Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS England
Quarry House, Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE
Contact
Michael Pingstone (SCW)
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
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
Framework for Digital Solutions for Clinical Sessional Capacity (Locum Banks and other solutions) - Primary Care Flexible Pools
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS England is considering re-procuring a framework to implement Digital Solutions for the
deployment of sessional clinical capacity in primary care.
To assist in the exploratory exercise NHS England is seeking to engage with suitably
qualified providers to help inform their next steps.
This activity is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit
(SCW) on behalf of NHS England.
This is a republished notice, replacing notice 2021/S 000-027944 (NHS England - Proposed Primary Care Flexible Pools
Framework). Providers that have already responded to that notice do not also need to respond to this replacement notice
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £0.01
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72212100 - Industry specific software development services
- 79625000 - Supply services of medical personnel
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS England is considering re-procuring a framework to implement Digital Solutions for the
deployment of sessional clinical capacity in primary care.
To assist in the exploratory exercise NHS England is seeking to engage with suitably
qualified providers to help inform their next steps.
The proposed purpose of the framework will be:
• To provide a digital solution for flexible workforce in primary care, that delivers an
outcomes based, transformational, interoperable, integrated, bespoke, demand driven
service, and that supports; end to end workforce pool management and rostering;
collaborative and multi-organisational solutions; diverse skills-based staffing approach; staff
wellbeing; flexible payment options; reduces administrative and reporting burden, and;
provides ongoing training support, development and improvement for the flexible workforce
in primary care.
• To provide a digital solution to enable GPs who want the flexibility of a locum role with the
additional benefit of a salaried position.
• To enable existing GPs including salaried and partners to delivery additional sessions
• To enable other primary care workforce groups to utilise flexible pools.
• Ability to support groups of staff at PCN, CCG, Place or ICS footprint.
• To significantly reduce administrative burden on General Practice
The full-service scope is in the process of being defined and NHS England will be conducting
Market Engagement with the aim of:
• Engaging with providers
• Understanding the interest there might be in providing such services from suitably qualified
providers
• Informing the commissioning process
• Gathering information from stakeholders that may be used to shape a commissioning /
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procurement process and documentation.
To register to take part in market engagement please complete the attached Questionnaire
(https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/203545b4-846c-440f-8c31-3e06147
0f777) and return it to Michael.pingstone@nhs.net by 12 noon on 19/11/21.
On receipt of the completed Questionnaire, an invitation will be issued to each interested
party with a copy of the draft specification. Invitations will be for a 30 minute 1:1 meeting with
key commissioners to discuss the services. Specific dates and available times of meetings
will be provided at a later date. Spaces will be limited and allocated on a first come, first
served basis.
In the event you are unable to attend a 1:1 meeting but would like to receive a copy of any
relevant materials, please complete the Questionnaire only, and email it to
An expression of interest to engage with this market engagement is no indication of a
commitment to participate in any future tender process nor does it infer any special status
on those Providers who do engage. An expression of interest will not automatically entitle
involvement in any future procurement exercise. Any procurement conducted after this will
be advertised separately and all organisations wanting to participate will need to respond to
the procurement advertisement as and when it is published.
This activity is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit
(SCW) on behalf of NHS England.
two.2.14) Additional information
This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own
right, and therefore publication or response does not commit the Authority or respondents
to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to
any parties expressing an interest. The Authority will not be liable for costs incurred by any
interested party in participating in this exercise.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 January 2022
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own
right, and therefore publication or response does not commit the commissioner(s) to a
future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any
parties expressing an interest. The commissioner(s) will not be liable for costs incurred by
any interested party in participating in this exercise.
Any future services will be subject to the full regime of current procurement legislation, and
as such any tender will be conducted in accordance with, and governed by the Public
Contracts Regulations 2015. Any contract(s) will therefore be awarded in accordance with
the provisions applicable in Section 5 (sub-section 7) of the Public Contracts Regulations
2015.