Planning

BCHC Secure WAN

BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

07 Jan 2026 at 16:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is in the planning stage of a public procurement process for the project titled "BCHC Secure WAN." This initiative, under the legal basis of the 2023 Public Contracts Regulations, aims to address wide area network (WAN) services, identified under the industry category of "services" with CPV code 72720000. Located in Birmingham, the procurement collaborates with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and the Birmingham and Solihull GP Partnership Support Unit. The buyer seeks to enhance WAN infrastructure to address existing challenges such as capacity limitations and security gaps, supporting enhanced cyber security and data access. Potential suppliers are invited to engage in a market engagement process by 28th January 2026, with the contract spanning from February 2027 to January 2029, with the possibility of renewal.

This tender represents a promising opportunity for companies specialising in WAN services, especially those accommodating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs). Businesses with capabilities in digital transformation, cloud services, and cyber security will find this opportunity aligns with their expertise. Participation in the preliminary market engagement stage could pave the way for further collaboration and involvement in redefining and consolidating network services for healthcare organisations, thereby potentially expanding a firm's footprint within the public healthcare sector. Engaging in this opportunity could lead to significant business growth through the enhancement of digital infrastructure services in the healthcare domain.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

BCHC Secure WAN

Notice Description

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC), Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT), and Birmingham and Solihull GP Partnership Support Unit (GPPSU) are reviewing their WAN infrastructure both individually and collaboratively, aiming to develop a future blueprint for the ICB and ICS. This process involves testing the market to identify the design requirements for the Trusts are accurate. Driven by NHS England's 10 Year Plan and improving the Trusts' Cyber Security posture, the aim of the collaboration is to build on previous investments in digital transformation and national strategies like Cloud First and Zero Trust. The collaboration will enable federated access and authentication across the ICB, supporting cross Trust clinical services. Currently, each Trust operates separate WANs with varying levels of service and infrastructure challenges, such as capacity limitations, inconsistent Wi-Fi, security gaps, and operational inefficiencies. These issues affect clinical operations, staff productivity, and patient care, causing delays, increased risks, and frustration. By working together, the Trusts are looking to establish a robust digital foundation, meeting today's needs and enabling ubiquitous data access for staff across an innovative and community based ICB. WAN services at the three Trusts are currently delivered through three separate contracts utilising a variety of technologies.

Planning Information

Potential suppliers are requested to respond to the full requirements, as detailed in BCHC Secure WAN - Market Engagement docx. with confirmation of ability to meet the requirement, a description of how their product meets the requirement, and which module (if applicable) the requirement is met with. Suppliers must provide estimated costs for their product. 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 28th January 2026. https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome Please search for C411474 To View documents please register interest and then navigate "My Proposals and quotes"

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060145
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001188-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72720000 - Wide area network services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
28 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 31 Jan 2029 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
BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Contact Name
Uzodimma Okonkwo
Contact Email
uzodimma.okonkwo@uhb.nhs.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B7 4BN
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
Nechells
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

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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