Planning

UHB Network Support Services

UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BIRMINGHAM NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

23 Oct 2025 at 08:04

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust is currently in the planning stage of a public procurement process for Network Support Services, as of 23rd October 2025. This tender process seeks to establish a comprehensive network infrastructure service supporting clinical and enterprise IT across multiple hospital sites in Birmingham, UK. Potential suppliers are invited to participate in the pre-market engagement exercise with responses to the detailed Briefing Document due by 29th October 2025. The procurement is categorised under 'services' with the main classification being ‘Data network management and support services’ and is aimed at organisations capable of delivering high-availability, secure, and scalable networking solutions that meet the NHS's standards and compliance requirements.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in network management, cyber security, and IT support services, especially those familiar with Cisco, Extreme, and Fortigate technologies. Companies small and large could find lucrative opportunities here, particularly if they can demonstrate capabilities in managing complex network environments, adherence to NHS compliance standards, and the integration of emerging technologies such as GPON and SD-WAN. The contract, once awarded, will run from 2027 with potential for renewal, encouraging ongoing business growth and partnership with one of the largest NHS Trusts in England.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UHB Network Support Services

Notice Description

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) is initiating a preliminary market engagement exercise in preparation for a formal procurement of Network Support Services. UHB is one of the largest NHS Trusts in England, operating multiple hospital sites including Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, and Solihull Hospital, alongside community and specialist clinics. The Trust seeks to engage with suppliers capable of delivering a comprehensive, secure, and future-ready network infrastructure service that supports clinical operations, research, and enterprise IT across its estate. The future contract will encompass the management, support, and strategic development of the following: * Core Network (Cisco): High-availability backbone designed to vendor best practice and resilient architecture * Datacentre Network (Cisco): Supporting mission-critical clinical and Trust systems with high throughput and disaster recovery capability * Distribution Layer (Cisco): Scalable and resilient aggregation for Trust and campus connectivity. * Access Layer (Cisco, Extreme): Managed wired connectivity across the Trust estate, providing reliable access for clinical and administrative users * Wi-Fi Infrastructure (Cisco & Extreme): High-density wireless coverage to support mobile devices, laptops, clinical equipment, and guest access * Network Access Control (Forescout): Policy-based access control, device profiling, and integration with security monitoring solutions * Firewall Services (Fortigate): Perimeter and internal segmentation firewalls, configured for high availability and compliant with Trust, NHS, and NCSC requirements * VPN Services (FortiClient & FortiAuthenticator): Secure remote access, MFA integration, and scalability to support hybrid working * Wide Area Network (WAN): Site-to-site connectivity across hospitals, community services, and cloud providers, with resilience, bandwidth optimisation, and QoS management * Emerging Technologies (e.g., GPON, SD-WAN): Capability to adopt and support evolving network technologies Additional requirements include: * Monitoring, Management, and Reporting Tools: Centralised NOC operations, SLA reporting, capacity planning, and integration with Trust monitoring systems * Future-Proofing and Scalability: Cloud readiness, multi-vendor integration, and support for NHS interoperability standards * Cyber Security and Compliance: Cyber resilience, vulnerability management, and compliance with NHS Digital, NCSC, and ISO27001 * Training and Knowledge Transfer: Provision of skills uplift and vendor certification to UHB IT staff * Lifecycle Management: Planning and execution of hardware refreshes, software updates, and end-of-life transitions

Planning Information

Potential suppliers are requested to respond to the requirements, as detailed in the Briefing Document UHB Network Support Sevices with confirmation of ability to meet the requirement, a description of how their product meets the requirement. Procurement Process The procurement process will be subject to further approvals and this Pre-Market Engagement Exercise will help form the tender process so currently, the route to market is unknown. Suppliers wishing to participate in this market engagement exercise and express an interest in this requirement should respond to the questionnaire via the online form on the Health Family Single eCommercial System Portal (Atamis) by 13:00 on Wednesday 29th October 2025. https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome Please search for C396618 To View documents please register interest and then navigate "My Proposals and quotes"

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d213
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067662-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72315000 - Data network management and support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
29 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BIRMINGHAM NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Contact Name
Andrew Gough
Contact Email
andrew.gough2@uhb.nhs.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B15 2GW
Post Town
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Edgbaston
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Edgbaston

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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