Kingston & Richmond NHS Foundation Trust Assisted Conception Unit Joint Venture - Preliminary Market Engagement

With increasing demand for fertility services driven by demographic trends and advancements in reproductive medicine alongside operational, accommodation and financial pressures on the Authority, there is a critical requirement for the Authority to identify alternative methods of delivering and expanding access for its patients to high-quality assisted conception treatments. The Authority's current strategic approach is to seek a strategic Joint Venture ("JV") partner with the necessary clinical expertise, operational capacity and commercial appetite to collaborate on establishing and operating an industry leading ACU for the area. It is envisaged this unit will provide advanced fertility treatments, including In Vitro Fertilization ("IVF"), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection ("ICSI"), egg/sperm donation, and fertility preservation services as well as have the potential to offer enhanced services such as Pre-implantation Genetic Testing ("PGT"), to deliver against current requirements and future patient demand opportunities in the catchment area.

This Preliminary Market Engagement is being conducted ahead of any formal tender that may be issued and to advise the Business Case. The primary purpose is to gather information, understand market capabilities, test the feasibility of the project, and encourage competition, which can help the Authority: a) Design its competitive sourcing procedure, conditions of participation and award criteria; b) Shape the tender requirements and improve the quality and relevance of future bids; c) Identifying potential suppliers best placed to meet the requirements of the Authority . Any GBPPS Values mentioned in this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice are estimates and will be further informed by this activity and any subsequent competitive procurement that may be entered into by the Authority with the Supply Base.

Based on initial legal advice received by the Authority this Preliminary Market Engagement and any subsequent Invitation to Tender are expected to be undertaken in accordance with Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) regulations rather than Provider Selection Regime (PSR). Should information from the Preliminary Market Engagement cause this advice to change, the Authority will take the necessary steps to reset such that the appropriate sourcing route is employed.