Expansion of existing or provision of new general practitioner medical surgery/surgeries and associated facilities that serve or will serve the residents of Ashingdon Road development, Rochford (SS4)

An Intended Approach Notice to follow the Most Suitable Provider (MSP) Process, pursuant to The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (the Regulations) has been published in Find a Tender Service and is attached to this engagement notice. The Contracting Authority, NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) is using the most suitable provider process (the Process) as defined by Regulations 6(6) and 10) to award a Land Option ("the Contract") via a mixed procurement (commencing 25th March 2025), for the development and delivery of a General Practitioner Medical Surgery and associated facilities and services under a General Medical Services (GMS) contract (the Requirement). For avoidance of doubt, the MSP process will not result in the Authority and the most suitable provider (MSP) entering into a new contract.

The Authority is responsible for running the Process as the legal entity responsible for commissioning Primary Medical Services in Mid and South Essex. The Authority and existing GP Practices that have expressed an initial interest in being considered as the MSP are already within contractual arrangements via each Practice's existing GMS/PMS. Instead, the Process intends to identify and award the opportunity to enter a Land Option with Bloor Homes and Rochford District Council.

The Authority is expecting the council/developer to transfer the land directly to the MSP following the successful conclusion of this exercise. The MSP will be responsible for working with the council to develop the site for delivery under their existing GMS /PMS contract. Further work will be needed as the site develops to amend the MSP's existing contract to reflect any proposed plans (for example, whether it is an additional branch site or a relocation).

The deadline for any potential practices to express an interest in this opportunity is midnight on the 14th day beginning the day after the Intended Approach Notice was published (04.03.25). Please direct enquiries to the named contact within this Notice for further information by the deadline. Phase 1 - Qualification is intended to commence with the basic selection criteria being published to the identified Practices on 25th March 2025.

The deadline for responses to the Qualification phase is 14th April 2025, at 12:00 Noon. The basic selection criteria that potential practices must demonstrate they can meet to be considered within Phase 1 - Qualification of this process are contained within the attached document titled Supplementary Information for the PIN _ Ashingdon Road 04.03 but at a high level, the most suitable provider must hold a current GMS/PMS contract for general medical services with an active patient list and be currently operating within the two Primary Care Networks (PCN), Rayleigh & District, and Rochford. Additional information: For avoidance of doubt, this Process will not result in the Authority and the most suitable provider (MSP) entering into a new contract.

The Authority is responsible for running the Process as the legal entity responsible for commissioning Primary Medical Services in Mid and South Essex. The Authority and existing GP Practices that have expressed an initial interest in being considered as the MSP are already within contractual arrangements via each Practice's existing GMS. Instead, the Process intends to identify and award the opportunity to enter a Land Option with Bloor Homes and Rochford District Council.

The Authority is expecting the council/developer to transfer the land directly to the MSP following the successful conclusion of this exercise. The MSP will be responsible for working with the council to develop the site for delivery under their existing GMS contract. Further work will be needed as the site develops to amend the MSP's existing contract to reflect any proposed plans (for example, whether it is an additional branch site or a relocation).

Under a Section 106 Agreement, Rochford District Council and the developer Bloor Homes have made available an opportunity via a land option (expiring November 2025) and a financial contribution of PS262,300 available to the MSP that purchases the land, to support the improvement of healthcare services in Rochford, which is the value that has been communicate in this Notice as the estimated total value. The MSP will be required to source the necessary capital to implement the requirement through solutions such as partnering with a specialist healthcare facility developer or some form of borrowings. No further capital resource is available through the NHS to support build costs.

Solutions could be to either relocate existing services or develop a branch surgery premises subject to following appropriate contractual processes for any proposed relocation, including any necessary public engagement as well as compliance with relevant ICB and NHSE governance. This is supplementary to the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intended approach notice published on 04.03.25. The process is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply. The award decision-maker for this process is NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB). Please see the attached document titled Supplementary Information for the PIN _ Ashingdon Road 04.03 for further details including the full list of basic selection criteria that providers must be able to meet to be considered the most suitable provider, and the Authorities detailed justification for undertaking a mixed procurement under PSR.