Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Musgrove Park Hospital
Taunton
TA1 5DA
Contact
Paul Saunders, Head of Procurement
paul.saunders@somersetft.nhs.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK23 - Somerset
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/
one.6) Main activity
Other activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Variation for construction and operation of a Community Diagnostics Facility
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85323000 - Community health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Trust entered into a contract with Ergéa (previously known as Asteral) in July 2017 for the provision of a Healthcare Facility (the Contract). Ergéa’s service provision includes equipment installation and enabling works (including turnkey works), commissioning, procurement, maintenance and support, replacement, disposal and the provision of radiology consumables. The Trust intends to modify the Contract in accordance with Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (the PCR 2015) to provide a Community Diagnostic Centre at Bridgwater Community Hospital (the CDC). Ergéa will provide a full turnkey solution for the CDC. It will design and construct the building and then deliver an equipment management service at the CDC. The building will be built on the Trust’s existing site and the Trust will retain ownership of the building. The project will be funded by NHS England. Provision of funding is dependent on the CDC being delivered by 31/03/2026.
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: £37,539,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85150000 - Medical imaging services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK23 - Somerset
Main site or place of performance
Bridgwater Community Hospital, Bower Lane, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4GU
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Trust entered into a contract with Ergéa (previously known as Asteral) in July 2017 for the provision of a Healthcare Facility (the Contract). Ergéa’s service provision includes equipment installation and enabling works (including turnkey works), commissioning, procurement, maintenance and support, replacement, disposal and the provision of radiology consumables. The Trust intends to modify the Contract in accordance with Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (the PCR 2015) to provide a Community Diagnostic Centre at Bridgwater Community Hospital (the CDC). Ergéa will provide a full turnkey solution for the CDC. It will design and construct the building and then deliver an equipment management service at the CDC. The building will be built on the Trust’s existing site and the Trust will retain ownership of the building. The project will be funded by NHS England. Provision of funding is dependent on the CDC being delivered by 31/03/2026.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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
two.2.14) Additional information
On 30 May 2025 the Trust’s Finance Committee took the decision to proceed with varying the Contract to provide the CDC (subject to final agreement of the amended terms, the necessarily approvals for funding from NHS England and ratification of the Trust Board). The Trust relies on Regulation 72(1)(b) and, in the alternative, Regulation 72(1)(e) to modify the Contract.
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:
The Trust relies on Regulation 72(1)(b) of the PCR 2015.
Necessity:
• The CDC will significantly increase diagnostic capacity as it will deliver an additional 24,282 MRI and CT scans per year. The additional capacity of the CDC will help to significantly reduce waiting times for complex imaging.
• The CDC will be located close to the Trust’s main hospital site and operated by Trust staff so the Trust will be able to carry out interventional imaging in the new facility. Patients can be transferred across easily for recovery purposes.
Economic/technical reasons:
• NHSE funding for the CDC is on the basis that it is built by 30/03/26 so there would not be sufficient time to procure/negotiate a new contract with another supplier in such short timescales. A change of contractor would give rise to a significant risk of not meeting the conditions for receipt of the funding.
• Having a different provider would create operational issues for the Trust e.g. if a different provider were to deliver and manage the CDC, this could lead to a situation whereby the equipment at the CDC has not been updated to the same level as the equipment in the Trust’s acute site. Having the same supplier operating both sites will therefore ensure that there is consistency between the equipment which is being provided by the Trust to its patients.
• Having the same supplier will enable the Trust to freely transfer and/or move equipment and consumables between the sites as and when required to deal with any demand issues. This will drive efficiencies which will help improve the delivery of patient care as well as give rise to cost efficiencies.
Significant inconvenience / duplication of costs:
• Having the same supplier operating the two sites will avoid duplication of resource and costs associated with contract management.
• There will be a single point of contact for staff if there are any issues with equipment. Not only will this be more convenient for the Trust, it will also enable any issues to be dealt with more efficiently.
As noted above, the modification does not result in an increase in price of more than 50% of the value of the original Contract.
Alternatively, the Trust relies on Regulation 72(1)(e) of the PCR 2015. The Contract already includes the provision of turnkey and enabling works and the Trust intends to keep the payment mechanisms the same. The Trust therefore does not consider the modification to be substantial.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
30 May 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Ergea UK and Ireland Limited
Units 4-6 Ely Road Theale Commercial Estate Theale, Reading
Theale
RG7 4BQ
Telephone
+44 1189008100
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ11 - Berkshire
National registration number
04328629
Internet address
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £14,336,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £37,539,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Value of contract modification £14,336,000. Original contract value £37,539,000.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Musgrove Park Hospital
Taunton
TA1 5DA
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
In accordance with Regulation 88 to Regulation 102 of the PCR 2015 (particularly, Regulations 92, 93, 94 and 99 in relation to deadlines).
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Musgrove Park Hospital
Taunton
TA1 5DA
Country
United Kingdom