# Digital Primary Care Open Framework This page considers a possible procurement route for the clinical model developed earlier in the wiki. Read [DSIC](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/dsic/index.md) for capability and assurance terms and the [Tech Innovation Framework](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/tech-innovation-framework/index.md) for the preceding framework context. **Research checked: 17 October 2026.** NHS England has published a planned procurement for GP IT. The anticipated buyer scope expressly includes the Ministry of Defence. This creates a potential procurement connection to COPPER TIGER; it does not establish a Defence purchase or a delivered interface. [SRC-109](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-109) NHS England defines the procurement's GP IT scope around: > “digital solutions (products and services) that support the commissioning, delivery, administration and continuous improvement of general practice.” — NHS England, UK3 planned procurement notice, 6 October 2026; excerpt from the scope definition. [SRC-109](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-109) The [HTN article](https://htn.co.uk/2026/10/13/838-million-open-framework-for-future-of-gp-it-announced/) prompted this research. Its headline is a discovery lead. The findings below use the official notice and NHS service publications. [SRC-108](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-108) ## What the official notice establishes | Item | Published position | |---|---| | Identity | Digital Primary Care Open Framework; NHS England reference C454613; notice 094419-2026; procurement identifier ocds-h6vhtk-050c1e | | Stage | UK3 planned procurement, published 6 October 2026; no response required; not an open tender or award | | Route | Multi-stage competitive flexible procedure under the Procurement Act 2023; suppliers must register on the Central Digital Platform | | Estimated value | £838,749,369 excluding VAT; £1,006,499,242.80 including VAT; not committed expenditure | | Indicative timing | Tender expected November 2026, subject to approvals; go-live Q3 2027. Structured dates: 20 September 2027–19 September 2030, potentially extending to 19 September 2033 | | Entry | Multiple suppliers/lots; intended reopening within three years. SMEs, consortia and subcontracting anticipated, subject to final conditions | | Buyers | Anticipated scope includes MOD and NHS bodies across all four UK nations; call-offs primarily by ICBs and practices | | Lot | Capability scope | Estimated value excluding VAT | |---|---|---:| | [1 — Foundation EPR](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/gp-it-lot-1/index.md) | GP appointments, consultations, patient information, prescribing, referrals and resources | £649,447,889 | | [2 — Clinical and operational support](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/gp-it-lot-2/index.md) | 27 capabilities, including care plans, workflows, diagnostics, documents, population health and remote monitoring | £135,301,480 | | [3 — Research and development](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/gp-it-lot-3/index.md) | Capability/standards development; successful Lot 1/2 suppliers enrolled unless they opt out | £54,000,000 | These tables summarise the [official structured notice](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsReleasePackages/094419-2026). Final participation and call-off details await tender documents. [SRC-109](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-109) ## Procurement history and continuity The May 2025 market-engagement notice described a successor to the expired GP IT Futures framework. The October 2026 UK3 notice advances that process to planned procurement. Neither stage proves supplier appointment. [SRC-110](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-110) [SRC-109](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-109) [Digital Services for Integrated Care (DSIC)](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/dsic/index.md) is the wider model for capabilities, standards, assurance and routes to market. It evolved from GP IT Futures. The Buying Catalogue provides a way to find and procure solutions. These terms describe related functions and should not be used interchangeably. [SRC-111](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-111) [SRC-113](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-113) NHS England's pages updated on 13 October confirm the [Tech Innovation Framework (TIF)](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/tech-innovation-framework/index.md) extension to **30 September 2027**. They describe continuity while the replacement framework develops. This does not establish every incumbent contract's expiry or migration terms. [SRC-111](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-111) [SRC-112](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-112) TIF describes cloud-hosted, browser-based products with open APIs and six core GP functions. It is a useful comparator. Do not import its requirements into every new lot before the new tender specifies applicability. The current buyer guide likewise describes existing procurement routes; its thresholds are not verified rules for the future framework. [SRC-112](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-112) [SRC-113](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-113) ## Implications for NHS–Defence continuity The following are **COPPER TIGER design implications**, not procurement requirements or evidence of implementation. | Question | Implication for the proposed model | Evidence still needed | |---|---|---| | Could Defence use this route? | MOD's inclusion makes the framework relevant to procurement research. | Final buyer eligibility, lawful intended use, appropriate lot and actual call-off arrangements | | What preserves the lifelong primary record? | Assess [Foundation EPR and Patient Information Maintenance](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/gp-it-lot-1/index.md#patient-information-maintenance-and-history) separately from a shared care view. Protect civilian history, coded entries, attachments, provenance and unresolved clinical work. | Record migration, reconciliation, cutover, rollback and receiving-clinician responsibilities | | What can support clinical work across services? | Examine Lot 2 capabilities against specific correspondence, referral, diagnostic and task workflows. | Exact capability definitions, interface profiles, approved purposes and operating responsibilities | | Can a bought system