HIQA is seeking to procure new information technology (IT) managed services to support its operations, with a contract cost of up to €7 million.
The tender, which was issued in August, sought a provider to deliver comprehensive IT support and management services over an initial three-year contract, with the possibility of two one-year extensions.
HIQA is seeking to modernise and strengthen its technology systems as it continues to expand its regulatory and advisory work in health and social care. The new managed services contract is designed to ensure reliable day-to-day IT support, secure data management, and a smoother transition to cloud-based systems.
The successful contractor will provide level 1, level 2, and level 3 IT support, covering service desk operations, onsite assistance and advanced infrastructure management. Optional services, including network management and patching, may also be drawn down when required.
HIQA employs approximately 500 staff, many of whom work remotely or in the field, inspecting and monitoring care services.
According to tender documents, the new IT contract will support this hybrid working model by maintaining service continuity, cybersecurity, and “user satisfaction” across all locations, including Cork, Dublin, and Galway.
“HIQA currently has a majority of on-premise legacy systems, with a mix of virtual and physical infrastructure,” the tender stated.
“There is a high dependency on manual intervention and limited automation across service delivery, all while demands for mobile access and secure collaboration tools increase.”
The Authority has been moving away from traditional IT systems towards a cloud-first operating model, using platforms such as Microsoft Azure and ServiceNow.
It is expected that the successful provider will use the HIQA-managed ServiceNow to provide its services.
The response to the tender is currently being evaluated.
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