NHS North of England Commissioning Support Unit (Hosted by NHS England)

Contract Management Platform (Contrakta)

Contrakta offers a holistic solution designed to simplify the intricate processes of contract management within the NHS. Our platform facilitates the entire contract life-cycle, enabling customers to effectively monitor, analyse, and enhance their contractual obligations with efficiency.

Features

• Information Governance Oversight
• Contract Performance Assurance
• Thorough Audit Trail
• Contract Population Support
• Financial Efficiency and Insights
• Improved Oversights and Control
• Standard and Customised Reporting Functions

Benefits

• Enables standardised processes
• Improves audit and assurance capabilities
• Enhances reporting and monitoring at scale
• Supports planning, commissioning and procurement on a larger scale
• Drives efficiencies in financial planning and contract management
• Addresses current challenges like PSR (Procurement Legislation Changes)
• Boosts efficiency
• Mitigates risks effectively

£50,000.00 to £160,000.00 an instance

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at necsu.busdev@nhs.net. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

518648894687343

Contact

Business Development
0191 3751789
necsu.busdev@nhs.net

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: No
• Cloud deployment model: Private cloud
• Service constraints: In rare cases, any planned system maintenance scheduled between 8 am and 6 pm from Monday to Friday will be communicated to the customer at least two weeks in advance.
• System requirements:
  • Modern Internet browser access
  • Internet connection (2 Mbps minimum, 5 Mbps recommended)
  • Compatible Android or Apple device
  • Compatible mobile browsers

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: Within 2 working days
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: No
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
• Web chat support: No
• Onsite support: No
• Support levels: Throughout the implementation phase, the customer will receive robust support services. Post-launch, a dedicated maintenance and support system will be in place, tailored to meet the customer's ongoing needs. This includes a comprehensive wrap-around programme support wherever necessary.
• Support available to third parties: No

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Online training is available.; User documentation is provided.; Access to Support Staff is available during onboarding.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats: PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: Data is exported and submitted as a .csv file format.
• End-of-contract process: Data extraction is included in the service closure at no additional charge. Any documents or assets stored in the system will be returned in their original format without any extra fees.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: Different field size view
• Service interface: No
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• API: No
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: The following elements can be customised during implementation and throughout the service duration. Administrators with the necessary authority can make these customisation: Branding, Data lists, Notification/email template content, Page content and Feature configuration

Scaling

• Independence of resources: Rate limiting to provide even split of resources

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: System up-time, availability, and support response times
• Reporting types: Reports on request

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Staff screening not performed
• Government security clearance: None

Asset protection

• Knowledge of data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Data storage and processing locations: United Kingdom
• User control over data storage and processing locations: No
• Datacentre security standards: Managed by a third party
• Penetration testing frequency: At least once a year
• Penetration testing approach: ‘IT Health Check’ performed by a Tigerscheme qualified provider or a CREST-approved service provider
• Protecting data at rest: Encryption of all physical media
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Data sanitisation type: Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation
• Equipment disposal approach: A third-party destruction service

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: Data can be exported using the online reporting tool whenever required. Data is extracted as a CSV file.
• Data export formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data export formats: Excel (xlsx)
• Data import formats: Other
• Other data import formats: Excel (xlsx)

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks: TLS (version 1.2 or above)
• Data protection within supplier network: IPsec or TLS VPN gateway

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: We have a 99.99% network uptime guarantee.
• Approach to resilience: In a high-availability setup concerning server fail-overs, ANS provides support. If one server experiences downtime, another seamlessly takes over to ensure uninterrupted up-time.
• Outage reporting: We report outages via email and other communications or issues through online messaging via user dashboards. Any planned maintenance / outages are reported to customers at least 2 weeks in advance and typically take place between midnight to 3am on Saturday or Sunday mornings.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Access control lists and permission groups.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication:
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Username or password

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: At least 12 months
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: At least 12 months
• How long system logs are stored for: At least 12 months

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: BSI
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 26/04/22
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: 14.1.3 Protecting Application services transactions; 14.2.1 Secure development policy; 14.2.5 Secure development environment; 14.2.6 Outsourced development
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications: IG Toolkit Level 2

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards: ISO/IEC 27001
• Information security policies and processes: Our policies and procedures guarantee compliance with UK and NSA laws and professional standards, including the latest GDPR, Data Protection Act (DPA), Caldicott Principles, and the 10 Data Security Standards set by the National Data Guardian. We maintain an IG Toolkit score of Level 2 and our ICT service governance is supported by a team of engineers certified in ITIL version 3. We have passed the ISO/IEC 27001 certification surveillance audit - the international standard for information security management - achieving ISO 27001 accreditation.

