Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2021-08-02
Buyer: Health Service Executive (HSE)
Country: IE
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Negotiated without a prior call for competition
CPV classification: 48200000 | 72000000 | 72212200: Networking software programming services | 72400000
Estimated value: 145000 EUR
Award criteria: Lowest price

Technical requirements: here was an urgent need post cyber attack for equipment and consultancy days to be purchased to facilitate the provisioning of URL Internet  filtering services within the HSE.  This involved the acquisition of a new checkpoint box, upgrading of the Cork appliances and alignment of the boxes to a single policy. This had to happen immediately to be ready for when it was decided that the internet service could be re-enabled.
In the early hours of Friday 14th May 2021, the HSE became aware of a major cyber-attack which severely impacted ICT services across the HSE, voluntary hospitals and other organisations which rely on HSE infrastructure such as Tusla. The HSE’s ICT systems were impacted through the criminal infiltration of these systems using Conti Ransomware. As a result, all HSE ICT systems were shut down before 8am on Fri 14th May. This event was thought to be the most serious cyber-attack on the country’s critical infrastructure and a major incident response was triggered by HSE.
Healthcare services across the country were severely disrupted with real and immediate consequences for the thousands of people who require health services every day.
Given the seriousness of this attack and the impact it had on those people who are dependent on health services, the Board of the HSE immediately began work on putting in place an effective cyber-security incident-response team (CSIRT). Clear roles and responsibility were established which enabled internal coordination and fostered a united approach. The CSIRT acted as the recognised point for external coordination. The process was designed with a focus on damage-limitation to the HSE’s services, its data assets, its network, and its application infrastructure.
Post cyber attack, there was an urgent need for equipment and consultancy days to be purchased to facilitate the provisioning of URL internet filtering services within the HSE.  This involved the acquisition of a new checkpoint box, upgrading of the Cork appliances and alignment of the boxes to a single policy. This had to happen immediately to be ready for when it was decided that the internet service could be re-enabled.
HSE used the negotiated procedure without prior publication in accordance with Article 32(2)(c) of Directive 2014/24/EU to award this contract. The HSE is satisfied the tests permitting use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication (Article 32(2)(c)) were met, as set out below.
The Authority was responding to the Cyber-attack immediately because of public health risks presenting a genuine emergency.
The extent of the Conti Ransomware attack is thought to be the most serious cyber-attack on the country’s critical infrastructure. The level of impairment on hospitals, and other health institutions to provide treatment, could, certainly, not be foreseen and planned in advance, and thus constitute an unforeseeable event for the contracting authorities.
It cannot be doubted that the immediate needs of the hospitals and health institutions to have their ICT systems effectively restored had to be met with all possible speed. It was judged to be a situation of extreme urgency making compliance with general deadlines impossible. Procurement following the usual timescales under Directive 2014/24/EU, including accelerated options, was impossible in this case as these timescales would not meet the public health needs and would put lives at risk.
As documented above, the Conti Ransomware attack is the most serious cyber-attack on the country’s critical infrastructure and presented a serious risk to human life. The HSE acted proportionately and without delay in its response to this most serious cyber-attack.


Winner: Arkphire Security Ltd
Award value: 145000
Number of bids: 1