Community Ear, Nose and Throat Services - East Berkshire

Location

East Berkshire

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.

Total Quantity or Scope

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.

Award Detail

Renewal Options

Option to extend for 12-months

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85000000 - Health and social work services

Indicators

• Options are available.
• Award on basis of price.

Legal Justification

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.

Other 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. 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