Department of Health invites bids for £450m electronic staff record system

Current contract with supplier expires in August 2015

The Department of Health (DoH) has invited bids for the provision of an electronic staff record (ESR) system in a contract that could be worth up to £450m.

The DoH released a "prior information notice" on the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), in which it explains that the ESR is a "single workforce management tool for the NHS: offering a true ‘end to end' workforce management solution".

The system is grouped into three main areas: HR and payroll, learning and talent, and management and workforce information provision.

Currently, the ESR system and services are being provided by a supplier under an outsourcing contract, which is expected to expire in August 2015.

"DoH wishes to re-procure the provision of the ESR service to ensure continuity following the expiry of the current contract. It is anticipated that DH will require suppliers to transition the existing system from the incumbent supplier, operate the existing system and undertake future enhancements to increase functionality in the asset," the notice reads.

The DoH explained that the existing system will be a DoH asset when the current contract expires.

The procurement is expected to be undertaken by the DoH on behalf of and/or use by the NHS Business Services Authority and other relevant bodies, including providers of NHS services and all NHS bodies.

The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), and the estimated cost excluding VAT is between £250m and £450m.