NPfIT deal draws closer

£10m e-booking contract to be awarded in next few weeks

The NHS National Programme for IT (NPfIT) is on the verge of awarding the £10m contract for its e-booking system - one of its four key projects - following Fujitsu's exit from the tender process.

Although the NPfIT said a formal announcement will be made in the next few weeks, the award is a forgone conclusion, according to sources.

EDS, Fujitsu and SchlumbergerSema were competing but EDS has been deselected and Fujitsu is also out of the tendering process.

Gordon Davies, commercial director at reseller Compusys, said the naming of a major supplier will end channel uncertainties. But he was sceptical about resellers' role. "I still think we will be excluded by the major suppliers," he said.

Robert Morgan, chief executive of consultancy Morgan Chambers, was sympathetic.

He said: "In these deals VARs are often the last suppliers to join. It's difficult because they need to start building relationships."