The Solution Registration activity is the first is the first stage of the Onboarding Process. The Proof of Capability Requirements mainly focus on this activity.

What is Solution Registration?

Solution Registration is the first stage of the DSIC Onboarding Process for the Buying Catalogue.

Its purpose is to provide the Onboarding Team with the information needed to guide a Solution through the Buying Catalogue Onboarding Process. Solution Registration involves collecting information about the Solution prior to the assessment and assurance activities conducted by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).

At the end of Solution Registration, we should have…

1. Created records for each product being onboarded.

2. Collected enough information to determine what assurance and assessment is required.

3. Verified that the Solution has passed essential preliminary assurance checks.

What does Solution Registration Involve?

Process Map

Below is a high level process map of Solution Registration based on the Proof of Capability requirements.

Open

Product Information

Suppliers must provide basic information about the product(s) they are onboarding.

Products include:

1. The Solution (the primary product)

2. Additional Services (additional functionality which can be purchased, but which cannot be used without already purchasing the parent Solution)

The information required includes basic details such as name, a brief description and lead contacts.

Framework Selection

Suppliers must select the Framework for which their Solution has been approved.

Frameworks are procurement vehicles for particular types of Solution, usually with funding available for Buyers to purchase approved Solutions. Frameworks define the scope of the requirements that a Solution must deliver. A Supplier must select a Framework for which their Solution has been approved.

Note that it is technically possible for Solutions to onboard to the Buying Catalogue without a Framework. This is a rare occurrence.

For more information on how Frameworks relate to Solutions and the Onboarding process, see Frameworks and Requirements Management Overview | Onboarding without a Framework.

Capability and Epic Selection

Suppliers must select the Capabilities and Epics they want their Solution to be assessed against.

Capabilities and Epics describe functional requirements and are located in DSIC Capabilities. A Solution must deliver one or more Capabilities in order to complete the Onboarding Process.

Mandatory Capabilities are determined by the selected Framework.

Each selected Capability must be allocated to a product.

For more information on Capabilities, see Introduction to Capabilities and Standards.

Preliminary Assurance

Suppliers must provide responses and evidence for essential, preliminary assurance checks.

There are a number of requirements which Suppliers are required to respond to and evidence at the start of the Onboarding Process. These requirements are typically self-serviceable, with fixed acceptable answers, or require evidence which can be validated by non-SMEs as part of the Solution Registration review.

Note that this will be a new addition to the Onboarding Process.

Submission and Review

Suppliers submit their Solution Registration for review by NHS staff who approve or reject and record feedback as required.

Once the Solution Registration information above is provided, it is reviewed by NHS staff who will verify that the information provided matches expectations, makes sense, and is sufficient for the Solution to progress to later stages of the Onboarding Process.

“As Is”

The “As Is” Solution Registration activity is a manual process in which Suppliers must be provided with and the complete one or more Excel files which collect the Solution’s Product Information and Capability and Epic Selections.

Each Framework has it’s own Excel files which are recreated and updated to reflect the Capabilities that are in scope for the Framework and any Epics which have been added or removed. Example files from the Tech Innovation Framework (TIF) are below:

Once completed, the Excel files are returned via email and stored in SharePoint. They are reviewed by NHS staff and any inconsistencies or concerns are communicated back to the Supplier. Each revision to the Excel files must be stored in SharePoint as a separate version. Once approved, the information in the Excel files is used to create the various records and tasks for the Onboarding Process.

Note that the Preliminary Assurance activity within Solution Registration will be a new addition to the process.

“To Be”

The expectation of the Onboarding Toolset is that it should remove the need for spreadsheets, allowing all Solution Registration information to be captured via an online portal. It should allow Suppliers to submit the information to NHS staff who will be able to review the details, record feedback and approve or reject the submission. Rejected submissions should be returned to the Supplier for correction.