Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board
Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands
Bedfordshire
SG17 5TQ
UK
E-mail: blmkicb.contactus@nhs.net
NUTS: UKH25
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.bedfordshirelutonandmiltonkeynes.icb.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.bedfordshirelutonandmiltonkeynes.icb.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
BLMK ICB Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) in Bedford, Central Bedfordshire & Luton
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Non Emergency Patients Transport Provider - NHS funded transport for patients with medical or mobility need.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
14 969 128.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKH24
Main site or place of performance:
Bedford, Central Bedfordshire & Luton
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS), provided by the NHS to transport patients who are unable to attend healthcare appointments due to their medical condition. This service is essential for patients requiring transport for outpatient or haemodialysis appointments, as well as for hospital transfers and discharges. NEPTS is funded and available to those who meet specific eligibility criteria, ensuring that limited resources are used effectively for those most in need.<br/><br/>The patient is likely to qualify for non-emergency patient transport if they meet one or more of the following criteria:<br/>- They have a medical need<br/>- They have a cognitive or sensory impairment<br/>- They have a significant mobility need<br/>- They are travelling to or returning from in-centre haemodialysis<br/>- A safeguarding concern has been raised<br/>- They have wider mobility or medical needs that have resulted in treatment or discharge being missed or severely delayed.<br/><br/>The ICB is intending to award a contract to an existing provider following direct award process C and the approximate lifetime value of the contract is £14,969,128 for a period of two years.<br/><br/>The dates between which the service is intended to be provided are 01.04.2026 - 31.03.2028.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Cost criterion: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard.
/ Weighting: 100
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 publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight 25th March 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.’<br/>Any written representations should be sent to agem.blmkicb.tntracker@nhs.net<br/><br/>The BLMK ICB Chiefs (Executives) gave approval of this in September 2025 at the scheduled Chiefs (Executives) Meeting. Conflicts of interests have been managed in line with ICB's Conflict of Interest and Standards of Business Conduct Policy.
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
02/03/2026
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
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Melbourn
UK
NUTS: UKH12
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:
: 14 969 128.00
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. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight 25th March 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.’<br/>Any written representations should be sent to agem.blmkicb.tntracker@nhs.net<br/><br/>The BLMK ICB Chiefs (Executives) gave approval of this in September 2025 at the scheduled Chiefs (Executives) Meeting. Conflicts of interests have been managed in line with ICB's Conflict of Interest and Standards of Business Conduct Policy.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
NHS England
Wellington House, 133-135 Waterloo Rd
London
SE1 8UG
UK
E-mail: england.commercialqueries@nhs.net
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.england.nhs.uk/
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
13/03/2026