Provision of Urgent Award MSK Pain Management and Rheumatology on behalf of NHS Mid and South Essex ICB

CPV: Health services

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

11 Jun 2025, 17:28 BST

Last source update

11 Jun 2025, 17:28 BST

Authority reference

ACE-0755-2024-MSE

FTS notice number

2025/S 000-031693

Classification (CPV)

Health services

Delivery area

East of England (UKH3)

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-054717 Find a Tender

Why no open competition

The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive

Published justification

This is an updated notice and replaces Notice Number 2025/S 000-008527 and Notice Reference 2025-041034 due to these services being impacted by the community MSK and pain service procurement. This is a change to the original notification.

The Contract Term is to reduce uncertainty for the Providers and to ensure continuity of service. Originally the award was approved by Executive Committee in November 2024 as an award for 7 months with an option to extend for 5 months. The Contract Term shall now be for 12 months, with a 3 months’ notice period. The current procurement timeline is indicating a new service may start on 1st February 2026, but this is subject to change.

The Urgent Award to the existing provider is to ensure that there is continued provision of MSK Pain Management and Rheumatology Services to the registered population of NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (Basildon and Brentwood and Thurrock) to ensure sufficient time for the procurement and that there is no risk to patient safety through increased (long) waiting times unless an arrangement is in place for 1 April 2025 as all access would then be referred into MSEFT who have confirmed they cannot absorb the activity within current capacity.

The current contract with the incumbent (Connect Health) expires on 31st March 2025 and as a consequence there is a requirement to award this contract. The value is a £0 value contract – paid at local prices – planning value for 2025-26 is £3,320,718

Publisher note: This contract has been awarded under the urgent circumstances provision of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This contract has been awarded 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 in this award. This is an updated notice and replaces Notice Number 2025/S 000-008527 and Notice Reference 2025-041034 due to these services being impacted by the community MSK and pain service procurement. This is a change to the original notification. The Contract Term is to reduce uncertainty for the Providers and to ensure continuity of service. Originally the award was approved by Executive Committee in November 2024 as an award for 7 months with an option to extend for 5 months. The Contract Term shall now be for 12 months, with a 3 months’ notice period. The current procurement timeline is indicating a new service may start on 1st February 2026, but this is subject to change. The Urgent Award to the existing provider is to ensure that there is continued provision of MSK Pain Management and Rheumatology Services to the registered population of NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (Basildon and Brentwood and Thurrock) to ensure sufficient time for the procurement and that there is no risk to patient safety through increased (long) waiting times unless an arrangement is in place for 1 April 2025 as all access would then be referred into MSEFT who have confirmed they cannot absorb the activity within current capacity. The current contract with the incumbent (Connect Health) expires on 31st March 2025 and as a consequence there is a requirement to award this contract. The value is a £0 value contract – paid at local prices – planning value for 2025-26 is £3,320,718 Decision makers are: NHS Mid and South Essex ICB Executive Team No conflicts of interest have been identified

• Connect Health LimitedAwarded supplier The Light Box, Quorum Business Park, Benton Lane,, Newcastle Upon Tyne,, North East, NE12 8EU

No document links were published on the notice.