Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
Hamstel Road,
Harlow
CM20 1QX
UK
Contact person: Charlene Clark
Telephone: +49 815459042
E-mail: charlene.clarke1@nhs.net
NUTS: UKH35
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.pah.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.pah.nhs.uk/
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
Integrated MSK Service
Reference number: C429514
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85323000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The provider currently delivers MSK community care across the West Essex area. This includes triage, physiotherapy, Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioners (APP), First Contact Practitioners, podiatric surgery, a pain management team, and podiatry services. The provider offers a high-quality service supported by highly experienced staff who deliver triage, assessment, diagnosis, diagnostics, and treatment to patients.<br/><br/>The intention is to award a contract to the existing provider through the Direct Award Process C.<br/><br/>Service dates: 01/04/2026 – 31/03/2031<br/><br/>Contract value: £23,743,285<br/><br/>The existing provider is successfully meeting the requirements of the original contract and is expected to continue delivering the proposed contract to a satisfactory standard 100%.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
23 743 285.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85323000
85323000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKH
Main site or place of performance:
The Princess Alexandra Hospital
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
k1. The contract is to remain the same and the provider will continue to provide triage, physiotherapy, APP, FCP, podiatric surgery, pain management and podiatry. Activity plans will remain the same, however the APP plan will have a seasonal variance. There is to be no change to capacity within the service. <br/><br/>The service will be continually monitored but should remain achieving DNA and waiting time KPIs. It is expected that pathway review work will continue which in turn will improve the onward referral rate and support secondary care in increasing conversion to surgery rates. <br/><br/>The provider will be required to regularly collect and submit patient satisfaction data, this is collected but not currently routinely reported.<br/><br/>The provider will continue to review services and new guidance to ensure quality standards are met. The partnership will review how more technology, can be incorporated into the pathway to improve patient experience and focus on prevention as per the 10 year plan. <br/><br/>k2. The contract is not changing so will continue to provide value by providing community services closer to home. As part of the pathway reviews there will be opportunity to provide more in reach to secondary care for follow up outpatient appointments, further reducing the number of consultant appointments required as per Get It Right First Time (GIRFT) guidance. <br/><br/>k3. The provider will continue to provide FCPs in primary care and offer education and peer review to primary care clinicians at GP shut down sessions. <br/><br/>As part of the pathway reviews there is opportunity to have more APPs providing in-reach to consultant clinics to focus on follow up outpatient appointments, as per get it right first time (GIRFT) pathways. The pathway review will also improve referrals, conversion rates to surgery and discharge rates from clinic as we have seen in the shoulder sub-speciality. <br/> <br/>The spinal MDT is also expected to be expanded to discuss all patients not just complex patients. The provider is keen to support this and is reviewing capacity and referral rates to see how this can be achieved.<br/><br/>k4. Access to locations will remain unchanged and the current accessible locations will continue to be in place.<br/><br/>FCPs will continue to be in place across the West Essex patch offering MSK care at the beginning of the pathway.<br/><br/>Self referral will continue to be in place ensuring MSK care can be accessed without the need of a GP/primary care appointment<br/><br/>k5. The service will continue to be a provider in the community, at the current locations providing care closer to home, ensuring less travel costs for patients to attend appointments and reducing carbon emissions.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
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 standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 17th March 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR'.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
05/03/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
00707299
The Lodge, Lodge Approach
Esssex
SS11 7XX
UK
NUTS: UKH
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
Lowest offer:
23 743 285.00
GBP
/ Highest offer:
23 743 285.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional 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 do not apply to this award.<br/><br/>The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice 6th March 2026<br/><br/>Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 17th March 2026.<br/><br/>Written representations should be sent to Charlene.clark1@nhs.net<br/><br/>This contract has not yet formally been awarded - this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.<br/><br/>No declared conflicts of interest<br/><br/>The following approved to direct award the MSK contract to EPUT;<br/>Executive Cabinet - 14th January 2026 (PAH executive team)<br/>Performance & Finance Committee - 29th January 2026 (PAH executive and non-executive team)<br/>Trust Board - 5th February 2026 (PAH executive and non-executive team)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The High Court
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
05/03/2026