Scope
Description
This Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) is being published by Business Services Organisation (BSO) Procurement and Logistics Service (PaLS), on behalf of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust (the Trust), for the purposes of informing and engaging with interested providers regarding the upcoming procurement for Community Nursing Beds for Provision of Assessment and/or Rehabilitation within the Antrim Locality, within Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI).
The Trust wishes to award a Contract for the provision of short-term care in general nursing home beds for adults who either require a period of bed based community Assessment and/or Rehabilitation following discharge from an acute hospital (step down) or directly from their own home environment (step-up).
This engagement will take the form of an engagement paper and questionnaire, which interested providers are invited to complete. The CP13 PME Questionnaire – Explanatory Document should be read in conjunction with the CP12 PME Questionnaire (Appendix 1) and the PME Notice.
The purpose of this PME exercise is to raise awareness of an upcoming procurement, gauge the level of interest in the provision of such services, make interested providers aware in advance of the key service requirements, the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023 and Northern Ireland Procurement Policy Note’s (PPN’s) relating to Social Value and Human Rights, cyber security requirements, sustainability and net zero requirements, that will be included in any future tender. This notice has been placed for advertising purposes only. The procurement exercise will be conducted in accordance with the information contained in any final published tender documentation. There is no guarantee a procurement process will run.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029
- Possible extension to 31 August 2032
- 6 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Engagement
Engagement deadline
20 February 2026
Engagement process description
The CP13 PME – Explanatory Document and Appendix 1 – CP12 PME Questionnaire are available on eTendersNI (https://etendersni.gov.uk) under Resource ID/CfT Reference: 6371588.
Please ensure you are registered with eTendersNI under Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) Code '85000000 Health and social work services'. Your response to this PME Paper must be completed in 'Appendix 1 - CP12 PME Questionnaire' and submitted as an attachment via the eTendersNI secure messaging area of the Resource ID/CfT Reference: 6371588. The deadline for submission is 3pm on 20th February 2026.
Any interest shown in the PME does not constitute a commitment to participate in a procurement exercise. Non-participation in this PME exercise does not preclude any provider from participation in any future procurement exercise.
Please note that the contract dates in this Notice are anticipated and subject to change. Please also note that the estimated date of publication of Tender Notice is an anticipated date and subject to change.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
1 April 2026
Procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Northern Health and Social Care Trust
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBRP-6676-CQZY
Bretten Hall, Antrim Area Hospital, Bush Road
Antrim
BT41 2RL
United Kingdom
Region: UKN0D - Antrim and Newtownabbey
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
Regional Business Services Organisation Procurement and Logistics Service
Summary of their role in this procurement: BSO PaLS will be conducting the procurement process including this PME process on behalf of the Trust. PaLS are the Centre of Procurement Expertise for Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland.
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWNJ-1991-NGDW
Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital, 73 Loughgall Road
Armagh
BT61 7PR
United Kingdom
Region: UKN07 - Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
Contact organisation
Contact Regional Business Services Organisation Procurement and Logistics Service for any enquiries.