National Framework Agreement for Teleradiology, Telepathology and Telemedicine Services

COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

04 Sep 2026 at 09:09

Award

14 Feb 2023 at 14:22

Award

30 Sep 2022 at 09:58

Tender

16 Jun 2022 at 09:47

Summary of the contracting process

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, through its Commercial Procurement Services, established a national framework for NHS healthcare technology and reporting support. It covers teleradiology and telemedicine services, including primary radiology reporting, expert second opinions, clinical review and related specialties such as telepathology, telemicrobiology and teledermatology. It also covers electronic telepathology interpretation and diagnosis, plus radiology workflow management systems with associated maintenance and support. The framework is intended to help NHS organisations manage routine, urgent and specialist workloads, reduce reporting backlogs and improve departmental productivity. Delivery covers the United Kingdom, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey. The procurement was divided into teleradiology and telemedicine, telepathology, and radiology workflow management systems.

This completed procurement used an open procedure to establish a framework agreement. The tender closed on 18 July 2022 at 14:00, with bid opening and the award period beginning on 20 July 2022 at 14:00. The framework was awarded on 15 September 2022, with an awarded value of £100,000,000. The contract period was 1,440 days and the contract was extended by six months to provide continuity for NHS organisations in Scotland and Northern Ireland while a replacement framework was developed. Awards included 4ways Healthcare, DMC Imaging, Everlight Radiology, Tesla Radiology Solutions, TXM Teleconsult and Vital Radiology Services for teleradiology and telemedicine; Diagnexia UK and Uralensis Innov8 for telepathology; and Hexarad Group for radiology workflow management systems. Axon Medical, Friends Medical Service, The International Radiology Reporting Group and Business and Service Solutions also received awards across the service lots.

This procurement demonstrates substantial NHS demand for outsourced diagnostic reporting, remote clinical interpretation and radiology capacity-management tools. Suppliers well placed for similar requirements would need proven capability in teleradiology, telepathology or wider telemedicine, with clinicians able to provide primary reports, specialist opinions and clinical reviews across routine, urgent and specialist workloads. Credible providers should be able to support secure transmission and interpretation of medical images, manage service and data requirements, and demonstrate robust clinical and corporate governance. For workflow systems, relevant strengths include reporting-capacity forecasting, operational analysis, audit functionality, departmental productivity improvement, implementation, training, maintenance and support. The award pattern shows that specialist small and medium-sized suppliers can compete, including providers focused on individual diagnostic or technology services.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

National Framework Agreement for Teleradiology, Telepathology and Telemedicine Services

Notice Description

While the demand on radiology services is increasing with the quantity of scans and required reports going up, the number of radiologists is decreasing resulting in backlogs and pressure on existing staff. Teleradiology offers trusts an alternative to manage routine, urgent or specialist workload, and supports with the reduction of backlogs in care. Teleradiology is the transmission of patients' radiological images between different locations for the production of a primary report, expert second opinion or clinical review. Telepathology is the electronic transmission of pathological images, usually derived from microscopes, from one location to another, for the purpose of interpretation and diagnosis. The different locations can be within the same organisation or in different organisations, within the same country or across international boundaries. Other areas of telemedicine are also now being explored, including but not limited to telepathology, telemicrobiology and teledermatology. The scope of this agreement will include these and other specialties of telemedicine to allow for expansion into new services during the term of the agreement, to help support the NHS with elective recovery. Radiology workflow management systems are designed to improve productivity and efficiency in radiology departments. As business intelligence systems they allow precise forecasting of reporting capacity, enabling optimisation of departmental rotas and highlight areas for strategic recruitment based on supply and demand. These systems can reduce the costs of outsourcing and support radiology departments to operate as efficiently as possible. Proposed Framework: The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, through its Commercial Procurement Services, wishes to award a national framework agreement with three Lots: Lot 1 - Teleradiology and Telemedicine Services Lot 2 - Telepathology Services Lot 3 - Radiology Workflow Management Systems Tenders may be submitted for one or more Lots.

Lot Information

Teleradiology and Telemedicine Services

While the demand on radiology services is increasing with the quantity of scans and required reports going up, the number of radiologists is decreasing resulting in backlogs and pressure on existing staff. Teleradiology offers trusts an alternative to manage routine, urgent or specialist workload, and supports with the reduction of backlogs in care. Teleradiology is the transmission of patients' radiological images between different locations for the production of a primary report, expert second opinion or clinical review. Telepathology is the electronic transmission of pathological images, usually derived from microscopes, from one location to another, for the purpose of interpretation and diagnosis. The different locations can be within the same organisation or in different organisations, within the same country or across international boundaries. Other areas of telemedicine are also now being explored, including but not limited to telepathology, telemicrobiology and teledermatology. The scope of this agreement will include these and other specialties of telemedicine to allow for expansion into new services during the term of the agreement, to help support the NHS with elective recovery. Radiology workflow management systems are designed to improve productivity and efficiency in radiology departments. As business intelligence systems they allow precise forecasting of reporting capacity, enabling optimisation of departmental rotas and highlight areas for strategic recruitment based on supply and demand. These systems can reduce the costs of outsourcing and support radiology departments to operate as efficiently as possible. Proposed Framework: The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, through its Commercial Procurement Services, wishes to award a national framework agreement with three Lots: Lot 1 - Teleradiology and Telemedicine Services Lot 2 - Telepathology Services Lot 3 - Radiology Workflow Management Systems Tenders may be submitted for one or more Lots.

Options: The term of this framework agreement will be two years (24 months) from the commencement date with an option to extend twice for a further one year (12 months) on each occasion. The maximum duration of this framework agreement will be four years (48 months).

Telepathology Services

Lot 2 concerns the provision of Telepathology Services.

Options: The term of this framework agreement will be two years (24 months) from the commencement date with an option to extend twice for a further one year (12 months) on each occasion. The maximum duration of this framework agreement will be four years (48 months).

Radiology Workflow Management Systems

Lot 3 concerns the provision of Radiology Workflow Management Systems, including all associated service, maintenance and support.

Options: The term of this framework agreement will be two years (24 months) from the commencement date with an option to extend twice for a further one year (12 months) on each occasion. The maximum duration of this framework agreement will be four years (48 months).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-034719
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083724-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

85000000 - Health and social work services

85100000 - Health services

85110000 - Hospital and related services

85111800 - Pathology services

85150000 - Medical imaging services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£100,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£100,000,001 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
18 Jul 2022Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CHESTER
Postcode
CH2 1UL
Postcode Area
Chester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Cheshire West and Chester
Electoral Ward
Upton
Westminster Constituency
Chester North and Neston

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
14
Supplier Names

4 Ways Healthcare Limited

DMC Imaging Ltd

Everlight Radiology

Tesla Radiology Solutions Ltd

Teleconsult UK

Vital Radiology Services Ltd

Diagnexia UK Ltd

Uralensis Innov8 Ltd

Axon Medical Ltd

Friends Medical Service Limited

The International Radiology Reporting Group Ltd

Hexarad Group Limited

Business and Service Solutions Limited

Awarded suppliers are stated in original F03 notice 2022/S 000-027423

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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