Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board
QHM
Sunderland
UK
E-mail: necsu.neprocurement@nhs.net
NUTS: UKC
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://northeastnorthcumbria.nhs.uk/
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to 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
Sunderland Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS)
Reference number: NHSE1114
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) is a commissioning support service working for and on behalf of NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (the Relevant Authority) who are undertaking a competition to provide. Alternative Provider Medical Service (APMS) to be delivered for patients of Sunderland.
Contract Start Date: 15 April 2027
Contract End Date: 14 April 2036
The contract term is for an initial period of 7 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
10 793 077.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85120000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKC
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) is a commissioning support service working for and on behalf of NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) (NENC ICB) (the Relevant Authority), who are undertaking a competition process to commission an Alternative Provider Medical Service (APMS) to be delivered for patients of Sunderland.
The contract term is for an initial period of 7 years commencing on 15 April 2027, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance.
The annual contract value is £1,199,231.
This is an Existing Service.
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Healthcare Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Regulations 2024 (Procurement Act 2023) and/ or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award
The closing date for submission of competition response is by Noon on 11 November 2026.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality and Innovation
/ Weighting: 40
Quality criterion: Collaboration and Service Sustainability
/ Weighting: 23
Quality criterion: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice
/ Weighting: 17
Quality criterion: Social Value
/ Weighting: 10
Cost criterion: Value
/ Weighting: 10
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
10 793 077.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 108
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The contract term is for an initial period of 7 years commencing on 15 April 2027, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
The Provider Response Documentation includes the contract award criteria, including the agreed relative importance of key criteria (for example, weightings apportioned to questions within the key criteria) against which responses will be evaluated. The providers will be assessed against the relevant 5 key criteria.
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
11/11/2026
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
11/11/2026
Local time: 13:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.3) Additional information
NECS is utilising an electronic tendering tool to manage this competition and communicate with potential providers.
Accordingly, there will be no hard copy documents issued to potential providers and all communications with NECS, including response submissions, will be conducted via the Atamis portal at: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome It is free to register on the portal and it can be accessed at any time of day providing you have a working internet connection. Should providers have any queries, or are having problems registering on the portal; they should contact the Atamis helpdesk via:
Support-health@Atamis.co.uk or phone number 0800 0988201
The helpdesk is open Monday - Friday between 08.00 am - 06.00 pm
The "Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006" as amended by the "Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) (Amendment) Regulation 2014" (TUPE) may apply to this contract. However, Providers are advised to obtain their own legal advice and carry out due diligence including the New Fair Deal non-statutory policy setting out how pensions issues are to be dealt with when staff are compulsorily transferred from the public sector to independent providers delivering public services
Competition documentation will be available on the e-tendering site from 12 October 2026.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board
Pemberton House, Colima Avenue
Sunderland
SR3 3XB
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
12/10/2026