Provision of Hepatitis C Elimination

The Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has completed the procurement process for the "Provision of Hepatitis C Elimination" under urgent circumstances. This contract, valued at £9,770, covers health services at HMP Lowdham Grange in the UKF1 region. Initiated through a direct award due to unforeseen urgency, the procurement was managed under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations of 2023, and thus was exempt from the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

The contract was signed on 16th July 2025, with The Hepatitis C Trust being the designated supplier. This procurement falls under the services category, specifically Health services with CPV code 85100000, and highlights a limited procurement method executed without prior call for competition due to its pressing nature. This procurement represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in healthcare services, especially under direct award situations where speedy mobilisation is crucial.

Companies with competencies in rapid service delivery within the prison healthcare framework could explore similar opportunities to collaborate with public healthcare organisations. Given the criteria heavily weighted towards quality (70%) over price (30%), businesses that can offer high-standard healthcare solutions might find appealing openings in such contracts. This particular contract was awarded to The Hepatitis C Trust, an SME, indicating that smaller enterprises with niche capabilities in healthcare can successfully compete in this domain.