Clinical (Software and Hardware) Solutions in all areas of healthcare
QE Procurement is a division of QE Facilities, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust. QE Facilities employs highly experienced people with multiple professional qualifications in IT and Procurement. The team has built a track record supporting NHS organisations in procuring complex IT solutions which support the effective and efficient delivery of patient care.
QE Procurement has launched its second nationally available framework for the provision of Clinical IT solutions (2021/s 001-002154). This framework is a replacement for the Clinical IT agreement that expires in April 2021 (2016/s 156-283835). The commencement date for the new framework is 4th January 2021 and will run for 4 years. All awarded suppliers can be found within the Supplier Matrix.
The framework is free to access following completion of the Terms of Use and Access Agreement. The framework offers contracting authorities the ability to procure complex clinical IT solutions quickly, ranging from small departmental systems through to electronic patient record systems. There is the option of awarding by mini-competition or direct award. Unlike some frameworks, the final specification for your requirements is set by you so it meets every detail of your needs.
These solutions are supported by NHS standard contracts tailored to local requirements. As a result, you will procure a customised solution with a contract to match, representing value for money.
Instructions to access the framework
Organisations wishing to use the Clinical IT framework must first download complete and return the Access Agreement and Terms of Use documentation.
Following completion of an Access Agreement and Terms of Use document, organisations can “call off” from the framework by either;
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Undertaking a mini completion or;
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Direct call off from the framework
Contracting Authorities are solely responsible for constructing their specification for the services and goods required within the scope of the Framework Agreement and for executing a method of purchase compliant with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Guidance regarding award of contracts under framework agreements, as per the Public Contract Regulations 2015: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/102/regulation/33/made
When the terms of a framework agreement are not precise enough to directly award a contract under Regulation 33(7) or 33(8)(a), the Buyer must run a further competition, as per Regulation 33(8)(b) or 33(8)(c).
When the terms of a framework agreement are precise enough to directly award a contract, the Buyer must award the contract in accordance with any pre-prescribed rules (call-off protocol), or reassessment of award criteria based on requirements configuration variations.
Upon completion of the procurement process, the Confirmation of Award Form must be completed which can be obtained from the framework team. Once complete, this needs to be returned to allow the creation of a framework reference number (FRN). This number will be unique to each project and must be quoted within your contract and on your Purchase Order to the supplier. Please note a separate FRN will be required for any future Change Control Notices (CCN) that may be processed under the awarded contract.
Should you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact the framework team on the contact details provided.