Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2022-01-19
Buyer: SYKEHUSINNKJØP HF
Country: NO
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Contract award without prior publication
CPV classification: 48100000 | 48510000 | 72220000: Systems and technical consultancy services | 72260000: Software-related services
Estimated value: 3300000 NOK

Technical requirements: Voluntary ex-ante transparency notice for the procurement of a central message server for patient signalling as well as integration with the central message server for patient signalling systems that are already installed in each health trust in Helse Nord.
Voluntary ex-ante transparency notice for the procurement of a central message server for patient signalling as well as integration with the central message server for patient signalling systems that are already installed in each health trust in Helse Nord. The procurement's total value is estimated to be NOK 3,300,000 excluding VAT for the procurement and subsequent maintenance of the system for three years. Sykehusinnkjøp HF is assisting Helse Nord IKT HF with the procurement.
Helse Nord IKT HF intends to sign a contract with Ascom (Norway) AS for the delivery of a central message server for patient signalling, as well as integration with the central message server for patient signalling systems that are already installed in each health trust in Helse Nord. The procurement's total value is estimated to be NOK 3,300,000 excluding VAT for the procurement and subsequent maintenance of the system for three years. Sykehusinnkjøp HF is assisting Helse Nord IKT HF with the procurement.
The contracting authority believes there is a legal basis to make the procurement without a contest in accordance with the public procurement regulations dated 12 August 2016 no. 974, section 13-4 letter c. The contract is for additional deliveries from the installation's original supplier, Ascom. The contract will expand the existing patient signalling installations from Ascom with a joint, central message server. A change of supplier would force Helse Nord IKT to procure systems that will make the operation of them disproportionately technically difficult. Furthermore, the patient signalling installations that have already been established in the hospitals cannot be changed as they are seen as an integrated part of the hospital's infrastructure.
The health trusts in Helse Nord currently use patient signalling installations from Ascom AS, with the exception of Nordland Hospital Trust, which uses a system delivered by Best Teleprodukter AS. Due to an alteration of the telephony system, where telephone exchanges from, amongst others, Cisco will be phased out, there is a need to transmit alarms to the final user equipment via WiFi and the 4G mobile network. A proof of concept was carried out in 2019 when a central message server from Ascom was integrated with the Ascom patient signalling installations in selection locations.
HN IKT HF would now like to procure the system that was tested in order to solve the challenges of message communication via WiFi and 4G equipment in the hospitals. Patient signalling and communication of this to health personnel is a critical function in hospitals. As stable operation of the patient signalling system is vital, Helse Nord IKT believes that there should only be one main supplier. The assessment is, therefore, that to install alternative systems for message communication from new suppliers would give disproportionately difficult operation, as well as increase the risk due to split responsibility. After a total assessment of vulnerability, technical complexity, consideration to a homogenised patient signalling system, and overall responsibility for operation and maintenance, HN IKT HF is of the opinion that it does not want to split the operation of the vital system between several suppliers.
The contract will be signed 10 days after the publication of the voluntary ex-ante transparency notice at the earliest.


Winner: Ascom Norway As
Award value: 3300000