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NHS Shared Business Services launches £1bn digital hardware framework
Framework consists of 19 suppliers, and offers user IT hardware products and services to the NHS and public sector organisations
NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) has launched a two-year digital hardware framework for NHS and public sector organisations.
The digital workplace: Hardware framework, with an estimated value of £1bn, consists of 19 suppliers, from large global manufacturers to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). NHS SBS hopes it will save the public sector around £250m compared with buying directly from a supplier at list price.
The framework is aimed at NHS trusts, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), universities, emergency services and local authorities, and allows them to purchase anything from laptops and desktops, phones, tablets, keyboards, printers, and specialist healthcare-related IT hardware.
NHS SBS director of procurement Phil Davies said the framework has been developed to build on the previous “Link: 2 IT hardware framework agreement which was very well used by the NHS and wider public sector, and has been critical to many organisations as they have responded to the challenges presented by the pandemic”.
“The new framework provides ease and peace of mind for organisations looking for an efficient and cost-effective way to meet their user device needs,” he said.
“In 2020, much of the country moved to remote working with huge success. The launch of The digital workplace: Hardware framework means the public sector can continue to access technologies that are pivotal to supporting productivity through flexible and innovative ways of working,” said Davies.
“The framework has been carefully negotiated to ensure it offers the latest devices with highly competitive public sector pricing. With a comprehensive procurement exercise already undertaken, NHS and other public sector organisations can save valuable time and resources by directly awarding or carrying out mini competitions as required.”
Read more about NHS SBS procurement frameworks
- NHS Shared Business Services is seeking suppliers for a four-year procurement framework designed to streamline how public sector organisations source cloud services.
- NHS organisations and public sector bodies will be encouraged to use £500m procurement framework to acquire IT software and hardware in a more cost-effective way.
- Cyber Security Services Framework, developed by NHS Shared Business Services, has formally launched.
The framework, which will run until the end of February 2023 with the option to extend for two years, also provides buyers with the option to add on device as a service and deployment services, as well as innovations such as virtual reality headsets to be used for medical diagnosis.
In August 2020, NHS SBS launched a Digital workplace solutions framework, focusing on IT services and infrastructure products.
