A prior information notice for a tender worth an estimated £150 million has been published by NHS Shared Business Services (SBS), for a procurement framework agreement of digital dictation, speech recognition and outsourced transcription services.
The notice shares NHS SBS’s plans to establish a framework agreement for the use of voice recognition software such as existing manual transcription services and automated software and hardware based services that are available on premise or through cloud-based IT solutions. The framework is also to cover complimentary ancillary devices to provide support, along with new services or devices that may become relevant over the framework’s lifetime.
It goes on to provide more detail about the types of technology covered by the procurement scope, including dictating machines; voice recorders; voice-logging system; software packages for document management, voice recognition, IT and word-processing; miscellaneous software package and computer systems; voice recognition software development services; software support services; computer-related services; and typing, word-processing and desktop publishing services.
The contract notice is estimated to be published in December 2023, with the new framework expected to go live in June 2024. It is expected to run for four years.
NHS SBS highlight that market engagement sessions are to be held in July and August with industry experts and suppliers interested in potentially bidding for the framework. Anyone wishing to participate in this market engagement is encouraged to complete and return a request for information form which can be obtained by emailing nsbs.digital@nhs.net, with forms to be returned by 5pm on 4 August.
The notice adds that NHS SBS is “committed to working with suppliers who are dedicated to sustainability and social value and there will be a significant weighting on these elements in the tender.”
Read the prior information notice in full here.
