National News
Department of Health (National)
Capita named as NHS Choices preferred bidder
The Department of Health today announced that Capita is the preferred bidder for the NHS Choices contract for the next three years.
NHS Choices was launched in June 2007 as the NHS's online presence to provide patients, carers and the public with accurate and up-to-date health information.
Usage of the site continues to grow, with approximately 2.5 million visits in June 2008, an increase of approximately 35% since the start of the year.
The initial 18-month contract to establish and run the NHS Choices service was won by Dr Foster Intelligence. This contract is due to end in August 2008.
Re-procurement for the contract commenced in late 2007 and has been conducted under the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) Restricted Process. Over 70 expressions of interest were received, with 16 organisations submitting Pre-Qualification Questionnaires. Six organisations were subsequently asked to tender for the contract.
The contract is expected to commence in early autumn.
Notes to editors
1. NHS Choices is an online service designed to provide patients, carers and the public with all the information they need to stay healthy and to make decisions about the health and care services they need. Developed by the Department of Health in conjunction with health professionals, NHS Choices is fulfilling the transformational government agenda and meeting the needs of a 21st-century service in health and social care. More information can be found at http://www.nhs.uk
2. The three year contract is worth between £60 - £80 million
3. The organisations short-listed were Capita, Doctor Foster Intelligence (DFI), IBM, Serco and TATA.