N3 Short-list Announced

The National Programme for IT in the NHS (NPfIT) has announced the shortlist of bidders selected for the New National Network (N3) contract for a new broadband network for the NHS due to be awarded by March 2004.

Three suppliers have been shortlisted: BT, Cable & Wireless and EDS. BT and Cable & Wireless are existing suppliers of the NHSnet network currently used by the NHS. The organisations were shortlisted from a total of eight bidders who had previously been issued a preliminary invitation to negotiate.

The bidders are competing for the N3 contract to provide and manage networking services for the NHS as a National Infrastructure Service Supplier (NISP).

The NISP will be required to provide continuity of service as the existing NHSnet contracts come to an end and will provide the future connectivity and bandwidth required by the NHS.

Although one organisation will be awarded the seven to ten year N3 contract, the NISP will be responsible for purchasing and integrating local and national services. They will be required to participate in the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTIs) Broadband Aggregation Initiative, part of the Broadband Britain policy, to accelerate the roll-out of broadband connectivity across the UK.

The N3 service provider will be expected to purchase broadband connectivity through nine Regional Aggregation Boards (RABs).

To secure best value for money and ensure future flexibility, the N3 service provider will be expected to follow a ‘best of breed’ commercial model, in which it will award flexible short-term contracts to small and large companies.

N3 is intended to provide the key underpinning infrastructure for the NPfIT, upon which the applications of e-booking, integrated care records and electronic transfer of prescriptions all depend. N3 services will be available at every site where NHS services are delivered or managed.

NPfIT made the initial call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC) on 5 June 2003.