Award

Confidential Staff Liaison and Freedom To Speak Up Services

NHS HIGHLAND

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

05 Aug 2025 at 00:00

Award

02 Aug 2023 at 00:00

Summary of the contracting process

NHS Highland, located in Inverness, UKM6, is overseeing the procurement process titled "Confidential Staff Liaison and Freedom To Speak Up Services". This procurement falls under the services category and is specifically tailored for the NHS Highland Area. The procurement method adopted is a limited procedure, which does not require prior publication of a call for competition. The contract was awarded on 1st August 2023 and is valid until 30th November 2025. Award updates indicate that The Guardian Service Ltd., which has collaborated with NHS Highland since 2020, is the selected supplier. The tender aims to continue providing an independent channel for raising colleague concerns, aligned with National Whistleblowing standards initiated in 2020. This extension accommodates NHS Highland’s transition of some services in-house during the contract period, offering a flexible option to extend by another 12 months if needed.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialized in staff liaison and whistleblowing services to engage with a key player in the healthcare industry, NHS Highland. The Guardian Service Ltd. has established its expertise in this niche service, creating a benchmark for similar enterprises looking to expand their footprint or forge partnerships within the healthcare sector. SMEs or larger organisations with technical solutions tailored to NHS operational standards may find opportunities for collaboration or competitive insights by analysing the specific requirements and unique technical positioning of The Guardian Service Ltd. The procurement method underscores the critical demand for specialised services not widely available, stimulating innovation and encouraging businesses to cultivate similar competencies for future engagements.

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Notice Title

Confidential Staff Liaison and Freedom To Speak Up Services

Notice Description

NHS Highland requires the provision of Confidential Staff Liaison and Freedom to Speak up Services for NHS staff.

Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS Highland have been providing a Guardian / Speak up service since 2020, as recommended in the Sturrock review, this is to provide an independent channel for colleague concerns to be raised where other channels have not worked or cannot be used. This service was aligned to include the National Whistleblowing standards in NHS Highland also in 2020. The market was reviewed and the only established provider of this service that we have identified with appropriate and relevant NHS specific experience is The Guardian Service. The Guardian Service has been working with NHS Highland for the past three years and NHS Highland would like to continue to provide this service to its employees for a further 12 months with the option to extend for up to another 12 months.

Procurement Information

This procurement is unique in that the provider is offering a technical solution, based on it's specific positioning and experience, the likes of which is not available elsewhere in exactly the form that we desire to employ.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000735078
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG536262
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F20 - Modification Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

79633000 - Staff development services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£691,980 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Aug 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Jun 20232 years ago
Contract Period
1 Aug 2023 - 30 Nov 2025 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS HIGHLAND
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
nhsh.tenders@nhs.scot
Contact Phone
+44 7976911804

Buyer Location

Locality
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV2 3BW
Post Town
Inverness
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM6 Highlands and Islands

Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness South
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

THE GUARDIAN SERVICE

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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