111 and Integrated Urgent Care Service

Location

Oxford

Description

NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (ICB), acting as Lead Commissioner, together with NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board as Associate Commissioner, sought to commission a provider for the delivery of an NHS 111 and Integrated Urgent Care Service. The service includes the handling and triage of NHS 111 calls using the nationally mandated clinical decision support system and question set. Call handlers undertake the initial triage of calls and onward refer to appropriate services. The Clinical Assessment service includes clinician-led assessment and advice for some dispositions. NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB is the Lead Commissioner and NHS Frimley ICB is the Associate Commissioner for this procurement. From 1 April 2026, following NHS organisational restructuring, commissioning responsibility for this service will transfer to NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board. NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB have followed PSR Direct Award C for the contract to which this notice relates.

Total Quantity or Scope

NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB, as Lead Commissioner, has applied the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Direct Award Process C for the contract to which this notice relates. The total anticipated contract value over the five-year term is £73,291,890. The contract is scheduled to commence on 1 April 2026. This procurement process has been undertaken by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85100000 - Health services

Indicators

• 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 midnight 23 March 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Other Information

Evidence that South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) 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 NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB Safeguarding requirements, charged the correct local prices as per the contract, issued invoices correctly in accordance with the NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West 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 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 like for like 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 23 March 2026. 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 South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust 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 South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has the evidenced ability to deliver the activity required to meet service requirements within the required region. A direct award to South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust 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