exchange data nationally? | Commercial access, product assurance and service onboarding are separate decisions. | Named product/version, service-owner approval, endpoint configuration and local clinical-safety evidence | | Does UK buyer coverage create one UK interface? | Assess each country's national services and clinical arrangements independently. | Nation-specific technical routes, identity, governance and receiving workflows | These implications extend the [primary-record model](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/primary-record/index.md), [exchange contracts](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/exchange-mechanisms/index.md) and [Defence mechanism map](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/defence-mechanisms/index.md). They retain the existing [legal and purpose boundaries](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/legal-framework/index.md). They do not fix the Defence target architecture. [SRC-109](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-109) Keep four processes separate: GP2GP transfer following a patient's registration change; whole-practice supplier migration; authorised GP Connect access/exchange; and shared-record aggregation. GP2GP's published service scope requires both practices to be in England. DSIC's migration guide addresses established foundation suppliers and is not a new-supplier onboarding guide. [SRC-007](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-007) [SRC-111](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-111) ## Capability-specific evidence A foundation system, shared-record capability and integration service have different responsibilities. Assess the exact offered function and specification version. Generic interoperability does not establish all foundation functions or commercial eligibility. A national-service listing does not establish Defence deployment, framework admission or the entire clinical workflow. Blank listing cells do not prove technical impossibility. [SRC-115](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-115) [SRC-026](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-026) ## Terms that change the reading The notice uses **Foundation EPR Solutions**, **Clinical and Operational Support Solutions** and **Research and Development** as lot categories. Its capability names refer to functions, not standalone products or guaranteed end-to-end clinical workflows. The [framework glossary](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/terms/index.md#gp-it-framework-and-assurance-terms) explains the procurement and assurance vocabulary. Most terms predate this notice. [SRC-109](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-109) [SRC-116](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-116) **Lifelong primary record** is COPPER TIGER's continuity objective. **Patient Information Maintenance — GP** is a named capability with specific requirements. Neither a foundation label nor a shared view alone proves that the continuity objective has been met. The [Lot 1 page](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/gp-it-lot-1/index.md) maps the distinction; the [Lot 2 page](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/gp-it-lot-2/index.md#why-capability-labels-need-closer-reading) shows why optional reconciliation and task functions matter. [SRC-125](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-125) [SRC-126](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-126) [SRC-127](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-127) ## Uncertainties and independent research - The notice's structured record contains an expression-of-interest date of 10 November 2026. Its narrative says no response is required. **Do not treat that field as a live bid deadline.** The eventual UK4 timetable takes precedence. [SRC-109](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-109) - The notice HTML and capability attachment returned access errors. The official OCDS API supplied the verified notice text and structured fields. The attachment's additional definitions remain unverified. [SRC-109](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-109) - Supplier admission, catalogue listings, detailed capability thresholds and any MOD procurement remain unestablished in the reviewed evidence. [SRC-109](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-109) - The UK3 describes possible call-offs using competitive flexible procedures. Cabinet Office guidance treats framework call-off selection separately from that tendering procedure. Final documents must clarify the mechanism; see [procurement terms](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/terms/index.md#gp-it-framework-and-assurance-terms). [SRC-109](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-109) [SRC-119](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-119) [SRC-120](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-120) For independent checking, start with the [Find a Tender notice](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094419-2026) and its [official API record](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsReleasePackages/094419-2026). Then compare the [DSIC overview](https://digital.nhs.uk/services/digital-services-for-integrated-care), [TIF page](https://digital.nhs.uk/services/digital-services-for-integrated-care/tech-innovation-framework), [buyer guide](https://digital.nhs.uk/services/digital-services-for-integrated-care/nhs-digital-buying-catalogue/buyers-guide), [capability guide](https://digital.nhs.uk/services/digital-services-for-integrated-care/nhs-digital-buying-catalogue/buyers-guide/capabilities-epics-and-standards) and [supplier-progress table](https://digital.nhs.uk/services/gp-connect/supplier-progress). Source dates and access limits are preserved in the [register](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/sources/index.md#src-108). The [validation queue](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/validation-queue/index.md) records the trigger for reopening this evidence gap. No recurring monitor has been scheduled. Explore [Lot 1](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/gp-it-lot-1/index.md), [Lot 2](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/gp-it-lot-2/index.md) and [Lot 3](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/gp-it-lot-3/index.md) for capability detail. Then finish with [project status](https://copper-tiger.pages.dev/project/status/index.md) to distinguish the completed research from the evidence and approvals still needed for implementation.