---
title: "Merlok GP System of Choice (GPSoC)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02ef8d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02ef8d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02ef8d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02ef8d.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATION I T S"
published: "2021-10-25"
---

# Merlok GP System of Choice (GPSoC)

Buyer: BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATION I T S  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02ef8d

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## Summary

The Business Services Organisation I T S is conducting a tender for the "Merlok GP System of Choice (GPSoC)", classified under IT services, specifically consulting, software development, and support, with the procurement process currently in the Award stage. This procurement is critical as existing IT services used by 26 GP practices in Northern Ireland are due to expire in March 2022, creating an urgent need for uninterrupted service. The tender was awarded on 25 October 2021, and the procurement method employed was a limited process, conducted through negotiation without a public contract notice, due to the specific technical requirements of the services involved.

This opportunity presents significant potential for growth, especially for businesses that specialise in IT service provision, software development, and support tailored for health services. Suppliers capable of meeting the stringent compatibility and interoperability requirements of the Crosscare clinical system will find a competitive advantage. The current dependency of GP practices on the Merlok system for efficient patient management underscores the necessity for seamless integration of hardware and software solutions, making it essential for competitors to align their offerings with these operational needs in order to secure contracts in the future.

## Notice

Currently there are 26 practices in NI that use Crosscare. Given the dependency on IT in General Practice, stopping these services would very significantly impact on the ability of the 26 Crosscare GP practices to provide GMS services. Practices would be unable to access patient histories or record consultations against an electronic patient record. They would also be unable to interface electronically with other HSC systems - E.g. lab results, radiology reports, registration links, Emergency Care Summary, Key Information Summary, Electronic Document Transfer, GPIP etc. - so reintroducing delay and inaccuracy in patient care.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Currently there are 26 NI GP practices using the Crosscare GP clinical system for patient management. The systems, provided to practices by HSCB in line with the provision of GMS services through the 2003 GMS Contract, were procured via Orders from the NIGPSoC Lot 1 Framework Agreement and will now expire March 2022. The prime contractor for Crosscare Lot 1 services is currently One Advanced, who deliver the solution in Northern Ireland through a local company Merlok. To enable the Crosscare system to meet the needs of the practices, it must interoperate with other specific hardware and software - such as patient check-in and patient call systems. This "additional" hardware and software, previously supplied by Merlok under the "TPA13-1200640" agreement, must be compatible with the Crosscare clinical system if it is to function correctly. The procurement and use of hardware and software provided by anyone other than Merlok introduces significant risk of failure and disruption to practices due to the high potential for incompatibility between this hardware and software and the Crosscare system. Further, Merlok is currently responsible for the Crosscare clinical system and for the specific hardware and software. The responsibility for resolving any issues of interoperability between these components rests solely with Merlok. The supply of such hardware and software by an additional 3rd party would introduce risk and uncertainty into the support process where it is likely that both suppliers would blame each other for any failures, so delaying resolution and prolonging disruption to practices. This pairing of Crosscare with the specific hardware and software is in place in the 26 practices. To ensure that the equipment continues to operate as intended, the supply of replacement hardware components, as well as relevant engineering services, is required. The supply of incompatible components or the provision of engineering services by non Merlok engineers significantly increases the risk of failure and prolonging disruption to practices. Given the close alignment of the specific hardware and software with the Crosscare system, training on these can only be provided by Merlok.

### Procurement Information

BSO ITS are in the process of creating a Framework through GP IT Futures. This was due to happen in 2021 unfortunately, the on boarding of systems and services onto the GP IT Futures Catalogue in England was delayed, in part due to covid pressures. This delay has had a knock on effect on the necessary assessment of all options within the NI procurement strategy. The NI procurement strategy is now being finalised and procurement planning now shows that the new NI contracts should be in place by March 2023 or shortly thereafter. The justification for this DAC, therefore, is to ensure the existing services continue uninterrupted until those services can be procured through contracts established by the on-going procurement process.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026656-2021 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Negotiated without publication of a contract notice |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 25 Oct 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 24 Oct 2021 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATION I T S |
| Locality | BELFAST |
| Post town | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT1 4JE |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast |
| Local authority | Belfast |
| Electoral ward | Central |
| Westminster constituency | Belfast South and Mid Down |
| Delivery location | TLN Northern Ireland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | MERLOK SYSTEMS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

## Release History

- 25 Oct 2021 at 13:21 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026656-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.hscbusiness.hscni.net

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02ef8d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02ef8d.json.