Provision of temporary ICT staff (ecm_8118)

The UK Government must protect the health and wellbeing of UK citizens. The COVID-19 outbreak is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) as declared by the World Health Organisation on 30 January 2020. The WHO Director General characterised COVID-19 as a pandemic on 11 March 2020.

PHE discharges its duties as a Category 1 Responder to emergencies on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care within the scope of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (CCA 2004). This urgent requirement is in response to the recent COVID -19 outbreak.

PHE has made purchases from Keystream Group Ltd for the provision of ICT staff.

Emergency purchases of laboratory products, temporary staffing etc had to be made to assist Public Health England support the Government in its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to the emergency nature of these purchases, no formal contract was awarded but PHE's Purchase Order formed the contract. An example Purchase Order is attached.