Pool of tech suppliers announced for £5 billion NHS digital documents framework

It will be available for use by all UK NHS organisations, including NHS trusts, foundation trusts, and GP groups

A total of 46 tech suppliers have been picked as part of a £5 billion Digital Documents Solutions (DDS) framework, to provide document-management tools and printing services to the NHS.

NHS London Procurement Partnership (LPP) led the framework, which focuses on digital document storage and solutions.

The four-year deal includes the provision of technology services across the areas of document storage, scanning, digital mail room, electronic document record management solutions, internal print, external print, digital dictation and workflow.

LLP says the framework will provide flexibility for supplier innovation, supplier growth and supplier-customer partnerships across the NHS and wider public sector.

It is intended to ensure that qualified, experienced and resourced suppliers are available for use by all UK NHS organisations, including NHS trusts, foundation trusts, GP groups, clinical commissioning groups, GP federations and other health and social care providers within the UK and Northern Ireland.

While the framework is not split into 'lots', nine clinical areas are highlighted: patient administration, patient support, electronic health and care records, specialist clinical systems, shared care record systems, radiology, pathology, pharmacy, and artificial intelligence and automation.

The suppliers chosen include: Nuance Communications; Restore; CFH Docmail; Bluewire Technologies; Conduent; Landscape Printing; Gateway Bureau Services; Hyland Software; Cleardata; MBA Group; Swisspost Solutions; Hugh Symons Information Management; ASL; FlowForma; Print Search; Kyocera Document Solutions; 3M M*Modal; Corona Corporate Solutions; Academia; Apogee; Canon; LGDavis; NHS Business Services Authority; Continuous Dataprint; Corporate Document Services; Ratcliff & Roper; and Crown Records Management.

In addition, the following suppliers have also been picked: IMMJ Systems; Synertec; Harlow Printing; Ricoh; HH Global; Capita Business Services; Civica; Konica Minolta Business Solutions; PSL Print Management; CSP; CCube Solutions; Vision; Xerox; Exela Technologies; Altodigital Networks; HP; Bramble Hub; G2 Speech; and Iron Mountain.

'LPP have achieved our vision of an innovative and agile route to market for digital document solutions through a single lot, outcome-based framework structure,' the company stated.

'This allows suppliers to not only evolve the functionality of their existing product portfolio throughout the lifetime of the framework but also to expand their range into new solution areas.'

Earlier this year, the NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) picked 19 suppliers who can pitch for ICT hardware and services contracts under the Link 3 Framework to support the NHS and the wider public sector organisations. The winners included Dell, Academia Ltd, Insight Direct, Ricoh, Softcat, Insight Systems, MTI Technology and Stone Computers.

The Link 3 deal covers a range of consumer-oriented 'digital workplace' devices and services, such as laptops, desktops, tablets, printers, scanners, mobile phones, and healthcare IT devices (workstations, medical carts, clinical assistant devices, etc.), third party warranty and one-stop shop.

It is expected to be worth up to £1 billion to the selected suppliers.