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Configuration and change management approach: Full Configuration & Change Management - ITIL based approach utilising enterprise level ITSM tools.
• Vulnerability management type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Vulnerability management approach: Our vulnerability management processes follow an ITIL based approach utilising enterprise level ITSM tools.
• Protective monitoring type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Protective monitoring approach: Our protective monitoring processes follow and ITIL based approach utilising enterprise level ITSM tools.
• Incident management type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example, CSA CCM v3.0 or ISO/IEC 27035:2011 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Incident management approach: Our incident management processes follow an ITIL based approach utilising enterprise level ITSM tools.

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Supplier-defined process

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: No

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

  • Fighting climate change
  • Covid-19 recovery
  • Tackling economic inequality
  • Equal opportunity
  • Wellbeing

  Fighting climate change

  NECS is dedicated to assisting customers, though the delivery of our services, in achieving their strategic and operational objectives and ultimately enhancing outcomes and efficiency. ; ; Led by NECS' Organisational Development and Corporate Services Director our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Group, is responsible for ensuring we meet our CSR Strategy. Our Strategy underscores our commitment to environmental sustainability. We aim to achieve 'Net Zero' carbon emissions, within our control, by 2040 and 'Net Zero' for emissions, we can influence, by 2045. To fulfil this pledge, we continually adapt our processes, harnessing digital platforms to minimise emissions and resource consumption.; ; To digitalise service delivery, we leverage tools like SharePoint and Microsoft Teams to create accessible real-time digital collaboration workspaces. This fosters seamless communication and enables sharing of insights, comments, and revisions, whilst minimising our carbon footprint.; ; By embracing digitalisation processes and Artificial Intelligence, we enhance efficiency, accessibility, and collaboration, while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional paper-based processes.; ; We continuously monitor and analyse our environmental impact, employing proven continuous improvement techniques to mitigate any increase in emissions or resource consumption.; ; We commit to a 20% reduction in our carbon footprint, a 30% decrease in paper consumption, and a 15% improvement in overall operational efficiency.; ; Our method statement includes implementing cloud-based project management tools, minimising in-person meetings through Microsoft Teams, reducing paper usage by adopting electronic documentation, optimising travel routes to minimise transportation emissions, and transparently monitoring and reporting on Key Performance Indicators for continual improvement.; ; Our healthcare procurement team ensures compliance with the Social Value Act 2012, considering economic, social, and environmental factors in commissioning services. We support clients to achieve health improvements, reduce health inequalities, and meet Net Zero and Carbon Reduction targets. Our team have gained invaluable knowledge and experience which we utilise when delivering our solutions.

  Covid-19 recovery

  As an integral part of the NHS, NECS played a pivotal role in supporting NHS England, Integrated Care Boards and Foundation Trusts in navigating and recovering from the challenges posed by COVID-19. We took a proactive approach in managing resources and internal capacity, ensuring our customers received the necessary support to alleviate pressure on services. Despite pandemic restrictions, our employees swiftly adapted to new working methods, embracing innovation to meet evolving demands.; ; We continue our commitment in supporting COVID-19 recovery efforts in several ways:; 1. Providing Strategic Guidance: We offer guidance and support to navigate the complexities of COVID-19 recovery planning. This includes assisting the development and implementation of recover strategies tailored to each providers unique needs and challenges. ; 2. Delivering Operational Support: We provide operational support to help providers manage and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. This involves assisting with workforce planning, resource allocation and service redesign to meet challenging demands. ; 3. Facilitating Innovation: We encourage innovation in solution delivery to address the challenges posed by COVID-19. This includes supporting the adoption of digital solutions to improve efficiency. ; 4. Promoting Health and Well-being: Our mental health "first aiders" provide support and signposting to resources to promote physical and mental wellbeing. We collaborated with trade unions to develop a new framework for flexible working, reflecting our commitment to adaptability amidst COVID-19 and the recovery period. Our framework emphasises decentralisation from traditional office setups, prioritising wellbeing, and accelerating carbon footprint reduction efforts. ; ; NECS is dedicated to playing a proactive and supportive role in COVID-19 recovery efforts, leveraging its expertise, resources, and partnerships to help provider organisations and communities emerge stronger from the pandemic. We are keen to share our experiences and best practices with both providers and customers, fostering collaborative efforts toward sustainability and efficiency.

