stage 2 is currently expected to run from late November to early December 2026. Demonstrations will be held individually on Microsoft Teams and invited suppliers will have at least two weeks to prepare. Suppliers should demonstrate functionality that is available and in use now, not roadmap items.

If the LPP CDHS framework route is confirmed, Stage 2 will be limited to suppliers appointed to that framework. Responding to Stage 1 does not mean a supplier will automatically be invited to Stage 2.

3. How to register

To register your interest, please email [email protected] by 17:00 on 10th November 2026, marked "EMRAD PACS and RIS - Preliminary Market Engagement", with:

• your organisation name; and
• a primary contact (name, role, email address and telephone number).

Registered suppliers will be sent the questionnaire after the briefing session. It must be returned by 17:00 on 13th November 2026. All contact about this engagement must be made through the supplier inbox. Please do not contact Trust or EMRAD staff directly.

4. Important information

• No final route-to-market decision has been made. EMRAD is considering all viable options. The LPP CDHS framework is currently the expected route and remains under active consideration. This exercise is intended to validate whether it is suitable.
• This exercise is not a call for competition, an invitation to tender, a contract award process or a commitment to buy.
• Participation does not constitute participation in a procurement process. It does not guarantee that a supplier will be invited to Stage 2 or to take part in any future procurement.
• If EMRAD procures through the LPP CDHS framework or another framework, only suppliers appointed to that framework may be able to take part in the resulting procurement, whether or not they responded to this notice.
• Participation will not confer preferred-bidder status, any advantage or any commitment from EMRAD, DSFS or the participating Trusts. Not participating will not disadvantage a supplier in any future procurement.
• Supplier feedback may be anonymised and shared with the participating Trusts.
• No information supplied will constitute an offer or form part of a binding contract.
• EMRAD, DSFS and the participating Trusts may change the scope, contractual structure, timetable and route to market following this engagement, legal advice and internal approvals. They may decide not to proceed, or to proceed through a framework that restricts the eligible supplier pool.
• Suppliers taking part do so at their own cost.
• Information received may be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.