Managed Service for Catheterisation Lab, Cardio Thoracic Centre and Vascular

This is a UK1 pipeline notice only. Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (“the Authority”) intends to procure a managed service supporting Catheterisation Laboratories, Cardiothoracic and Vascular services across Basildon, Broomfield and Southend. The procurement is expected to be the first service-specific procurement within the Authority’s wider Managed Services Programme. The indicative scope may include equipment lifecycle planning and management; equipment supply, installation, commissioning, maintenance and uptime management; consumables and high-cost devices; inventory and supply chain management; digital integration and analytics; operational efficiency support; and appropriately defined on-site service support. The final scope, service boundaries, risk allocation and requirements will be confirmed in the tender notice and associated procurement documents.

The proposed procurement forms part of the Authority’s wider Improving Value agenda and multi staged Managed Services Programme, which has been endorsed through the Authority’s governance arrangements. The intended outcomes include improved productivity, reduced operational variation, greater service resilience, modernised clinical infrastructure, improved asset utilisation and a more predictable revenue based approach to lifecycle investment. The procurement is also intended to support elective recovery, digital interoperability and operational efficiency. These intended outcomes remain subject to approval of the relevant business case and completion of the applicable assurance processes.

The procurement will be conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and the Procurement Regulations 2024. In carrying out the procurement, the Authority will have regard to the objectives of delivering value for money, maximising public benefit, sharing information to allow suppliers and others to understand the Authority’s procurement policies and decisions, and acting, and being seen to act, with integrity. The Authority will comply with the statutory duty to treat suppliers the same, together with the applicable requirements relating to conflicts of interest, exclusions, conditions of participation, assessment of tenders, contract award and publication of notices.

The Authority’s current intention is to use the competitive flexible procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. Subject internal approvals and finalisation of the procurement documents, the procedure is expected to include a structured negotiation stage to include:

1. Assessment of suppliers against the conditions of participation
2. Invitation to submit initial tenders
3. Negotiation with selected suppliers
4. Invitation to submit final tenders

The tender notice and associated procurement documents will set out the final procedure, including the conditions of participation, minimum requirements, award criteria, assessment methodology, stages of the procedure, any limits on the number of participating suppliers, the basis for progression or down selection, the scope of any negotiation, and any reserved rights to amend, suspend or terminate the procedure. Any such reserved right will be exercised transparently, proportionately and in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and the Procurement Regulations 2024, including the duties to treat suppliers the same and not to put any supplier at an unfair advantage or disadvantage.

The indicative initial contract term is ten years, from 1 September 2028 to 31 August 2038. The Authority currently anticipates including an option to extend the contract for up to a further five years, potentially to 31 August 2043. Any extension would be exercised at the Authority’s discretion and would be subject to satisfactory performance, continuing affordability, value for money, service requirements, the contractual extension provisions and completion of the Authority’s applicable governance and gateway approvals.

The procurement will be subject to the Authority’s applicable governance, business case approval and assurance requirements, including any relevant requirements of NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office.

All information in this pipeline notice, including the scope, procedure, estimated dates and contract term, is indicative and may change as the procurement develops. The Authority will keep the information under review and will update or correct the notice where appropriate. This notice does not commence a competitive tendering procedure, constitute an invitation to tender or create any commitment by the Authority to proceed with the procurement. Suppliers should rely on the subsequently published tender notice and associated procurement documents for the definitive requirements and procedure.

Indicative procurement timetable:

• Outline Business Case (OBC) assurance and approval — By 28 January 2027
• Publication of the tender notice and commencement of the competitive flexible procedure — February 2027
• Conditions of participation stage — February to April 2027
• Initial tender stage — April 2027
• Negotiation stage — June 2027
• Final tenders and preferred bidder selection — July to August 2027
• Final Business Case (FBC) and final approvals — September to November 2027
• Contract award and mobilisation — Mid November 2027 to August 2028
• Service go-live — 1 September 2028

The dates above are the Authority’s current estimates and may change as the business case, assurance, governance and procurement planning progress. Updated timing will be provided through subsequent notices and procurement documents where appropriate.