Scope
Reference
WPL05125
Description
Opportunity for Strategic Partnership in Private Healthcare Provision
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospital Southampton (UHS) is embarking on a transformative journey to expand and enhance its private patient services through a long-term strategic partnership. We are seeking an experienced and visionary private healthcare operator to join us in a Joint Venture (JV) that will deliver high-quality, patient-centred care while supporting the Trust's broader mission to improve health outcomes across the South of England.
This opportunity is structured in two distinct phases:
Phase 1: Laying the Foundations (Years 1-3)
The selected partner will assume operational responsibility for UHS's existing private patient services, which currently generate over £6 million annually. The focus will be on:
•Introducing commercial expertise in branding, marketing, and operations.
•Deploying independent administrative and support teams.
•Collaborating with UHS to align private services with NHS priorities via a jointly developed Capacity & Access Model and Service Level Agreement (SLA).
•Funding and leading feasibility studies for a new Private Patient Unit (PPU).
•Establishing a joint Management Board and a transparent profit-sharing model that ensures minimum returns to UHS.
Phase 2: Building the Future (Years 4 and Beyond)
The partner will design, finance, construct, and operate a new, state-of-the-art PPU on the Southside of the Southampton General Hospital site. This 26,000 sqm facility will be physically linked to the NHS hospital via a skybridge and will deliver complex, high-acuity services including oncology, cardiology, neurology, and surgery. The facility will:
•Operate under a formal LLP structure.
•Emphasise clinical excellence, patient satisfaction, and financial sustainability.
•Foster collaboration in training, innovation, and sustainability initiatives.
Scope and Strategic Alignment
The partnership will balance commercial autonomy with alignment to NHS values and governance. UHS will provide access to theatres, diagnostics, and clinical staff through structured SLAs during phase 1. The partner will be encouraged to explore opportunities for outpatient expansion at satellite sites such as Adanac Park or other Trust locations.
All services must comply with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards and NHS probity requirements. Clinical governance will be overseen by a Management Board and Medical Advisory Committee.
Financial and Operational Expectations
Valued at approximately £1.5 billion over 30 years, the partnership requires a financially robust operator capable of absorbing early-stage investment and operational costs. The JV must generate sustainable surpluses to reinvest in NHS services and infrastructure.
Strategic Vision
This is a unique opportunity to co-develop a flagship private healthcare offering that complements NHS services, expands patient choice, and drives innovation. We invite expressions of interest from qualified private healthcare providers who share our commitment to excellence, integrity, and long-term partnership.
UHS shall have no liability for any costs howsoever incurred by those participating in this Tender process.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
Total value (estimated)
- £1,500,000,000 excluding VAT
- £1,800,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 2 November 2026 to 1 December 2056
- Possible extension to 1 December 2066
- 40 years, 1 month
Description of possible extension:
To be determined through bidder negotiations and the Trust reserves the right not to extend.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 45215140 - Hospital facilities construction work
- 85110000 - Hospital and related services
Contract locations
- UKJ32 - Southampton
Submission
Enquiry deadline
1 August 2025, 1:00pm
Submission type
Tenders
Deadline for requests to participate
7 August 2025, 1:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
25 September 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Price | To follow in ITT |
Price |
| Technical | To follow in ITT |
Quality |
| Commercial | To follow in ITT |
Quality |
Weighting description
Weightings will be set out in the tender documents
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Concession
Competitive flexible procedure description
Key Stages of the Competitive Flexible Procedure
The procurement will follow a multi-stage competitive flexible procedure incorporating dialogue and negotiation to refine requirements and ensure optimal outcomes. The key stages are as follows:
1.Participation (PSQ) Stage
•Publication of the tender notice and Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) document.
•UHS receive submission completed PSQs.
•Assessment of exclusion grounds and conditions of participation.
•Application of objective criteria to shortlist suppliers for the next stage
2.Evaluation and Dialogue Stage
•Shortlisted suppliers will be invited to submit initial tenders.
•Intermediate assessment of tenders will be conducted to identify suppliers for negotiation.
•Structured dialogue and/or negotiation phases will be used to refine the requirement and contract terms. This may include clarification of technical solutions, commercial models, and delivery approaches
3.Best and Final Offer (BAFO) Stage
•Following negotiation, remaining suppliers will be invited to submit Best and Final Offers.
•This stage allows suppliers to refine their proposals based on feedback and revised requirements.
•Final tenders will be evaluated using the refined award criteria to determine the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT)
4.Award Stage
•Assessment summaries will be issued to all suppliers.
•A mandatory standstill period will be observed.
•The contract will be awarded to the supplier whose final tender best satisfies the award criteria
PSQ Evaluation and Threshold Approach
The PSQ stage will be used to assess bidders' capacity, capability, and financial standing. The evaluation will follow a threshold-based scoring system as outlined in Section 4 of the PSQ document:
Pass/Fail Criteria: Applied to core supplier information, associated persons, subcontractors, and standard conditions of participation (Parts 1-3).
Scored Criteria: Applied to technical and financial questions in Part 4, with the following weightings:
•Financial Strength - 20%
•Experience of Delivering Profits from Private Patient Services - 30%
•Experience of Managing Private Patient Services - 20%
•Experience of Growing Private Patient Services - 15%
•Ability to Provide High Quality Services - 5%
•Experience of Opening New Acute Facilities - 10%
Each scored question will be marked on a 0-5 scale, with defined performance descriptors. A minimum threshold of 12 points must be achieved to progress to the next stage. Any bidder receiving a "fail" on a mandatory question will be excluded. The Trust will select up to 6 of the highest scoring bidders to invite to the next stage of the process. If there are two bidders who have scored equally 6th place, then both bidders will go to the next stage.
Contracting authority
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SOUTHAMPTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTRZ-1736-CQVH
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
Email: adam.skeates@wpl.uhs.nhs.uk
Region: UKJ32 - Southampton
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
WESSEX NHS PROCUREMENT LIMITED
Summary of their role in this procurement: Wessex NHS Procurement Limited provides procurement services
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYMB-5152-DMDG
Trust Management Offices, Mailpoint 18, Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
Email: adam.skeates@wpl.uhs.nhs.uk
Region: UKJ32 - Southampton
Contact organisation
Contact UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SOUTHAMPTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST for any enquiries.