Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board
Windsor
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ - South East (England)
NHS Organisation Data Service
D4U1Y
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.frimley.icb.nhs.uk
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
Community Ear, Nose and Throat Services - East Berkshire
Reference number
PSCG0056
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission provision of Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Services.
This service sees and treats ENT conditions that can be safely managed in the community, where surgical procedures are not required. This was implemented in 2018 in East Berkshire to offer a locally available service and help reduce inappropriate referrals to secondary care.
Frimley ICB has followed PSR Direct Award C for the contract to which this notice relates.
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: £1,041,040
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Main site or place of performance
East Berkshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission provision of Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Services.
This service sees and treats ENT conditions that can be safely managed in the community, where surgical procedures are not required. This was implemented in 2018 in East Berkshire to offer a locally available service and help reduce inappropriate referrals to secondary care.
Frimley ICB has followed PSR Direct Award C for the contract to which this notice relates.
The total expected value of the contract for the initial 12-month contract term is £520,520. The optional 12-month extension expected value of the contract is £520,520 Therefore, the full expected lifetime contract value (1+1) is £1,041,040.
The contract period will commence on 01 April 2026.
NHS Frimley ICB and Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire & Berkshire West ICB are currently working together in a formal "clustering" arrangement to prepare for their merger into a single, new organisation: the NHS Thames Valley ICB, effective from 1 April 2026.
This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard / Weighting: 80
Price - Weighting: 20
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Option to extend for 12-months
two.2.14) Additional information
Evidence that SOPs Healthcare Ltd have satisfied the existing contract to a sufficient standard according to the detail outlined in the contract: they provided all of the required documentation, information and policies for the existing contract. They have followed the contractual service specification, not deviated from Frimley ICB Safeguarding requirements, charged the correct local prices as per the contract, issued invoices correctly in accordance with the Frimley ICB process, complied with Quality reporting requirements, and followed Schedule 6A reporting requirements. They have complied with/not fallen foul of the applicable NHS Standard Contract (Shorter Form) Service Conditions, including Service Conditions in relation to the following: service standards, co-operation, information requirements, safeguarding, payment terms and quality requirements. They have also complied with/not fallen foul of the applicable shorter Form General Conditions, including those relating to liability & indemnity, assignment & sub-contracting, and Information Governance. The new contracting arrangements are based on a rollover of the previous contracting arrangements/schedules which the provider has already satisfied/complied with to a high standard, and so the provider will highly be likely to be able to satisfy the new contract to a sufficient standard.
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:
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice under Direct Award C. 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 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by email to scwcsu.cbprocurement@nhs.net by midnight on 08 December 2025.This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 November 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
SOPs Healthcare Ltd
Slough
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Companies House
10424605
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,041,040
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 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight 08 December 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
The Commissioner made the decision of directly awarding the incumbent provider SOPs Healthcare Ltd in accordance with the following five criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
• Quality and innovation
• Value
• Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability
• Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice
• Social value
It has been advised that SOPs Healthcare Ltd has the evidenced ability to deliver the activity required to meet service requirements within the required region. A direct award to SOPs Healthcare Ltd under PSR Direct Award C would be appropriate following the Commissioner's evaluation of this provider against the statutory requirements of PSR Direct Award C, and the Commissioner's conclusion that all requirements and criteria have been satisfied.
No declared conflicts or potential conflicts of interest were identified during the decision-making process.
Representations should be sent to scwcsu.cbprocurement@nhs.net
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Frimley ICB
Windsor
Country
United Kingdom