Extending the use of the Pulse, Blood Establishment Computer System (BECS) and support

NORTHERN IRELAND BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

09 Jun 2026 at 14:42

Award

09 Jun 2026 at 08:14

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process facilitated by the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS) involves a direct award for extending the use of the Pulse, Blood Establishment Computer System (BECS), which is a critical IT service in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The procurement, categorised under IT services like consulting and software development, is in the award stage as of 9th June 2026, covering a contract period from 1st July 2026 to 30th June 2027. The legal basis follows UKPGA 2023/54, reflecting the necessity of a seamless transition to a new system. The supplier selected for this contract is Savant Limited, and the contract is valued at £400,000, with a standstill period concluding on 19th June 2026.

This tender provides a significant opportunity for IT consulting and solutions providers, particularly those with expertise in system support and maintenance. Given its complexity and the direct procurement method, businesses with a robust understanding of IT infrastructure, especially those experienced with legacy systems, will find this project aligns with their services. SMEs, such as Savant Limited, are well-positioned for such tenders, demonstrating the potential for small to medium enterprises to expand their portfolios through government contracts that emphasise specialised IT support roles. The niche focus on healthcare IT systems further underscores opportunities for businesses operating in the health technology sector to foster growth and innovation.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Extending the use of the Pulse, Blood Establishment Computer System (BECS) and support

Notice Description

Provision of development, support and maintenance for the business-critical NIBTS system, PULSE, pending completion of a project and cutover to replace this system. This procurement will ensure continuity of an essential NIBTS services until full implementation of a replacement system under new contractual arrangements.

Procurement Information

The overall architecture of the system is based on ltanium-based servers running the OpenVMS operating environment. A Mimer database system provides the core data management environment, with an n-tier approach of a Windows business layer server and Windows client applications providing access to the system to end users. The nature of the relationship with NHSBT, access to source code for the ongoing development of the system, and the capability to support the overall system in an end-to-end manner results in all support an development work on the NIBTS Pulse system being exclusively delivered by Savant.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b05f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054397-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award 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
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Jun 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
8 Jun 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORTHERN IRELAND BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT9 7TS
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Blackstaff
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SAVANT

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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