FOI 2024-254

I am conducting some research on procurement in the NHS for data platforms and I am particularly interested in the implementation of the Federated Data Platform (FDP) in the NHS as well as the use of procurement frameworks for purchasing of data platforms.

I have provided more context about the FDP if you need it: The FDP is a platform software that will enable every NHS Trust and Integrated Care System (ICS) to bring together operational data to support NHS staff in accessing the information in one safe and secure environment. This platform will be able to connect other data platforms together which should facilitate the integration across all health and care organisations (https://www.england.nhs.uk/digitaltechnology/nhs-federated-data-platform/).

I was hoping you’d be able to answer the following question under the Freedom of Information Act:

1.        FDP queries:

a)        Are you currently using the FDP?  – Yes or No

 i.    If the answer is No to Q1a), are you using other tools or software instead that provide the same functionality? – Yes or No

 ii.  Would you be able to provide a couple of examples?

b)        Do you have any plans to integrate into the FDP – Yes or No?

c)        Do you have any plans to build on top of the FDP (e.g. any additional functionalities)? – Yes or No

d)        If the answer is Yes to Q1c), please can you select from the following list of categories of things that you are looking to build on top of the FDP:

i.    Population health management and analytics

ii.  Elective recovery

iii. Care coordination (joining up care, discharges, anticipatory care, virtual wards, elective hubs)

iv. Vaccination and immunisation,

v.  Supply chain management

vi. Resource management

vii. Healthcare workflow management

2.        Which procurement frameworks do you most often use to procure technology? Please select from the list below:

a)        National procurement frameworks:

 i.   Crown Commercial Service (CCS) G-Cloud 13 (RM1557.13) and/or G-Cloud 14

 ii. Health Systems Support Framework (HSSF)

iii. NHS Shared Business Services – Digital Health Advisory (Framework Agreement Reference: 10225)

v.   CCS Digital Capability for Health (RM2661)

 v. CCS Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5 (DOS-5) (RM1043.7) and/or DOS-6 (RM1043.8)

vi. CCS Spark DPS (Dynamic Purchasing System) (RM6094)

b)        Procurement collaboratives - NHS Procurement in Partnership (NHS PiP), a collaboration between four NHS procurement hubs – NHS Commercial Solutions, East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub, NHS London Procurement Partnership (NHS LPP) and NHS North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC):

  i.  Clinical Digital Solutions (CDS) Framework

 ii.  Information, Management & Technology (IM&T)