Scope
Reference
PRJ4017
Description
North Central London (NCL) ICB intend to directly award to NCL Training Hub (provider) a contract to deliver non-clinical services to support general practice workforce development and transformation across North Central London. The Training Hub is a unique provider within NCL, having been contracted, following a procurement process, by NHS England Workforce, Training and Education Directorate (NHSE WT&E) to be the nominated training body for North Central London ICS.
The non-clinical (training) services to be procured represent a continuation of services procured in 2024/25 to support NCL primary care workforce recruitment, retention and succession planning.
This will include continued delivery of the final year of a multi-year, nationally funded General Practice Fellowship and Mentoring Programme, which is funded through annual allocation of Service Development Funding. Additionally, a programme of training and development for NCL general practices and Primary Care Networks.
The contract will cover delivery of:
1. The final year of the GP Fellowship & Mentoring Programme (59% of contract value)
2. Workforce training and development in support of the NCL People Strategy (41% of contract value)
This contract will be for one year in duration.
Contract 1
Supplier
Contract value
- £1,589,900 excluding VAT
- £1,589,900 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
30 September 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 30 September 2025 to 31 March 2026
- 6 months, 1 day
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
Contract locations
- UKI - London
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - technical reasons
- Additional or repeat goods, services or works - extension or partial replacement
Each Integrated Care System (ICS) across England has an appointed Training Hub. For NCL ICS, this is the NCL Training Hub. The Training Hub is a unique provider within NCL, having been contracted, following a procurement process, by NHS England Workforce, Training and Education Directorate (NHSE WT&E) to be the training body for North Central London ICS. There is an expectation that they deliver training to general practice, where there is a need for this to be embedded within the wider system.
SDF Guidance for 2025/26 states that:
"Systems should engage with practices, PCNs and training hubs to understand the training and development needs and identify where programmes may need to be commissioned to meet them, building on the training hub core offer".
Training Hubs are run by a clinical leadership and management supported by a network of primary care staff with education and training professionals based in the community, working closely
with general practice, PCNs and ICS to support workforce priorities and tackle health inequalities. The NCL Training Hub has an explicit remit, through its contract with NHSE WT&E to understand and respond to local system workforce challenges and, as part of this role, maintains established relationships with NCL GP practices,
NCL PCNs, NCL GP Federations and the NCL GP Provider Alliance (GPPA).
The NCL Training hub direct award is proposed due to the following justifications:
1. The interoperability and compatibility with existing provisions within the WT&E contract for the purchase of additional services to the development of General Practice workforce, noting the SDF guidance states funding is to be used to build on the training hub core offer Procurement Act 2023 applicable justification criteria 26 & 29
2. In relation to the final year of the GP Fellowships and Mentoring programme (59% of the contract value) infrastructure costs relating to this programme were commissioned at the start of each fellowships (up to and including final payment in 2023/24) positioning the Training Hub as the single supplier to deliver the final year of the programme due to the interoperability and technical expertise to deliver the final year of a 6 year programme
Procurement Act 2023 applicable justification criteria 25, 26 & 29. The Commissioners are observing a standstill which will end at midnight on 9th September 2025.
Supplier
North Central London Training Hub
- Companies House: 10180486
48 Station Road
London
N22 7TY
United Kingdom
Email: nclicb.nclth@nhs.net
Region: UKI43 - Haringey and Islington
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
NHS NORTH CENTRAL LONDON INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
- NHS Organisation Data Service: QMJ
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWBN-7811-DGVX
Laycock PDC, Laycock Street
London
N1 1TH
United Kingdom
Email: hub.queries@nhs.net
Region: UKI43 - Haringey and Islington
Organisation type: Public authority - central government