Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board
Kirkham House, John Comyn Drive, Perdiswell
Worcester
WR3 7NS
Contact
Lyle Lloyd, MCIPS, Senior Procurement Officer
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG12 - Worcestershire
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://herefordshireandworcestershire.icb.nhs.uk
Buyer's address
https://herefordshireandworcestershire.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
Provision of an Urgent Access Primary Care Service (Out of Hours, Single Point of Access and Outbreak Management) in Herefordshire and Worcestershire
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This Intention to Award Notice is issued in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The Procurement relates to the Invitation to Tender for the provision of an Urgent Access Primary Care Service (Out of Hours, Single Point of Access and Outbreak Management) in the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, UK.
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: £58,031,855.94
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Herefordshire
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85100000 - Health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG11 - Herefordshire, County of
Main site or place of performance
County of Herefordshire, UK.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This Intention to Award Notice is issued in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The Procurement relates to the Invitation to Tender for the provision of an Urgent Access Primary Care Service (Single Point of Access, Out of Hours, and Outbreak Management).
The procurement was split into two lots. Lot 1 is service provision for the county of Herefordshire, UK.
This notice is an intention to award a contract under the competitive process.
The contract will be for a period of 3 (three) years with the option to extend for a further 2 (two) year period, plus 1 (one) further year, subject to mutual agreement. (The total lifetime of the contract is therefore 6 (six) years.)
NHS Standard Contract Terms and Conditions will apply.
The anticipated contract commencement date is 08th July 2026.
The approximate lifetime value of the contract for Lot 1 (Herefordshire) including the available extension periods is £15,225,917.94.
Contracts for existing GP-Led Out of Hours services in the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire are due to expire on 7th July 2026, therefore, the ICB has been seeking to procure a new Urgent Access Primary Care Service (to include an Out of Hours service, a contribution of clinical staff for the provision of primary care advice in the two existing Single Points of Access (SPoAs), and an Outbreak Management service) for the local resident patient population.
The proposed Urgent Access Primary Care Service (SPoA, Out of Hours, and Outbreak Management) will contribute towards the following outcomes for the local resident patient population:
• Improved access for patients to urgent and emergency care advice, assessments and interventions
• Positive patient-reported experience, resulting from timely and informative care
• Improved patient-reported ease of navigation to the most appropriate service
• Effective urgent care responses that prevent unnecessary acute hospital admissions and maximise independent living, including end-of-life care at home
• Effective urgent care responses that contribute to the reduction of health inequalities that people are experiencing.
These services are classed as Health Care services under The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR). The ICB has adopted a Competitive Process in accordance with Regulations 6(7) and 11 of the PSR Regulations.
Under the PSR Regulations, the ICB was required to assess bids based on basic Selection Criteria, Five Key Criteria (as defined in Regulation 5 of the PSR), and any other elements relevant to contract award. The ICB applied the Crown Commercial Services Selection Questionnaire for the basic Selection Criteria.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: A. Quality & Innovation / Weighting: 25.00%
Quality criterion - Name: B. Value (inclusive of Finance Model Template and Correlation with Service Model, and Financial Resilience Rating) / Weighting: 35.00%
Quality criterion - Name: C. Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability / Weighting: 20.00%
Quality criterion - Name: D. Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities, and Facilitating Choice / Weighting: 10.00%
Quality criterion - Name: E. Social Value / Weighting: 10.00%
Cost criterion - Name: Finance Model Template and Correlation with Service Model / Weighting: 32.50%
Cost criterion - Name: Finanical Resilience Score / Weighting: 2.50%
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Worcestershire
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85100000 - Health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG12 - Worcestershire
Main site or place of performance
The county of Worcestershire, UK.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This Intention to Award Notice is issued in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The Procurement relates to the Invitation to Tender for the provision of an Urgent Access Primary Care Service (Single Point of Access, Out of Hours, and Outbreak Management).
The procurement was split into two lots. Lot 2 is service provision for the county of Worcestershire, UK.
This notice is an intention to award a contract under the competitive process.
The contract will be for a period of 3 (three) years with the option to extend for a further 2 (two) year period, plus 1 (one) further year, subject to mutual agreement. (The total lifetime of the contract is therefore 6 (six) years.)
NHS Standard Contract Terms and Conditions will apply.
The anticipated contract commencement date is 08th July 2026.
