Cross O’Cliff
Bracebridge Heath
Lincoln
LN4 2HN
Tel.: 01522 513355
Date:13 November 2015
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – DECISION NOTICE
Dear Sir/Madam,
FOI Reference Number: 2651-15
I refer to your email of 4 November 2015 requesting information in respect of Software Development & Testing.
I can confirm on behalf of Lincolnshire CCGs and in accordance with S.1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) that we do hold the information that you have requested. A response to each element of your request is detailed below on behalf of the following organisations:
Lincolnshire West CCG
Lincolnshire East CCG
Lincolnshire South CCG
Lincolnshire South West CCG
1. Who is part of your software development and testing framework?
Any bespoke software development would come from our primary IT, Informatics and Business Intelligence (BI) provider:- Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit NHS.
The same organisation is responsible for the testing framework. Responsibilities would include testing compatibility / reliance on other platforms, software, application delivery systems, OS versions and other reliant IT systems.
2. What is your spend annually for development and testing of software?
Financials are part of the overall costs for IT, Informatics and BI Service level agreement and cannot be broken down further from the overall costs of several functional team services across the 3 directorates of Arden and GEM CSU
3. Can you confirm if any further regional frameworks exist for such services in addition to the framework referred to in question 1?
Suppliers exists (both internally within the NHS and external) but no known regional frameworks to adhere to currently.
4. When are the framework(s) referred to in question 1 and/or question 3 subject to re-procurement?
In line with Service Level Agreement renewal dates with Arden and GEM CSU (is part of bundle of services supplied for overall IT support, Informatics and BI).
However, the organisation is within its rights to purchase additional software development and testing if it so required i.e. for a large scale project or development.
5. Who is your point of contact for IT procurement?
Alistair Middleton Head of IT Business - Arden and GEM CSU NHS 01332 404105
I trust that this answers your queries with the information we currently hold, but if I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to
Arden & GEM Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit
FOI TEAM
Cross O’Cliff Court
Lincoln
LN4 2NH
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the CCGs.
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioners Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF, telephone 0845 630 6060, email
All information we have provided is subject to the provisions of the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015. Accordingly, if the information has been made available for re-use under the Open Government Licence (OGL) a request to re-use is not required, but the licence conditions must be met. You must not re-use any previously unreleased information without having the consent from the CCG. Should you wish to re-use previously unreleased information then you must make your request in writing (email will suffice) to the FOI Lead via . All requests for re-use will be responded to within 20 working days of receipt.
Yours faithfully
FOI Manager
On behalf of
Lincolnshire West CCG
Lincolnshire East CCG
Lincolnshire South CCG
Lincolnshire South West CCG