This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

09 Jul 2026 at 08:41

Award

09 Jul 2026 at 08:14

Summary of the contracting process

The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has completed a direct award process for the provision of the FDB Multilex drug knowledge base, related to the Healthset Programme's Electronic Health and Care Record. The service contract, valued at approximately £3,477,936 gross, is awarded to First Databank UK Ltd and covers several UK regions including Taunton, Poole, Dorchester, and Exeter. This contract will commence on 22nd July 2026 and conclude on 31st March 2036. The procurement aligns with central government public authority classifications and is grounded in legal provisions under UKPGA 2023/54, executing the procurement directly due to the unique suitability and absence of competitive alternatives meeting specific technical requirements.

This tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses in the healthcare technology and software sectors, particularly those specialised in systems support and information systems integration. Companies involved in drug knowledge databases and electronic health record solutions are especially well-suited to engage with projects of this nature. While this particular procurement was awarded directly for technical reasons, similar future opportunities might arise for innovative businesses offering complementary technologies or services that could integrate with existing systems like Epic. The collaboration with NHS Trusts underscores the growing demand for sophisticated drug information systems and opens avenues for businesses involved in delivering comprehensive software solutions for healthcare optimisation.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Drug Knowledge Base for Electronic Health and Care Record

Notice Description

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust awarded a contract to First Data Bank (FDB)UK for the provision of FDB Multilex. Multilex is FDB UK's proprietary software which provides medicines optimisation and clinical decision support for medicines management for the purposes of embedding within the Healthset Programme for Epic electronic health and care record. FDB Multilex drug knowledge base is used in all UK Epic installations and is the only drug knowledge base product available with the core functionality required by encompass. The Authority is relying on egulation 32(2)(b)(ii) as the contract can only be supplied by FBD UK as competition is absent for technical reasons.

Procurement Information

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below The procurement falls outside the scope ofapplication of the regulations Explanation: First Data Bank (FDB) UK is the provider of Multilex. The FDB Multilex drug knowledge base embeds with existing Epic workflows to enable barcoded medicines administration, clinical decision support and inventory management. FDB Multilex drug knowledge base is used in all UK Epic installations and is the only drug knowledge base product available with the core functionality required by Healthset Programme. The Authority is relying on Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) as the contract can only be supplied by FBD UK as competition is absent for technical reasons.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c6f3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064487-2026
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
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

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


CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

72250000 - System and support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£2,898,280 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Jul 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Jul 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
21 Jul 2026 - 31 Mar 2036 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOMERSET NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Additional Buyers

DORSET COUNTY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

DORSET HEALTHCARE UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DORSET 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
TAUNTON
Postcode
TA1 5DA
Post Town
Taunton
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK63 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Electoral Ward
Canford Heath
Westminster Constituency
Mid Dorset and North Poole

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

FIRST DATABANK

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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