NHS Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the provision of Enhanced Imaging Referral Service

Location

Bristol:

Description

This is an Intention to Award Notice to award a contract using the Direct award C process under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations for NHS Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the provision of Enhanced Imaging Referral Service. Community optometrists refer via a UHBW email which is triaged by the Hospital Trust clinical team, but there is no functionality to attach a full set of retinal images obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan, meaning all patients need to be seen face to face at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. The Enhanced Imaging Referral Service pathway provides a digital solution to this issue. The Enhanced Imaging Referral Service pathway is evidence-based and uses best practice guidance to improve the patient journey and clinical and cost-effectiveness for medical retina referrals. It will also capture quality and performance information. This should lead to a reduction in unnecessary referrals, releasing much needed secondary care appointments, ensuring patients are seen by the right service, at the right time and fully informed at point of referral. The enhanced imaging referral service should shift some parts of the existing pathway into primary care, closer to the patient. Providers across both primary and secondary care should work together to improve patient outcomes for patients being referred using this pathway. The service is an end-to-end pathway across primary and secondary care utilising the skills of primary care optometrists, but delivering a more sustainable healthcare pathway closer to the patient by robustly integrating primary and secondary care. Following on from a pilot scheme which was extended for a further 12 months which is due to end on 30th June 2026. To maintain continuity of service while ensuring the future model reflects local need, a time-limited direct award is proposed. This engagement will inform a subsequent competitive procurement to be lead by UHBW for a refreshed service model. This approach supports fair and transparent commissioning while ensuring that future service design is informed. The contract period is 1st July 2026 to 31st March 2027. The total combined contract value is £35,000 (ex VAT) The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight 30th June 2026. This exercise was carried out by NHS BNSSG Integrated care board, supported by NHS South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW), along with the publication of this notice.

Total Quantity or Scope

This is an Intention to Award Notice to award a contract using the Direct award C process under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations for NHS Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the provision of Enhanced Imaging Referral Service Direct Award C has been used for the award of this contract. The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract. The services provided are the service specification are not changing considerably. … This contract had not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under PSR.

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85150000 - Medical imaging services

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. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 30th June 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** This is an Intention to Award Notice to award a contract using the Direct award C process under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations for NHS Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the provision Enhanced Imaging Referral Service. The contract period is 1st July 2026 to 31st March 2027. The total combined contract value is £35,000 (ex VAT) 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. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by Add date (8 working days following publication of intention to award notice). This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the PSR. The existing provider was assessed against the below 5 key criteria of PSR, which were all weighted evenly and used the below assessment matrix: Key Criteria 1. Quality and Innovation 2. Value 3. Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability 4. Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice 5. Social value Assessment Matrix • Where a provider has scored a "Not Assured" for one or more sections, they will not be awarded the contract. • Where a provider has scored "Conditionally Assured" for one or more sections, the ICB will consider the extent to which the partial assurance affects the overall delivery, and will ensure action plans are in place prior to contract finalisation. • Where a provider has scored "Assured" for all sections, the contract can be awarded. Potential conflicts of interest: The SCW procurement team supported the project in the management of conflicts throughout the process. In line with national guidance (Managing conflicts of interest: revised statutory guidance for CCGs 2017) conflicts of interest were given a high priority within the procurement, with 'conflicts of interest' a standing item at project group meetings. Project members were required to complete Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality forms prior to receiving any sensitive documentation. All conflicts were appropriately managed within the project, and there are no latent risks associated with the aforementioned conflicts. The number of conflicts of interest identified among group: 0. Decision Makers; The decision was approved in line with Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board's Scheme of delegation Procurement Oversight Group (POG) 26th May 2026. For the purposes of where written representations are needed to be sent, please do so via the following email address: katie.handford@nhs.net 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 30th June 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.