MSK Physiotherapy AI Service

Location

Ashford

Description

The Authority requires a UK-based digital physiotherapy service in which advanced artificial intelligence (AI) is the primary driver of care delivery, ensuring services that are safe, consistent, and cost-effective.

Total Quantity or Scope

The service is expected to deliver a readily available, comprehensive, end-to-end clinical pathway for both new and existing patients, functioning as a full alternative to traditional care pathways rather than as an adjunct, supplementary offering, or "waiting well" solution. The appointed supplier must be capable of taking full clinical and operational ownership and responsibility for the entire patient journey. This includes referral intake, diagnostic triage, clinical assessment, personalised treatment planning, treatment delivery, and discharge. The service delivered should be a hybrid model of digital/AI physiotherapist appointments plus virtual availability of HCPC registered physiotherapists employed by the contracted provider. Accordingly, the supplier must hold Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration to evidence strong clinical governance. In addition, the AI solution must be certified as a Class IIa medical device and be available 24/7 to support safe, timely triage and clinical diagnosis. This notice is on behalf of the Kent Community NHS Health Foundation Trust (KCHFT), whom is the contracting authority. The Trust are following the PSR Most Suitable Provider (MSP) process. This notice is a Contract Award Notice (Intention to award) F03 in line with the MSP process. The approximate lifetime value of the contract is £1,525,000.00 This is an existing service, with a new provider. It is anticipated that the contract for this service would start on 1st June 2026 and be awarded for a 6 month initial term with 3 x 1 Year optional extension periods.

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85142100 - Physiotherapy services

Indicators

• Award on basis of price and quality.

Legal Justification

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, nor the Procurement Act 2023, do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority before midnight at the end of 26/05/26. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Other Information

Previous publication concerning this procedure: Title: MSK Physiotherapy AI Service Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-031171 link: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031171-2026 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, nor the Procurement Act 2023, do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority before midnight at the end of 26/05/26. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. Any written representations should be made to: kentchft.procurementnotices@nhs.net The decision makers for this award are: - Head of Service, Integrated MSK Services - Associate Director for Planned care No conflicts of interest have been identified throughout this process. The deemed relative importance of the key criteria used for decision making is shown below. The rationale of this importance has been determined via the service specification and requirements. - Quality and Innovation 20% - Value 20% - Integration, collaboration and service sustainability 20% - Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating patient choice 20% - Social value 20% Following assessment, it has been determined the provider will be able to satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard in relation to the above criteria.