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Summary, notice description and lot information
The NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board is moving forward with the procurement of Community Ear, Nose and Throat Services in East Berkshire under Provider Selection Regime Direct Award C, as per the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. This notice represents an intention to directly award the contract to SOPs Healthcare Ltd, with the contract commencement planned for 1 April 2026. The procurement, which falls under the industry category of health and social work services, involves an expected contract value of £1,041,040 over a potential two-year term.
The procurement process is at the award stage, with a standstill period until 8 December 2025, allowing interested providers to make representations. The contract will support ENT conditions managed in the community, aiming to provide a local service and reduce unnecessary secondary care referrals. This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in health and social work services, particularly those capable of demonstrating quality, innovation, and value in service provision.
Companies with a track record in integrating services, improving access, and fostering social value will find themselves well-positioned to compete. The direct award to SOPs Healthcare Ltd underscores the importance of evidencing capability against stringent criteria, thus incentivising potential suppliers to enhance their service offerings and collaborate within the healthcare ecosystem. The anticipated merging of regional Integrated Care Boards into NHS Thames Valley ICB adds another layer of opportunity for businesses seeking to align with larger organisational structures and forthcoming service provision expectations.
NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission provision of Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Services. This service sees and treats ENT conditions that can be safely managed in the community, where surgical procedures are not required. This was implemented in 2018 in East Berkshire to offer a locally available service and help reduce inappropriate referrals to secondary care. Frimley ICB has followed PSR Direct Award C for the contract to which this notice relates. The total expected value of the contract for the initial 12-month contract term is PS520,520. The optional 12-month extension expected value of the contract is PS520,520 Therefore, the full expected lifetime contract value (1+1) is PS1,041,040. The contract period will commence on 01 April 2026. NHS Frimley ICB and Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire & Berkshire West ICB are currently working together in a formal "clustering" arrangement to prepare for their merger into a single, new organisation: the NHS Thames Valley ICB, effective from 1 April 2026. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner. Additional information: Evidence that SOPs Healthcare Ltd have satisfied the existing contract to a sufficient standard according to the detail outlined in the contract: they provided all of the required documentation, information and policies for the existing contract. They have followed the contractual service specification, not deviated from Frimley ICB Safeguarding requirements, charged the correct local prices as per the contract, issued invoices correctly in accordance with the Frimley ICB process, complied with Quality reporting requirements, and followed Schedule 6A reporting requirements. They have complied with/not fallen foul of the applicable NHS Standard Contract (Shorter Form) Service Conditions, including Service Conditions in relation to the following: service standards, co-operation, information requirements, safeguarding, payment terms and quality requirements. They have also complied with/not fallen foul of the applicable shorter Form General Conditions, including those relating to liability & indemnity, assignment & sub-contracting, and Information Governance. The new contracting arrangements are based on a rollover of the previous contracting arrangements/schedules which the provider has already satisfied/complied with to a high standard, and so the provider will highly be likely to be able to satisfy the new contract to a sufficient standard.
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