IBM becomes approved supplier for NI Department of Health

IBM has been announced that it has been selected as a framework supplier of servers and services to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in Northern Ireland.

It is hoped that by making a major contribution to the development of information and communications technology within the Health and Social Services, the deal will ultimately have positive benefits for patients and clients.

The bid process, spanning almost 18 months, involved 11 competing suppliers and was finally awarded last month. IBM was awarded the framework contract due to its local support and long-standing reputation of fulfilling its technology requirements. The Department was further impressed by IBM's roadmap for technology.

The contract with the DHSSPS covers the supply and maintenance of servers, and providing potential services such as: maintenance, technical support, database support and others. The framework contract will be in place for the next three to five years.

The Directorate of Information Services (DIS) negotiated the contract with IBM on behalf of the DHSSPS. Garry Williams, Director of Information Systems, DHSSPS, said: "I am pleased to have IBM as one of the two successful companies on the Server and Services Framework Contract. The framework contract is an important tool for the delivery of the objectives in the new HPSS ICT Strategy (Information and Communications Technology) which is under development.

"The contract represents an opportunity for IBM, in conjunction with the HPSS (Health and Personal Social Services), to make a major improvement to the infrastructure and systems currently deployed in the HPSS. This will ultimately make a positive contribution to the care that patients and clients receive."

This is IBM's third framework deal with the DHSSPS in a history of 10 years working together, and IBM is the only ICT supplier to have been awarded three consecutive framework contracts by the Department. (MB)