Contract

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Rehabilitation Services

  • NHS HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-014365

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-065629

Published 17 February 2026, 2:28pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

Omega House 112 Southampton Road

Eastleigh

SO50 5PB

Email

pho-tr.hiowicbprocurement@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ3 - Hampshire and Isle of Wight

NHS Organisation Data Service

QRL

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk/icb

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

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Rehabilitation Services

Reference number

C424427

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85100000 - Health services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The contract covers the delivery of specialist

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)

assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation services for those with a mild to moderate diagnosis, including:

• Clinical assessment and diagnosis support.

• Symptom management and pacing education.

• Multidisciplinary therapeutic interventions.

• Ongoing patient support and review.

• Collaboration with primary and secondary care partners.

• Data reporting and service evaluation.

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: £1,475,100

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ3 - Hampshire and Isle of Wight

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The contract covers the delivery of specialist ME/CFS assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation services for those with a mild to moderate diagnosis, including:

•Clinical assessment and diagnosis support

•Symptom management and pacing education

•Multidisciplinary therapeutic interventions

•Ongoing patient support and review

•Collaboration with primary and secondary care partners

•Data reporting and service evaluation.

The ME/CFS service supports people to achieve their management and recovery goals and needs, whilst improving their mental health. The service aims to support and prevent a decline in a person's health condition, delivering structured yet flexible recovery programmes based on each individual's recovery goals.

South Coast Fatigue, the existing provider has been selected due to its specialist expertise, established service model, and proven capability in delivering high‑quality ME/CFS services across NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight.

The ICB intends to award a contract following direct award process C, the approximate lifetime value of the contract is £1,475,100

The service will commence on the 1st of April 2026 until the 31st of March 2028 with a 1 year (12 month) extension option.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: the existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard / Weighting: 100

Price - Weighting: 0

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: 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:

'This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract 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 and the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by midnight 2nd of March 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR'.

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

Contract No

C424427

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

12 February 2026

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

South Coast Fatigue

Lancaster Court

8 Barnes Wallis Road Fareham

PO15 5TU

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ3 - Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Companies House

07014787

The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: £1,475,100


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The decision was approved by the following ICB boards/committees:

No Conflicts of Interest were declared by those individuals making the decision.

The key criteria has been taken into consideration and applied a weighting value . Evidence has been reviewed from the provider via contract review meetings, monthly reporting and documentation supplied to the ICB, as to whether they were fulfilling the criteria and could continue to fulfil the criteria:

Service - 25%

Value - 25%

Integration, collaboration and service sustainability - 15%

Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice- 25%

Social value - 10%

The decision to award this contract via Direct Award - Process C is based on the following considerations:

Specialist Nature of the Service ME/CFS is a complex, highly specialised clinical area requiring providers with demonstrable expertise, established clinical pathways, and the capability to deliver multidisciplinary interventions.

Continuity of Care: South Coast Fatigue is an existing specialist provider with a proven track record of delivering high quality ME/CFS services for the past 7 years. A competitive procurement at this time would risk disruption to patient care, increase current waiting times and potential deterioration in patient outcomes. Continuity is essential to maintain safe and effective service delivery.

Proven Capability and Capacity: There is strong evidence through local contract monitoring that this service represents value for money delivering good clinical outcomes for the patients it serves. There is also good evidence of supporting the wider healthcare system, 84% of respondents reporting they no longer need to see their GP in relation to their ME/CFS following completion of their fatigue management programme with South Coast Fatigue.

South Coast Fatigue has demonstrated:

•Strong clinical governance arrangements'

•Robust, evidence based service model'

•The ability to meet performance and reporting requirements, providing qualitative and quantifiable data to demonstrate the improvements and impact of the ME/CFS Service against the agreed objectives.

•Provided a robust business model that demonstrates capacity building and growth to meet rising demand, supported by predicted prevalence rates, over the 3-year contract period.

Over the life of the existing contract, we have worked with South Coast Fatigue to undertake detailed capacity modelling, explore opportunities to enact demand management initiatives, and implement productivity efficiencies. Subsequently, the new contract includes a 13% increase in productivity based on the re-modelling of the treatment offer, and a 14% cost per case reduction based on internal operating efficiencies.

written representations should be sent: pho-tr.hiowicbprocurement@nhs.net

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

NHS England

London

Country

United Kingdom