APMS Contracts in Mid and South Essex

Location

Mid and South Essex

Description

NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) intends to award multiple contracts for the provision of Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) to incumbent providers across Mid and South Essex under Direct Award Process C in accordance with the Provider Selection Regime 2023. This approach reflects a strategic commissioning decision to ensure continuity and stability of primary care services where current providers are delivering safe, effective, and patient-centred care with no identified quality concerns, while also demonstrating value for money and strong integration within Primary Care Networks and local neighbourhood models. The proposed awards support the ICB’s objectives to maintain service continuity, manage demand and workforce pressures, and improve population health outcomes, while responding to local market capacity constraints and avoiding service disruption. Contracts will be aligned to existing service models and are not materially different in character from current arrangements, with the intention of enabling ongoing delivery of accessible, responsive primary medical services and supporting longer-term system planning. Please see II.2.4) Description of the procurement for further details.

Total Quantity or Scope

NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) intends to award multiple contracts for the provision of Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) to incumbent providers across Mid and South Essex under Direct Award Process C, in accordance with the Provider Selection Regime 2023. This commissioning approach reflects a strategic decision to maintain continuity and stability of primary medical services where current providers are delivering safe, effective, and patient-centred care, with no identified quality concerns. The incumbent providers demonstrate strong operational performance, integration within Primary Care Networks, and the ability to respond to local population health needs, while also providing services that represent value for money relative to alternative delivery models. College Health Limited will be awarded three contracts for Thurrock Health Centre, Commonwealth Health Centre and Tilbury Health Centre. These contracts will run for a period of five years, commencing 1 July 2027 and expiring 30 June 2032. The decision to award these contracts reflects the need to maintain service continuity while further work is undertaken to assess longer-term commissioning options, including considerations relating to patient choice and provider scale. The proposed arrangements are not materially different in character from existing contracts (Regulation 6(10)(a)) and the awards are attributable to decisions made by the Authority (Regulation 6(10)(b)(i)). Neither of the value thresholds for a considerable change are met (Regulation 6(b)(i) and 6(b)(ii)). The total estimated lifetime value of the contracts awarded to College Health Limited is £25,301,718.90. Primary Care Partners Limited will be awarded a contract for Purfleet Health Centre for a period of six years, commencing 1 July 2027 and expiring 30 June 2033. This award aligns contract duration with other APMS arrangements held by the provider and reflects the absence of concerns regarding current service delivery, alongside identified constraints in local market capacity to support alternative commissioning routes. The proposed arrangements are not materially different in character from existing provision (Regulation 6(10)(a)) and the award is attributable to a decision made by the Authority (Regulation 6(10)(b)(i)). Neither value threshold for considerable change is met (Regulation 6(b)(i) and 6(b)(ii)). The total estimated lifetime value of the contract awarded to Primary Care Partners Limited is £6,666,209.94.

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85100000 - Health services
• 85121000 - Medical practice services

Indicators

• Award on basis of price.

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 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period, which begins on the day after the notice of intention to award is published. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by midnight on the 8th working day after the day the standstill period begins. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR

Other Information

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 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 via the contact point contained herein by midnight on 19 June 2026. These contracts have not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. Award decision-makers: NHS Integrated Care Board - Governing Board Conflicts of Interest: All individuals involved in the decision‑making process were required to complete conflicts of interest declarations in line with Regulation 21 of the PSR. Conflicts of interest declarations were received and reviewed for relevant officers, including the Director of Primary Care and the Deputy Director for Primary Care Development. No actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest relevant to these contract awards were identified. Where Declaration A was submitted, this was confirmed and recorded in the project conflicts register, which has been maintained as a live document and reviewed at key stages, including prior to publication of the transparency notice. Authorised Individuals oversaw the process, ensuring compliance with PSR requirements, appropriate separation of duties, and ongoing monitoring to ensure that any new or emerging conflicts would be declared promptly and managed proportionately. The Commissioner has undertaken an assessment in line with the Provider Selection Regime and has determined that Direct Award Process C (DAP C) represents the most appropriate route. This reflects the fact that, while alternative providers exist in the wider primary care market, continuity of provision is considered proportionate given the stability of current services, the material risks associated with provider transition, and the importance of maintaining access and neighbourhood integration for registered patient populations. In reaching this decision, the Commissioner applied the five key criteria on a balanced basis, with equal weighting assigned to each (20% per criterion), reflecting their collective importance in ensuring safe, effective, and sustainable primary medical services: Quality and Innovation (20%) – Current provision is stable, with providers meeting regulatory requirements and delivering consistent quality. Opportunities for improvement are expected to be incremental and achievable within existing arrangements, rather than through provider change. Value (20%) – Value for money is considered in terms of whole-life cost, service stability, and avoidance of unnecessary transition expenditure. Continuity is considered to represent the most proportionate and sustainable value position in the absence of material performance concerns. Integration, Collaboration and Sustainability (20%) – Existing providers are embedded within Primary Care Networks and local systems. Maintaining these established relationships supports integrated care delivery and avoids disruption to workforce, pathways, and neighbourhood working. Access, Inequalities and Choice (20%) – Continuity of locally based services supports equitable access and helps minimise disruption for patients, particularly those with higher needs or facing barriers to care. Provider change could risk short-term access issues or reduced practical choice. Social Value (20%) – Current providers deliver social value through workforce development, community engagement, and sustainability initiatives. These benefits are best preserved and developed through continuity rather than transition. Overall, the decision is based on the combined assessment that continuity with incumbent providers best meets the ICB’s objectives at this time.