---
title: "OpenAthens Authentication"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-054826"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-054826"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-054826.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-054826.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DIGITAL HEALTH & CARE WALES"
published: "2026-01-13"
---

# OpenAthens Authentication

Buyer: DIGITAL HEALTH & CARE WALES  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-054826

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-054826.json)

## Summary

Digital Health & Care Wales has completed the procurement process for the "OpenAthens Authentication" service, a project in the IT services industry, specifically focusing on consulting, software development, Internet and support. The process involved a direct award to JISC SERVICES LTD, executed to ensure the NHS Wales e-Library users maintain seamless access to resources without fixed location/IP address constraints. The procurement was managed under the Welsh devolved regulations, with a final contract signed on 23rd July 2025, covering the period until 30th June 2028, with potential extensions up to 2030. Located in Cardiff, the buying organisation oversees the continuation of OpenAthens as a critical function for remote authentication, necessary for maintaining NHS Wales's digital infrastructure and service delivery.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved in IT services. It highlights the growing market demand for secure, integrated authentication solutions essential for remote and flexible working conditions. Businesses capable of providing robust and scalable authentication services, especially those with ties to healthcare digital solutions, would find themselves well-positioned to compete in similar procurements. The contract underlines the critical importance of maintaining cutting-edge security standards and system integration capabilities in the healthcare sector, paving the way for specialists in these fields to expand their offerings to public sector organisations.

## Notice

OpenAthens Authentication for NHS Wales e-Library Users not based at a fixed location/IP address

### Procurement Information

OpenAthens remains essential to ensuring continuous and secure access to NHS Wales e resources, a capability that has been in place since 2003 and remains fundamental to service delivery. The previous contract was due to expire on 30th June 2025, the awarded arrangement ensures there is no interruption to access or risk to operational continuity. OpenAthens is a trusted third party authentication solution that is already fully integrated within NHS Wales infrastructure and now works seamlessly with the Entra directory system. This integration continues to provide user friendly, efficient access by allowing staff to authenticate without repeated log ins when using authorised devices. Maintaining this level of accessibility after award is critical for supporting staff productivity and reducing technical barriers to resource use. The shift towards remote and flexible working across NHS Wales further reinforces the ongoing need for OpenAthens. Remote authentication capability is now a business critical function. Without OpenAthens, NHS Wales would lose the ability to support secure off site access to e Library resources, significantly affecting staff who rely on these tools for clinical decision making, training and daily operational tasks. Post award, reliance on alternative authentication methods particularly IP based access, would be inappropriate. IP authentication is outdated, insecure, and unable to verify user identity or support department specific access. Continuing to use OpenAthens ensures precise, auditable access control aligned with NHS Wales information governance and cyber security standards. Maintaining OpenAthens under the awarded contract therefore remains justified by the ongoing need for secure, flexible and remote access to NHS Wales digital resources. This supports both user security and the continuity of essential NHS Wales services.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002803-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 13 Jun 2025 |
| Contract period | 22 Jul 2025 - 30 Jun 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £157,820 |
| Contracts value | £157,820 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DIGITAL HEALTH & CARE WALES |
| Locality | CARDIFF |
| Post town | Cardiff |
| Postcode | CF11 9AD |
| Country | Wales |
| ITL 1 | TLL Wales |
| ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales |
| ITL 3 | TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan |
| Local authority | Cardiff |
| Electoral ward | Riverside |
| Westminster constituency | Cardiff West |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | JISC SERVICES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 13 Jan 2026 at 16:03 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002803-2026
- 10 Jul 2025 at 09:54 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038847-2025
- 13 Jun 2025 at 07:46 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032121-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002803-2026
  13th January 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038847-2025
  10th July 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032121-2025
  13th June 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-10229

## Notice URLs

- https://dhcw.nhs.wales/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-054826. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-054826.json.