Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
North East Ambulance Services NHS Foundation Trust
Bernicia House
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE15 8NY
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKC - North East (England)
NHS Organisation Data Service
RX6
Internet address(es)
Main 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
NECS523 NEAS Third-Party 111 Online and Primary Care Speak To Services CP
Reference number
NECS523
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Competitive Process.
North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) is a commissioning support service working for and on behalf of The North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (the Relevant Authority) who have undertaken a competition process to provide a Framework for Third-Party 111 Online and Primary Care Speak To (PCST) Services.
Contract Start Date: 01 October 2025
Contract End Date: 30 September 2029
The contract term is for an initial period of 2 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £8,868,000
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
111 Online Services (North East Wide)
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Competitive Process.
This is an intention to award notice to advise that the relevant authority intends to award a contract under a competitive process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Regulations 2024 (Procurement Act 2023) and/ or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) is a commissioning support service working for and on behalf of The North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (the Relevant Authority) who have undertaken a competition process to provide a Framework for Third-Party 111 Online and Primary Care Speak To (PCST) Services.
Contract Start Date: 01 October 2025
Contract End Date: 30 September 2029
The contract term is for an initial period of 2 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance.
111 Online Services (North East Wide)
This is a new service.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Key Criteria 1: Quality and Innovation / Weighting: 35
Quality criterion - Name: Key Criteria 2: Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Key Criteria 3: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Key Criteria 4: Social Value / Weighting: 10
Cost criterion - Name: Key Criteria 5: Value (Price) / Weighting: 30
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
The Relevant Authority assessed the five key criteria against the service requirements and determined the relative importance of each, as outlined above and detailed within the provider response documentation. The contract award criteria are specified in the provider response documents.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Primary Care Speak To Dispositions (Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle)
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Competitive Process.
This is an intention to award notice to advise that the relevant authority intends to award a contract under a competitive process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Regulations 2024 (Procurement Act 2023) and/ or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) is a commissioning support service working for and on behalf of The North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (the Relevant Authority) who have undertaken a competition process to provide a Framework for Third-Party 111 Online and Primary Care Speak To (PCST) Services.
Contract Start Date: 01 October 2025
Contract End Date: 30 September 2029
The contract term is for an initial period of 2 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance.
Primary Care Speak To Dispositions (Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle)
This is a new service.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Key Criteria 1: Quality and Innovation / Weighting: 35
Quality criterion - Name: Key Criteria 2: Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Key Criteria 3: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Key Criteria 4: Social Value / Weighting: 10
Cost criterion - Name: Key Criteria 5: Value (Price) / Weighting: 30
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
The Relevant Authority assessed the five key criteria against the service requirements and determined the relative importance of each, as outlined above and detailed within the provider response documentation. The contract award criteria are specified in the provider response documents.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Primary Care Speak To Dispositions (North Durham, Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield, Darlington)
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Competitive Process.
This is an intention to award notice to advise that the relevant authority intends to award a contract under a competitive process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Regulations 2024 (Procurement Act 2023) and/ or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) is a commissioning support service working for and on behalf of The North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (the Relevant Authority) who have undertaken a competition process to provide a Framework for Third-Party 111 Online and Primary Care Speak To (PCST) Services.
Contract Start Date: 01 October 2025
Contract End Date: 30 September 2029
The contract term is for an initial period of 2 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance.
Primary Care Speak To Dispositions (North Durham, Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield, Darlington)
This is a new service.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Key Criteria 1: Quality and Innovation / Weighting: 35
Quality criterion - Name: Key Criteria 2: Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Key Criteria 3: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Key Criteria 4: Social Value / Weighting: 10
Cost criterion - Name: Key Criteria 5: Value (Price) / Weighting: 30
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
The Relevant Authority assessed the five key criteria against the service requirements and determined the relative importance of each, as outlined above and detailed within the provider response documentation. The contract award criteria are specified in the provider response documents.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2025/S 000-015641
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
1
Title
111 Online Services (North East Wide)
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
7 August 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
DHU Healthcare
No 2 Roundhouse Road
Derby
DE24 8JE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKC - North East (England)
Companies House
05834163
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £3,128,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £3,128,000
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
2
Title
Primary Care Speak To Dispositions (Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle)
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
7 August 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
DHU Healthcare
No 2 Roundhouse Road
Derby
DE24 8JE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKC - North East (England)
Companies House
05834163
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £2,560,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £2,560,000
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
3
Title
Primary Care Speak To Dispositions (North Durham, Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield, Darlington)
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
7 August 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 6
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
DHU Healthcare
No 2 Roundhouse Road
Derby
DE24 8JE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKC - North East (England)
Companies House
05834163
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £3,180,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £3,180,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
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 Procurement Regulations 2024 (Procurement Act 2023) and/ or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. A contract will not be awarded until after the 9th working day following standstill. 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 on 20 August 2025. Any representations should be sent via the Atamis messaging portal and/or via email to necsu.neprocurement@nhs.net
The individual(s) making the award decision are:
• North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (NEAS) Performance and Finance Committee
• Head of Planning and Performance
• Assistant Director of Contracting and Performance
• Deputy Director of Quality and Safety
• Assistant Director of Quality and Safety
• Deputy Director of Paramedicine
• EOC Systems and Resilience Manager
• IM&T Systems Manager
• Head of Informatics
• Head of 111 and IUC CAS
• Clinical Service Manager - IUC CAS
There were no declared of potential conflicts of interest of individuals making the award decision.
Conflicts of interest were completed by all involved in the process and no potential conflicts were identified.
The scoring criteria for the Basic Selection Criteria Questions were either evaluated as Pass/Fail or For Information.
The Relevant Authority considered the five key criteria against the service requirements and determined the relative importance of each, as outlined below and detailed within in the provider response documentation.
Quality and Innovation - 35%
Value (price) - 30%
Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability - 15%
Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice - 10%
Social Value - 10%
The successful provider (preferred lot supplier) for each lot was selected based on offering the most advantageous Provider response by scoring the highest combined score for quality (key criteria) and finance, evaluated against the published evaluation criteria as detailed within the provider response documentation. As a result, they are the recommended provider and have been awarded the contract, subject to final agreement.
Accredited Framework suppliers not achieving 'preferred Lot supplier' status will not be issued with a sub-contract by the Trust, however they will be retained as 'accredited Framework suppliers' throughout the term and may be utilised by the Trust to provide a) contingency cover in the event of a failure of the 'preferred Lot supplier', b) short-term surge capacity during times of peak demand, and c) support for bespoke capacity initiatives and pilot projects if required from time to time.
The following providers passed all elements of the tender technical response and financial model template and were awarded accredited framework supplier status:
Lot 1 - Vocare
Lot 2 - Practice Plus Group, Vocare
Lot 3 - County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, Practice Plus Group, Vocare
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
North East Ambulance Services NHS Foundation Trust
Bernicia House
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE15 8NY
Country
United Kingdom