Other community, social and personal services

Tender description

As telecommunication companies move to newer digital technology known as ‘voice over internet protocol’ (VOIP) which can support both broadband and telephone services, the public switched telephone network (PSTN) will be switched off. The deadline for this being completed is 2023. Across South Lanarkshire there are approximately ten thousand community alarms in use. A key component, that requires consideration relative to the Council successfully transitioning from the current analogue system to a digital telecare solution, is the technology installed in service user’s homes that provides a reliable and effective connection to the support they require through the community alarm service. To better understand the digital requirements, in house testing is being conducted to establish the benefits and opportunities offered by digital telecare along with any issues in delivering this service across South Lanarkshire’s geographically challenging area. The findings from the testing will help inform how South Lanarkshire Council move forward with a larger telecare procurement exercise to migrate to a digital telecare solution, expected to represent a significant financial investment by the Council. The aim of the pre-market engagement is to better understand supplier’s in-home telecare equipment offerings and for them to provide assurance and confidence that they can effectively deliver across the council’s geographically diverse area. Suppliers equipment would require to have dual analogue and digital functionality where remote switching between the two formats can be delivered. Suppliers equipment will be required to use SCAIP (Social Care Alarm Internet Protocol) with their devices being compatible and interoperable with the digital Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) technology platform (which is yet to be confirmed) We are also looking at market options for the delivery of the ARC and would be interested in hearing from providers of such services. The supplier’s equipment requires to operate within both an urban and rural setting where the quality and level of internet connectivity may vary. In addition, resilience will also be a key aspect of the transition to a digital solution. Suppliers equipment should therefore be able to satisfy resilience testing to mimic an outage where the digital environment ‘goes down’.