SMEs compete for NHS IT contracts
Computer Retailers - 17/08/2007 15:50:01
Dozens of small-to-medium sized businesses across the UK have put themselves forward for additional IT systems and services for the NHS Connecting for Health initiative.
Alongside 34 national suppliers, NHS chiefs have announced that there ate 82 SME suppliers on its list, dubbed Additional Supply Capability and Capacity (ASCC).
While Connecting for Health has stated that it cannot guarantee or estimate the total cost of the initiative, which is part of the NHS's £12.4 billion National Programme for IT (NPfIT) it has confirmed that £100 million worth of contracts will be handed out at this early stage.
In releasing the list, the agency added: "It is not intended that any ASCC awarded frameworks will conflict with existing contractual arrangements and there are no guarantees of volumes of business in the ASCC framework contracts."
Small firms will be competing with larger companies including BT and Fujitsu to be awarded the work.