The Department of Health has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for the eagerly awaited new GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC) framework (see OJEU here), which it expects to be worth between £325m and £1.2bn over two years. The framework is due to replace the existing GPSoC framework, which has been extended to the end of 2013.
GPSoC was launched in 2007, and gave GPs the choice of eight accredited software providers rather than just the two/three GP systems on offer at the time from NPfIT’s local service providers (for more detail read NHS IT localisations: a world of opportunity?). GPSoC has since benefitted GP system suppliers like EMIS, TPP, InPS and ACS.
The new GPSoC framework is split into three lots. The first lot will be centrally funded and worth between £300 and £770m. This covers core GP clinical IT systems like prescribing, patient registration, appointment booking and document management, as well as national services such as Choose and Book, GP2GP and the Electronic Prescribing Service. Lot 1 also includes subsidiary services such as mobile clinical applications, decision support and telehealth.
Lot 2, will be funded locally, and worth between £20m and £220m. This covers ‘additional GP IT services’ such as patient arrival systems, physical device APIs, finance systems, hardware system maintenance and hardware. Lot 3 meanwhile, worth between £5m and £220m, is for ‘cross care setting interoperable services’ that allow for messaging and document exchange between local care providers.
The breadth of software and services in scope will appeal to a variety of UK SITS providers. Specialist GP system providers will clearly see significant opportunities in lot 1, as will national players like Atos (Choose and Book) and those interested in emerging areas like mobility and telehealth like Tungstall, BT and Serco. Smaller players and specialists are also likely to see opportunities in lots 2 and 3. However since funding is being driven locally here, we suspect this will be more of a ‘discretionary’ spend.
Suppliers will need to get their skates on to submit interest by 4th July.