Award

OpenAthens Authentication

DIGITAL HEALTH & CARE WALES

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

13 Jan 2026 at 16:03

Award

10 Jul 2025 at 09:54

Award

13 Jun 2025 at 07:46

Summary of the contracting process

Digital Health & Care Wales has completed the procurement process for the "OpenAthens Authentication" service, a project in the IT services industry, specifically focusing on consulting, software development, Internet and support. The process involved a direct award to JISC SERVICES LTD, executed to ensure the NHS Wales e-Library users maintain seamless access to resources without fixed location/IP address constraints. The procurement was managed under the Welsh devolved regulations, with a final contract signed on 23rd July 2025, covering the period until 30th June 2028, with potential extensions up to 2030. Located in Cardiff, the buying organisation oversees the continuation of OpenAthens as a critical function for remote authentication, necessary for maintaining NHS Wales's digital infrastructure and service delivery.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved in IT services. It highlights the growing market demand for secure, integrated authentication solutions essential for remote and flexible working conditions. Businesses capable of providing robust and scalable authentication services, especially those with ties to healthcare digital solutions, would find themselves well-positioned to compete in similar procurements. The contract underlines the critical importance of maintaining cutting-edge security standards and system integration capabilities in the healthcare sector, paving the way for specialists in these fields to expand their offerings to public sector organisations.

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Notice Title

OpenAthens Authentication

Notice Description

OpenAthens Authentication for NHS Wales e-Library Users not based at a fixed location/IP address

Procurement Information

OpenAthens remains essential to ensuring continuous and secure access to NHS Wales e resources, a capability that has been in place since 2003 and remains fundamental to service delivery. The previous contract was due to expire on 30th June 2025, the awarded arrangement ensures there is no interruption to access or risk to operational continuity. OpenAthens is a trusted third party authentication solution that is already fully integrated within NHS Wales infrastructure and now works seamlessly with the Entra directory system. This integration continues to provide user friendly, efficient access by allowing staff to authenticate without repeated log ins when using authorised devices. Maintaining this level of accessibility after award is critical for supporting staff productivity and reducing technical barriers to resource use. The shift towards remote and flexible working across NHS Wales further reinforces the ongoing need for OpenAthens. Remote authentication capability is now a business critical function. Without OpenAthens, NHS Wales would lose the ability to support secure off site access to e Library resources, significantly affecting staff who rely on these tools for clinical decision making, training and daily operational tasks. Post award, reliance on alternative authentication methods particularly IP based access, would be inappropriate. IP authentication is outdated, insecure, and unable to verify user identity or support department specific access. Continuing to use OpenAthens ensures precise, auditable access control aligned with NHS Wales information governance and cyber security standards. Maintaining OpenAthens under the awarded contract therefore remains justified by the ongoing need for secure, flexible and remote access to NHS Wales digital resources. This supports both user security and the continuity of essential NHS Wales services.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-054826
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002803-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support


CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£157,820 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£157,820 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Jun 20258 months ago
Contract Period
22 Jul 2025 - 30 Jun 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DIGITAL HEALTH & CARE WALES
Contact Name
Stacey Jones
Contact Email
stacey.jones10@wales.nhs.uk
Contact Phone
+442920502108

Buyer Location

Locality
CARDIFF
Postcode
CF11 9AD
Post Town
Cardiff
Country
Wales

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Cardiff
Electoral Ward
Riverside
Westminster Constituency
Cardiff West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

JISC SERVICES

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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