The approximate lifetime value of the contract for Lot 2 (Worcestershire) including the available extension periods is £42,805,938.00.
Contracts for existing GP-Led Out of Hours services in the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire are due to expire on 7th July 2026, therefore, the ICB has been seeking to procure a new Urgent Access Primary Care Service (to include an Out of Hours service, a contribution of clinical staff for the provision of primary care advice in the two existing Single Points of Access (SPoAs), and an Outbreak Management service) for the local resident patient population
.
The proposed Urgent Access Primary Care Service (SPoA, Out of Hours, and Outbreak Management) will contribute towards the following outcomes for the local resident patient population:
• Improved access for patients to urgent and emergency care advice, assessments and interventions
• Positive patient-reported experience, resulting from timely and informative care
• Improved patient-reported ease of navigation to the most appropriate service
• Effective urgent care responses that prevent unnecessary acute hospital admissions and maximise independent living, including end-of-life care at home
• Effective urgent care responses that contribute to the reduction of health inequalities that people are experiencing.
These services are classed as Health Care services under The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR). The ICB has adopted a Competitive Process in accordance with Regulations 6(7) and 11 of the PSR Regulations. Under the PSR Regulations, the ICB was required to assess bids based on basic Selection Criteria, Five Key Criteria (as defined in Regulation 5 of the PSR), and any other elements relevant to contract award. The ICB applied the Crown Commercial Services Selection Questionnaire for the basic Selection Criteria.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: A. Quality and Innovation / Weighting: 25.00%
Quality criterion - Name: B. Value (inclusive of Finance Model Template and Correlation with Service Model, and Financial Resilience Rating) / Weighting: 35.00%
Quality criterion - Name: C. Integration, collaboration and service sustainability / Weighting: 20.00%
Quality criterion - Name: D. Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice - Scoring Questions / Weighting: 10.00%
Quality criterion - Name: E. Social Value / Weighting: 10.00%
Cost criterion - Name: Finance Model Template and Correlation with Service Modeldel Template and Correlation with Service Model, and Financial Resilience Rating) / Weighting: 32.50%
Cost criterion - Name: Financial Resilience Rating / Weighting: 2.50%
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
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: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2025/S 000-033623
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
1
Title
Herefordshire
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
19 November 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 3
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
TAURUS HEALTHCARE LIMITED
Nelson House, Whitecross Road
Hereford
HR4 0DG
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG11 - Herefordshire, County of
Companies House
08030655
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £15,225,917.94
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
2
Title
Worcestershire
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
16 December 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 3
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
PRACTICE PLUS GROUP URGENT CARE LIMITED
Ground Floor , 1330 Arlington Business Park, Theale
Reading
RG7 4SA
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ11 - Berkshire
Companies House
05232967
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £42,805,938
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This Intention to Award Notice is issued in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The Procurement relates to the Invitation to Tender for the provision of an Urgent Access Primary Care Service (Single Point of Access, Out of Hours, and Outbreak Management).
The decisions to award the above contracts were ratified by the Board Meeting of the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board at its formal meeting on Wednesday 19th November 2025. The decision was based on the relative importance of the PSR 5 Key Criteria applied in the evaluation of bids, as detailed in the Award Criteria at Section 2.5 above.
Conflicts of Interest were identified during the governance process and the ICB Board Members with actual or potential conflicts of interest were excluded from the meeting and therefore did not have any involvement in any decision-making processes.
This Competitive Process (Regulations 6 and 11) is a procurement process under The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (the Regulations). The Commissioner has applied best procurement practice throughout the process. This process requires a standstill period as per Regulation 12 of the Regulations. Accordingly, a standstill period applies from the day after publication of this Find a Tender Service Intention to Award notice, starting on Tuesday 23rd December 2025 and concluding on midnight on Monday 12th January 2026 (to allow for the Christmas holiday period). Until this time, the ICB will not be concluding any contracts.
Subject to the ICB receiving no representation during the standstill period, the ICB aims to conclude the proposed contracts with the successful bidders on or after midnight on 13th January 2026.
To contact the contracting authority regarding a representation during the standstill period, please contact NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB, at hwicb.corpgov@nhs.net.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Hereford shire & Worcestershire Integrated Care Boardf
The Coach House, John Comyn Drive, Perdiswell,
Worcester
WR3 7NS
Country
United Kingdom