A new cyber security framework has been launched providing access to 25 suppliers specialising in managing cyber risks, recovering from attacks, cyber consultancy and security personnel.
The £250m Cyber Security Services Framework has been developed and launched by NHS Shared Business Services. It will run until May 2022, with an option to extend for a further two years.
It is open to NHS and other public sector organisations, including local authorities, emergency services and schools. The framework has been developed in partnership with NHS Digital and the National Cyber Security Centre.
Phil Davies, Director of Procurement at NHS SBS said “The launch of this new framework is particularly timely as the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a new wave of cyber-attacks and scams. We welcomed the opportunity to partner with NHS Digital and look forward to continuing our collaborative relationship to ensure the agreement meets national cyber needs.”
“Technology plays a huge part in the way the NHS delivers patient care so it is vital that healthcare providers keep data secure, whilst being prepared for and resilient against attacks.”
“The NHS and public sector has been proactive in harnessing improvements in cyber security since the WannaCry attacks in 2017 but there is still more work to be done. This framework provides a sustainable and trusted solution to help organisations meet the challenges around cyber security head on.”
Lot 1 is emergency cyber incident management, aimed at helping organisations find support in dealing with a crisis or large scale incident quickly. Lot 2 is cyber consultancy services for ad hoc or ongoing support such as security testing and data security assessments. Lot 3 is for the supply of specialist personnel to back up in-house security capabilities.
The 25 suppliers on the framework were awarded after a OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) compliant procurement exercise.
It means that NHS and other public sector organisations can directly award contracts without the need for a complex and time-consuming procurement process, or run mini competitions to meet any bespoke requirements and drive further competitive pricing.
For more information visit www.sbs.nhs.uk/fas-cyber-security-services
