Local authority is working with NHS bodies to construct shared infrastructure

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Leeds City Council is seeking a partner to build a “community cloud” infrastructure to allow public-sector organisations across the city to share data and services.

The authority has published a contract notice outlining its intent to work with local NHS entities to construct “a common, shared ICT platform serving public services which can potentially expand in the future to host other city-based organisations, such as third sector”.

Leeds is seeking a commercial provider “to undertake the build and delivery of the platform” over the course of a three-year contract.

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The deal will also cover supporting design and migration work for the various organisations that will occupy the cloud environment. This will take place alongside the rollout of the authority’s Digital and Information Service (DIS), a programme dedicated to ensuring the council adopts “high-quality and reliable ICT services… [and] fully exploits its investment” in tech products.

The overarching aim of the citywide cloud network and the DIS project is to allow public services providers to work together more easily.

The council said: “This programme directly supports the shared city ambition to develop connected digital infrastructure and tools so that professionals can seamlessly work together – leading to more efficient and effective ways of delivering cross-organisational services.”

Bids for the contract are open until 12 February. A deal is scheduled to come into effect the following month and last until March 2023.

No estimated value for the deal was provided.