Solgari awarded £2.9m contract for part of Wales’ contact-tracing solution

A business communications company has been awarded a £2.9 million contract for the provision of a telephony and digital engagement system to work within Wales’ contact tracing solution.

Solgari will support the delivery of Ca, the contact tracing solution to be used in Wales in response to Covid-19.

The company was required to integrate their system with the contact tracing solution within 48 hours of the contract being awarded on 29 May.

The telephony and digital engagement contract covered the purchase of 3,000 licences and services required for contact tracers to contact those in Wales believed to have come into contact with the virus.

The solution would enable all communication and functionality through Microsoft Dynamics, including voice, chat, SMS, compliance and security, according to the tender notice.

This would enable the Dynamics CRM to be accessed and used by call handlers whether they are based in local authorities, health boards, trusts or other locations.

Solgari already offers an all-channel communications solution for Dynamics 365. It was the only bidder for the contract.

England, Scotland and Wales are implementing their own tracing systems, with a contact-tracing app developed by NHSX expected to cover the whole of the UK.

England’s track and trace service was launched on 28 May without the much-anticipated app despite it being a key part of the service according to ministers.

The app was originally expected to be rolled-out in mid-May after a pilot on the Isle of Wight launched on 4 May. Health secretary Matt Hancock and NHSX chief Matthew Gould have both publicly committed to a May rollout.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson then said the test and trace system would be implemented by June, later than the app was originally expected.

Upon launching the test and trace system last week, The Department of Health and Social Care reiterated previous government responses that the app would be ready “in the coming weeks”.

The Scottish government was trialling contact-tracing software in three trusts, with further roll out expected in two weeks. The Welsh government planed to have its tracing system in place by the end of May, but will also be using the app developed by NHSX.

Scotland’s Test and Protect system was rolled out on 28 May, supported by software that builds on a “tried and tested” platform.

Similar to England’s system, contact tracers will contact people believed to have been exposed to the virus, requiring them to isolate.