The members of the South-East NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) Collaboration (in their current form) are:
Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB
Frimley Health and Care ICB
Kent and Medway ICB
Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB
Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership ICB
NHS Sussex ICB
For the purpose of this Pipeline advert, NHS Sussex ICB is the lead Authority (subject to potential future change). The NHS England National Commercial and Procurement Hub is issuing this pipeline notice on behalf of the lead Authority.
Due to national changes within the NHS the Landscape of the ICBs within the South-East (SE) are due to change. This is likely to result in a reduction in the number of SE ICBs with also potential reduction of staffing within the ICBs, but it is not anticipated that GPIT staff will reduce. GPIT staffing more likely to have a year-on-year increase.
The forthcoming planned closure of Commissioning Support Units (CSUs) in April 2027 creates a pressing need for ICBs across the NHS South East region to secure sustainable, high-quality digital support services. These services are essential to maintain and enhance both corporate IT functions and the delivery of GPIT, ensuring continuity of operations and alignment with national digital transformation priorities. Without a coordinated approach, there is a risk of fragmentation, duplication, and inefficiencies that could undermine the resilience and effectiveness of digital infrastructure across the region.
In recognition of this, the South East NHS ICBs are collaborating to consider how they might meet their GP IT and Corporate IT requirement via a single, region-wide service that can deliver economies of scale, consistency of standards, and improved value for money.
The SE NHS ICBs are issuing this Pipeline notice to make the market aware that the next proposed stage is for the SE NHS ICBs to issue a Market Engagement advert for interested Suppliers to respond to a ‘questionnaire’ and provide the intelligence to inform the strategy development around the future of ensuring ICBs and GP’s have the ongoing necessary IT support and services.
The SE NHS ICBs reserves the right not to proceed with a market engagement or any procurement, and it is also subject to further internal governance approval. The SE NHS ICBs will not be liable for any costs incurred by any interested party in relation to this opportunity.
The indicative values provided as part of this Pipeline advert (£120m inclusive of VAT over the proposed initial term of 5 years and the 3 years extension term) are anticipated maximum value and are purely indicative for this Pipeline advert.
Suppliers are not required to register any interest for this Pipeline Notice. The SE NHS ICB’s intention is to issue a relevant Market Engagement Advert imminently, where Suppliers can express an interest and participate.