Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board
Phoenix House, Christopher Martin Road
Basildon, Essex
SS14 3HG
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH3 - Essex
National registration number
QH8
Internet address(es)
Main address
www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Provision of Urgent Award Community Ultrasound (Non-Obstetric) Services on behalf of NHS Mid and South Essex ICB
Reference number
ACE-0804-2025-MSE
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85323000 - Community health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
A direct access non-obstetric ultrasound provision for adults. The service is intended to aid early diagnostics and avoid the need for unnecessary referral to secondary care for conditions that can be appropriately managed within a Primary Care setting or to support the shift of activity into a primary care setting.
There is a need for an urgent award of contracts for direct access ultrasound and for a period of 12 months (01st April 2025- 31st March 2026) to ensure the MSEFT have sufficient time to procure the CDC capacity. Risk to patient safety through increased (long) waiting times unless an arrangement is in place for 1 April 2025 as all direct access would then be referred into MSEFT who have confirmed they cannot absorb the activity within current capacity. An urgent award is required for continuity of service and safety of patients requiring direct access diagnostics.
The current contract with the incumbent (Essex Ultrasound & Medical Services Limited ) expires on 31st March 2025 and as a consequence there is a requirement to award a 12 month contract from 01st April 2025 to 31st March 2026.
The value is a £0 value contract – paid at local prices – planning value for 2024-25 is £1,935,198 which is subject to any uplift applied to 2025-26.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £1,935,198
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
A direct access non-obstetric ultrasound provision for adults. The service is intended to aid early diagnostics and avoid the need for unnecessary referral to secondary care for conditions that can be appropriately managed within a Primary Care setting or to support the shift of activity into a primary care setting.
There is a need for an urgent award of contracts for direct access ultrasound and for a period of 12 months (01st April 2025- 31st March 2026) to ensure the MSEFT have sufficient time to procure the CDC capacity. Risk to patient safety through increased (long) waiting times unless an arrangement is in place for 1 April 2025 as all direct access would then be referred into MSEFT who have confirmed they cannot absorb the activity within current capacity. An urgent award is required for continuity of service and safety of patients requiring direct access diagnostics.
The current contract with the incumbent (Essex Ultrasound & Medical Services Limited) expires on 31st March 2025 and as a consequence there is a requirement to award a 12 month contract from 01st April 2025 to 31st March 2026.
The value is a £0 value contract – paid at local prices – planning value for 2024-25 is £1,935,198 which is subject to any uplift applied to 2025-26.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: to address immediate risks to safety and quality of care / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 100
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
There is a need for an urgent award of contracts for direct access ultrasound and for a period of 12 months (01st April 2025- 31st March 2026) to ensure the MSEFT have sufficient time to procure the CDC capacity. Risk to patient safety through increased (long) waiting times unless an arrangement is in place for 1 April 2025 as all direct access would then be referred into MSEFT who have confirmed they cannot absorb the activity within current capacity. An urgent award is required for continuity of service and safety of patients requiring direct access diagnostics.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract
Title
Provision of Urgent Award for Community Ultrasound (Non-Obstetric) Services
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
14 January 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Essex Ultrasound & Medical Services Limited
Central Canvey Primary Care Centre Long Road
Canvey Island, Essex
SS8 0JA
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH3 - Essex
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,935,198
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This contract has been awarded under the urgent circumstances provision of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This contract has been awarded under 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 in this award.
There is a need for an urgent award of contracts for direct access ultrasound and for a period of 12 months (01st April 2025- 31st March 2026) to ensure the MSEFT have sufficient time to procure the CDC capacity. Risk to patient safety through increased (long) waiting times unless an arrangement is in place for 1 April 2025 as all direct access would then be referred into MSEFT who have confirmed they cannot absorb the activity within current capacity. An urgent award is required for continuity of service and safety of patients requiring direct access diagnostics.
Decision makers are: NHS Mid and South Essex ICB Executive Team
No conflicts of interest have been identified
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The Royal Courts of Justice
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom