Resellers win spots on £1bn healthcare framework

Link 3 framework is organised by NHS Shared Business Services and is for the provision of IT hardware and services

Stone, XMA and Softcat are among the companies to be awarded spots on an NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) framework valued at £1bn.

The Link 3 framework is for the procurement of IT hardware and services and will run for four years. It replaces the Link 2 framework, which expires from 12 March 2021.

The framework is split into six Lots: Desktop PCs, laptop, tablets, specialist healthcare technology, printing and scanning hardware and a "one-stop shop" the latter of which is a list of suppliers who can provide two or more of the items together that are covered in the other five Lots.

Link 3 is a collaboration between NHS SBS and the North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative and will be available to the NHS and the wider public sector.

Other suppliers on the framework include Ricoh, CDW, SCC and Insight. Stone is listed in five of the six Lots and was previously on the Link 2 framework.

"Link 2 has been an important framework for us as a number of our key customers across the public sector and in higher education contract with us through it," stated Stone CEO Simon Harbridge.

"The NHS has faced unprecedented times over the past twelve months and has had to procure new IT hardware quickly to enable remote working and business as usual for staff. The Link 3 framework allows the NHS and other public bodies access to a range of trusted, quality and compliant ICT solution providers."