NHS Shared Business Services and NHS North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative have launched a new framework focusing on hardware, hoping to realise 25% cost savings compared to buying direct.
The Digital Workplace framework covers desktop PCs, laptop, tablets, mobile devices, clinical displays, medical IT hardware, printers, scanners, peripherals and associated maintenance and deployment services.
It includes 19 suppliers, ranging from SMEs to global organisations, each going through an assurance process to join the framework. It is due to run until the end of February 2023, which could be extended to 2025.
The framework agreement is aimed at public bodies, NHS trusts, clinical commissioning groups, universities, emergency services and local authorities.
Phil Davies, Director of Procurement at NHS SBS, said:“This new framework has been developed to build on the success of our previous IT Hardware framework agreement, which was very well used by the NHS and wider public sector, and has been critical to many organisations as they have responded to the challenges presented by the pandemic.
“In 2020, much of the country moved to remote working with huge success. The launch of the Digital Workplace: Hardware framework means the public sector can continue to access technologies that are pivotal to supporting productivity through flexible and innovative ways of working.
“The framework has been carefully-negotiated to ensure it offers the latest devices with highly competitive public sector pricing. With a comprehensive procurement exercise already undertaken, NHS and other public sector organisations can save valuable time and resource by directly awarding or carrying out mini-competitions as required.”
The organisations joining this framework include: CDW, Computacenter, Dell, Getech, Insight Direct, Punch Technology, Softcat, SCC, Stone Computers, XMA, IDNS, Ricoh, Softcat, Academia, Bytes Software Services, Parity Computers, CSS Media, Desk Top Publishing, Micro Systems, and MTI Technology.
The new updated framework is part of a range of agreements from the organisation, including Audio Visual Solutions and Integrated Operating Theatres, Cloud Solutions and Digital Workplace Solutions, in place.
For more information visit www.sbs.nhs.uk/fas-digital-workplace-hardware or email nsbs.digital@nhs.net