  Tackling economic inequality

  NECS, as an NHS organisation, is guided by core values of professionalism, honesty, integrity, and high-performance standards. We prioritise both short-term objectives and long-term sustainability, striving for a balance between acquired skills, employment opportunities, and societal impact.; ; Embracing a culture of continuous learning, we offer an online platform with diverse courses for NECS employees and customers. We track participation and completion rates to inform future course offerings, aiming for an 8% annual increase in course completions over the next two years.; ; Recognising the importance of hands-on experience, we launched the NECS100 Programme for Graduate trainees and Apprenticeships in 2020. In the first year, this programme saw the recruitment of 100 graduates and apprentices into our organisation. We continue to increase apprenticeships and graduate trainee opportunities annually, ensuring diversity in recruitment and providing mentorship for knowledge sharing and skill development.; ; We conduct periodic assessments of staff skills and expertise to identify gaps and areas for improvement. Collaborating with contracting authorities helps us tailor services to evolving customer needs. Our Business Development Team and members of our Executive Team have access to HSJ intelligence, which is a digital platform offering real-time information exchange. This helps us anticipate market needs and adapt the services that we provide accordingly. ; ; Feedback loops with customers provide insights into service effectiveness and emerging needs. ; ; Our method statement outlines ongoing efforts to enhance online learning platforms, strengthen apprenticeship programs, conduct needs assessments, and address inequalities in skill development. Through measurable Key Performance Indicators, we ensure transparency, accountability, and adaptability in achieving desired outcomes.; ; Overall, our skills policy aims to elevate the overall skill level of our workforce, bridge gaps, and reduce inequalities in skill development, creating a diverse, inclusive, and adaptable workforce prepared for the dynamic healthcare environment.

  Equal opportunity

  NECS is committed to addressing inequalities within our organisation, evidenced by our ongoing reporting against the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES). Through continuous efforts, we strive to enhance performance across all WRES and WDES indicators, gaining crucial insights into the challenges we face and working towards fostering a fairer, more inclusive workplace.; ; Our recruitment and selection policy reflects our commitment to positive discrimination through the Disability Confident scheme, ensuring that candidates are assessed solely based on their skills and relevant experiences. We take proactive measures to minimise opportunities for discrimination during recruitment by anonymising application forms and applying objective selection criteria. Furthermore, we maintain equitable pay across the organisation by adhering to NHS Agenda for Change pay rates.; ; Our training programmes prioritise Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect, creating an environment where diversity is celebrated, and equal opportunities are provided. We establish ground rules within teams to cultivate safe and inclusive learning environments, empowering every individual to realise their full potential.; ; To address inequality in training and development, we revamped our Talent Management Programme in 2020, offering stretch assignments and mentoring opportunities. Additionally, we introduced a 'reverse mentoring' programme, facilitating knowledge-sharing and enhancing employment prospects for colleagues from under-represented groups.; ; NECS focuses on enhancing experience, culture, and outcomes for all colleagues through an equality lens to support both protected and vulnerable groups. Leveraging insights from various reports and surveys, we have developed an Inclusion and Equality strategy encompassing communication pathways, workplace accessibility improvements, educational enhancements, workforce development support, and promotion of inclusive leadership.; ; These initiatives and policies are fundamental to our operations and will be upheld during the delivery of any call-off agreement. We remain open to sharing best practices with our suppliers and customers, fostering a culture of inclusivity and equity across our ecosystem.

  Wellbeing

  NECS prioritises good mental health and wellbeing among our employees, recognising the impact we have on wellbeing, longevity, physical health, and productivity. We are committed to implementing measures that encourage and promote a healthy workforce.; ; Our approach to managing health and wellbeing is integrated and comprehensive, overseen by our Health and Wellbeing Group who ensure that NECS takes a proactive and engaging stance towards enhancing the health and wellbeing of our employees, thereby fostering a supportive and nurturing work environment.; ; Our health and wellbeing champions play a pivotal role in promoting a culture that prioritises both the physical and mental health of our workforce. These champions not only support their colleagues but also receive support and development opportunities themselves, contributing to a mutually beneficial environment.; ; In line with our commitment to supporting mental health concerns, NECS has trained several employees as Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs). While MHFAs are not clinically trained in mental health treatment, they are equipped to recognise early signs of mental health issues and provide responsive assistance, including signposting individuals to appropriate support services.; ; To further support employee wellbeing, we offer an Employee Assistance Programme, providing access to online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness exercises for mental health, a virtual gym, advice on sleep and nutrition for physical health.; ; We encourage employees to engage in volunteering initiatives through allocated time and funding. Since launching this programme in July 2023, employees have reported improvements in self-esteem, confidence, and work-life balance, along with the opportunity to learn new skills.; ; These initiatives and policies are integral to our operations and will be upheld during the delivery of any call-off agreement. Furthermore, we are committed to sharing our best practices with suppliers and customers, fostering a collaborative approach to promoting mental health and wellbeing across our ecosystem.

Pricing

• Price: £50,000.00 to £160,000.00 an instance
• Discount for educational organisations: No
• Free trial available: No

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at necsu.busdev@nhs.net. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.