Official UK procurement notice
Primary Enhanced Service (PES)
Authority: NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (NHS & healthcare)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThis is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice published by NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) communicating that a contract has been awarded to GP Primary Choice Ltd for provision of Primary Enhanced Services, under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. This contract has now been formally awarded using direct award process C, as reflected via this Corrigendum to the original Contract Award Notice (Intention to Award Notice) published on 01/04/2026 (2026/S 000-030564).
CPV: Community health services · General-practitioner services · Health services · Medical practice and related services · Medical practice services · Supply services of medical personnel
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) intend to award a contract for…Awarded
NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) intend to award a contract for provision of Primary Enhanced Services to the existing provider (GP Primary Choice Ltd (GPPC)) following a direct award process C under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
Pursuant to the statutory changes effective from 1 April 2026, the commissioning responsibility for this service transferred from NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB) to the Authority. Accordingly, the service constitutes an inherited commissioning arrangement arising directly from the organisational transition.
Prior to the transfer of commissioning responsibilities, SNEE ICB undertook a Key Criteria assessment to ensure the Decision Makers at this time were satisfied with current performance and reasonably expects the provider to continue to satisfy the proposed contract. The proposed contract is not changing considerably when compared with the previous contract delivered by the named provider.
Following the transfer of commissioning responsibility, the Authority's Decision Makers have reviewed the assessment undertaken by SNEE ICB. The Authority confirms that the new Decision Makers are in full agreement with the conclusions reached in that assessment and are satisfied that the provider continues to meet the required standards of performance. The Authority is assured that the provider remains suitable to deliver the proposed contract and is reasonably expected to continue fulfilling all requirements to a high standard.
The Authority may wish to introduce additional services during the lifetime of the contract ("Contract modifications"). Such contract modifications will be contemplated where additional requirements are similar and or complementary to the services already included in the Specification, at any given time. Such expansion would be by the addition of services commissioned by the Authority as named in the Contract Notice. To this end, after the award of contract, there is a possibility that the contract may be varied as allowable in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
The approximate lifetime value of the contract including any extension if enacted is £6,017,452 (excluding VAT). The contract commences 1 October 2026 - 30 September 2027 with an option to extend for a further period of 12 months from 1 October 2027 - 30 September 2028.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 1 Apr 2026, 16:41 BST
- Last source update
- 21 Apr 2026, 14:05 BST
- Authority reference
ACE-0001-2026-ESX- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-036117- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-067b1fFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
- Published justification
This notice is issued as a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The proposed award of this contract is made in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
Publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Providers wishing to make representations in relation to this intended award must do so by midnight on the 8th working day following publication of this notice. Representations must be submitted in writing to the named contact point within this notice.
This contract has not yet been formally awarded; this notice sets out the Authority’s intention to award under the PSR, subject to the conclusion of the standstill period and consideration of any representations received.
Award Decision-Makers:
- Commissioning route options appraisal performed by the NEE Alliance Strategic Group
- Direct Award recommendation agreed by the North East Essex Primary Care Commissioning Group
- Final approval granted by the Joint Essex Executive Committee (includes NHS Essex Integrated Care Board).
Conflicts of Interest:
- No conflicts of interest, or potential conflicts of interest, were declared by any Decision Makers.
Assessment against Key Criteria:
The decision to award this contract in line with Direct Award Process C has been based on evaluation against the five required Key Criteria. The relative importance of the criteria reflects the need to ensure continuity, quality, integration, value, and system-wide sustainability in the delivery of these services. The rationale for the proposed award is set out below:
- Quality and Innovation 20% – Assured
The Authority is assured that the provider is delivering a safe and effective service in accordance with the current specification and contractual requirements. Performance in this area was reviewed in line with the Quality Impact Assessment.
- Value 20% – Assured
The Authority is satisfied that the provider continues to offer value to the integrated care system. The potential cost and disruption associated with changing provider are not justified when compared with the anticipated benefits, given the provider’s current performance.
- Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability 20% – Assured
The provider demonstrates effective integration and collaboration across the system, contributing positively to service sustainability. This is delivered both through contractual requirements and wider partnership activities.
- Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice 20% – Assured
The provider is meeting population needs by supporting equitable access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating patient choice. This criterion was reviewed with reference to the Equality Impact Assessment.
- Social Value 20% – Assured
The provider is delivering in line with the SNEE Green Plan and contributes to carbon reduction initiatives and activities that improve wider determinants of health. Assessment of this criterion considered the Sustainability Impact Assessment.
These assessments, taken collectively, confirm that the provider meets the requirements specified for a Direct Award Process C and is expected to continue satisfying the requirements of the new contract.
Furthermore, the Decision Makers within NHS Essex Integrated Care Board have reviewed and considered in full the assessment previously undertaken by NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB. The Authority confirms that the Essex ICB Decision Makers are assured by, and in agreement with, the conclusions reached in that assessment. The findings provide the Authority with sufficient confidence that the incumbent provider continues to meet the required standards and remains capable of delivering the service in accordance with the proposed contract.
- Review procedure
Publication of this notice initiates the standstill period. Providers wishing to make representations in respect of this intended award must submit these to the Decision Makers no later than 8 working days following the publication of this notice. Representations must be made in writing and sent to the named contact point within this Notice.
Notice history
2 releases on Find a TenderPublished amendments (1 · 0 deadline changes)
| When | What | Before | After | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | TextVI.3) Additional information · Section VI | — | This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice published by NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) communicating that a contract has been awarded to GP Primary Choice Ltd for provision of Primary Enhanced Services, under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts… |
1 amendment published without a description.
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| GP PRIMARY CHOICE LIMITEDSME | £6,017,452 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Primary Enhanced Service (PES) · GP PRIMARY CHOICE LIMITEDSME
- Signed
- 20 Jan 2026
- Value
- £6,017,452
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1bids | — | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Independent Choice and Procurement PanelReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- GP Primary Choice LtdAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.