Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board
QE1
Level 3, Christ Church Precinct, County Hall, Fishergate Hill
Preston
PR18XB
UK
Contact person: Nicola Hicks
E-mail: nicola.hicks4@nhs.net
NUTS: UKD4
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.lancashireandsouthcumbria.icb.nhs.uk
Address of the buyer profile: www.lancashireandsouthcumbria.icb.nhs.uk
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
www.lancashireandsouthcumbria.icb.nhs.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Community Tier 2 Gynaecology Service for NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board is publishing this Prior Information Notice (PIN) ahead of a Competitive Process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The authority requires a newly designed Community Tier 2 Gynaecology Service to be delivered seamlessly across the entirety of our operational footprint (NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB). To ensure clinical equity, standardised governance, and unfragmented patient care pathways, this service will be procured as a single, contract to one prime provider.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
10 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85112000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKD1
UKD4
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) is issuing this PIN on behalf of another NHS Body - NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) who wishes to procure a Community Tier 2 Gynaecology Service for patients with routine benign gynaecology conditions for the region of Lancashire and South Cumbria. Patients who need to be seen urgently or who meet the criteria for an urgent suspected gynaecological cancer referral are not included in this service.
This Prior Information Notice is for information only. This notification is provided to enable interested parties to plan for a PSR competitive process.
The main aim of the Community Tier 2 Gynaecology Service is to provide a long-term transformational solution to the current demand and capacity for gynaecology secondary care services.
Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB has four places:
• Central and West Lancashire
• South Cumbria and North Lancashire
• Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
• East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.
The term of the contract is 3 years plus a potential 2-year extension. The total contract value over the 3 years plus the potential 2-year extension will be approximately £10 million.
The ICB is intending to award one contract for the specification.
While this contract will be awarded strictly to a single legal entity, this does not exclude collaborative delivery, consortia bids, or subcontracting arrangements.
Organisations may form partnerships or utilise supply chains to deliver localised elements of the service (e.g., specific clinical interventions or geographical coverage). However, the designated Prime Provider will retain absolute, non-divisible accountability for the contract.
All proposed subcontracting or collaborative arrangements must be fully disclosed at the point of bidding, detailing how standardisation of care will be maintained across the entire operational footprint.
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB are eager to hear from experienced healthcare providers with the knowledge, expertise, and innovation to deliver these vital services. The ICB is not bound to take on board providers' input but is keen to shape the services with best knowledge and engagement from the market.
Any feedback or pre-procurement questions from providers should be submitted to Nicola.hicks4@nhs.net by no later than 29/06/2025.
Please note that this notice is being used to give advance warning to the market and Bids are not expected/accepted at this time.
Further information and instructions of how the bids will be assessed will be included in the Procurement tender documentation once the Competitive process is live.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
03/07/2026
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Provider Selection Regime: The Integrated Care Board (ICB) is aware of its transparency obligations under The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. Please note for those providers expressing interest for these services, this does not guarantee that there will not be a requirement to register for any future provider selection process. This Prior Information Notice is not confirmation that the ICB will take further action, and providers should not rely on any communication to this Prior Information Notice as confirmation that the ICB will proceed further. Furthermore, although the ICB is publishing this Prior Information Notice, it is under no obligation to implement any suggestions from providers.
All details provided by the ICB are in draft format, the ICB reserves the right to change/amend any aspect of the requirement prior to any potential future procurement activity. The ICB also reserves the right to discontinue the process at any time, which shall include the right not to award a contract or contracts and reserves the right to award a contract in part or to call for any Market Engagement process.
This notice is issued subject to Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. Please note that any subsequent contract emanating from this notice will be subject to these Regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Act 2023 will not apply to any future award.
The Contracting Authority shall not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by any candidate or tenderer in connection with the completion and return of the information requested in this Prior Information Notice, or attendance at any meetings or events either virtually or in person.
All dates, time periods and values specified in this notice are provisional and the Contracting Authority reserves the right to change these.
Transparency: The Contracting Authority is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) and may be required to disclose information received in the course of this procurement under FOIA or the EIR.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
11/06/2026