Electronic Patient Records system (EPR)

This VEAT notice is in relation to a short-term extension to the existing arrangement for the provision of an Electronic Patient Records system (EPR).

This is not a new contract opportunity but rather a VEAT notice to inform the market that the contracting authority has extended the term of its contract for the provision of an EPR system with InterSystems. This contract extension will be for a maximum of 3 years.

This is to ensure continuous operation of the existing EPR systems at North Tees and Hartlepool FT whilst work is undertaken to procure a joint EPR system for the University Hospitals Tees Group (North Tees and Hartlepool NHS FT and South Tees NHS FT).

The contracting authority proposes to undertake a competitive procurement exercise, commencing no later than Autumn 2026 and anticipates contract award by Autumn 2027. The Contracting Authority intends to utilise the London Procurement Partnership Clinical Digital Health Solutions Framework (CDHS) to procure the Group EPR system.

The Contracting Authority recognises that the InterSystems products are critical to the safe delivery of patient care, and as a result it would not be feasible for another supplier to provide these services within the short-term nature of this proposed extension. Procuring a new supplier would impose significant additional costs and render existing EPR system open to disruption. This would not be acceptable and would pose a significant risk to patient care.

The Contracting Authority considers that the short-term extension is permitted under Regulation 32(5)(b) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015.