Official UK procurement notice
Anti Coagulation System · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Trust intends to make a direct award to DAWN Health for the provision of an anticoagulation clinical information system following the planned withdrawal of the incumbent RAID system, which will no longer be supported after 30 November 2026. A review of the available UK market identified that DAWN AC is the only solution capable of meeting the Trust’s essential clinical, operational, and technical requirements for an acute NHS anticoagulation service, including the safe management of both warfarin and direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) patients at scale and integration with existing Trust systems. Alternative systems were assessed and confirmed as unsuitable due to limitations in functionality and interoperability. The proposed award will ensure continuity of a critical, high‑risk clinical service supporting approximately 7,000 patients and avoid disruption to patient care. On this basis, and as no reasonable alternative or substitute exists within the required timeframe, the Trust has concluded that a direct award to DAWN Health is appropriate.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Awarded
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 5 May 2026, 10:50 BST
- Last source update
- 5 May 2026, 10:50 BST
- Authority reference
C444337- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-040889- Latest notice
- Transparency notice (UK5)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-069106Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
- Published justification
-Following an assessment of the UK market, DAWN AC has been identified as the only supplier able to meet the Trust’s mandatory technical, clinical, and interoperability requirements for an acute NHS anticoagulation service. Other systems assessed do not provide the necessary functionality to safely manage both warfarin and direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) patients at scale, nor do they support required integrations with existing Trust electronic patient record and laboratory systems. This constitutes an absence of genuine competition for technical reasons.
-Alternative systems were reviewed and determined not to be reasonable substitutes, as they are primarily designed for primary care or low‑volume use and lack essential features required in an acute hospital setting, including comprehensive DOAC management, automated dosing support, patient communication functionality, and full system interoperability. As such, no alternative solution can meet the Trust’s minimum requirements without unacceptable clinical, operational, and patient safety risk.
- The incumbent RAID system is being withdrawn and will no longer be supported after 30 November 2026. The Trust must implement a replacement system within a defined timeframe to ensure continuity of a critical, high‑risk clinical service supporting approximately 7,000 patients. A competitive procurement would not deliver a viable alternative solution and would not change the outcome, as only one supplier is capable of meeting the Trust’s requirements. The direct award is therefore proportionate and necessary.
- Risks
If the system is not replaced, the Trust will be unable to safely operate the anticoagulation service once the RAID system is withdrawn and support ends, as there would be no viable mechanism to manage dosing, monitoring, reviews, or patient records for a high‑risk medication pathway. This would likely result in suspension or closure of the service, creating significant patient safety risks, loss of continuity of care for approximately 7,000 patients, and potential clinical harm. In addition, the Trust would face a loss of associated income, workforce disruption, and reputational and regulatory risk arising from the inability to meet its clinical and statutory obligations.
Notice history
2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 5 May 2026- Transparency notice published5 May 2026, 10:50 BSTUK5
- Contract signature expected27 May 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4S Information Systems Limited29 May 2026 – 28 May 2027 | £121,000 | — | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- 4S DAWN CLINICAL SOFTWAREAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender