Atos has reason to celebrate today having signed a five year IT services contract with the UK’s Department of Health (DH) worth at least £74m. Under the deal, Atos will provide IT desktop and supporting services to DH. The contract replaces one that CSC holds with the Department (see UK Public Sector Contract Opportunities: 2012 and beyond) - not to be confused with its now infamous National Programme for IT (NPfIT) in the NHS contracts - and is one of the few to be let under the NHS’ Additional Supply Capability and Capacity (ASCC) framework. Both CSC and rival BT were on the final shortlist alongside Atos and will no doubt be disappointed not to have secured the deal.
Atos’ contract also allows for DH’s Arms Length Bodies (ALBs), such as the Care Quality Commission, to share ICT services with the Department. According to an unnamed DH spokesperson, the arrangement will result in savings of ‘around 40% on the current cost of service across the life of the contract.’ But it appears that while ALBs have the option to sign up to the shared service, they’re not obliged to. The onus is therefore on Atos and DH to make the proposition as attractive as possible and ensure the success of the shared service element of the deal.