Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
EAST KENT HOSPITALS UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
RVV
Trust Headquarters, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road
Canterbury
CT13NG
UK
Contact person: Senior Category Manager - Corporate
E-mail: ekh-tr.procurement@nhs.net
NUTS: UKJ44
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.ekhuft.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
CT-Guided Biopsy Diagnostic Capacity Support Service
Reference number: C485757
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85110000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust intends to award a contract for the provision of additional CT-guided biopsy capacity to support timely diagnosis and treatment pathways.
The service includes CT-guided biopsy procedures, consultant-led intervention, histopathology support and associated diagnostic services.
The Trust has undertaken the Most Suitable Provider Process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 and has identified the provider as the most suitable provider having regard to the key criteria.
This notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the Most Suitable Provider Process.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
250 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85150000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKI
Main site or place of performance:
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2PR
Services are provided for East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust patients.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust intends to award a contract under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 using the Most Suitable Provider Process.
The contract is for the provision of specialist CT-guided biopsy capacity to support respiratory, lung cancer and diagnostic pathways.
Services include consultant-led CT-guided biopsy procedures, imaging support, sedation where clinically indicated, biopsy acquisition, histopathology processing and associated administration arrangements.
The service will be delivered by HCA International Ltd. through London Bridge Hospital.
This is a new diagnostic capacity arrangement intended to support patients requiring specialist CT-guided biopsy procedures where additional capacity is required.
The provider has offered a fully outsourced walk-in, walk-out package inclusive of consultant radiologist fees, sedation, intraoperative imaging support and histopathology services.
The immediate requirement relates to an initial cohort of approximately 15 patients requiring CT-guided biopsy procedures.
The Trust may require additional activity during the contract period to support respiratory and lung cancer diagnostic pathways, waiting list management and diagnostic recovery requirements.
The contract has therefore been structured to provide access to additional capacity should further referrals be required during the contract term.
The approximate lifetime value of the contract is £250,000 excluding VAT.
The initial service period is anticipated to run from contract award until 31 March 2027.
This notice constitutes an intention to award a contract under the Most Suitable Provider Process.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Most Suitable Provider Process assessment against the statutory key criteria
/ Weighting: 100
Price
/ Weighting:
0
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The contracting authority reserves the option to continue the arrangement and utilise additional capacity during the contract term, subject to service requirements, funding availability, performance and mutual agreement between the parties.
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 Trust identified HCA International Ltd as the most suitable provider. The service will be delivered through London Bridge Hospital, providing access to specialist CT-guided biopsy expertise and additional diagnostic capacity.
The provider demonstrated the ability to provide consultant-led CT-guided biopsy procedures, associated pathology services and access to specialist facilities capable of supporting the Trust's respiratory and lung cancer diagnostic pathways.
The Trust considered clinical capability, patient outcomes, quality, operational capacity, service continuity and value in reaching its decision.
The provider demonstrated the ability to mobilise rapidly and support diagnostic pathway resilience where additional CT-guided biopsy capacity is required.
Whilst the immediate requirement relates to approximately 15 patients, the Trust anticipates that further activity may be required during the contract period and has therefore included flexibility within the proposed arrangement to support future pathway demand.
Having regard to the statutory key criteria, HCA International Ltd. was assessed as the most suitable provider capable of delivering the required specialist service within the required timescales.
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 and Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award.
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has undertaken a Most Suitable Provider Process in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 for the provision of specialist CT-guided biopsy services.
The Trust has identified HCA International Ltd as the most suitable provider having regard to the statutory key criteria, including quality and innovation, value, integration and collaboration, improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating patient choice, and social value.
The service is required to support respiratory and lung cancer pathways through the provision of specialist CT-guided biopsy capacity. The Trust determined that the immediate requirement was for CT-guided biopsy services and did not proceed with the previously considered Ion Navigation Bronchoscopy pathway.
HCA International Ltd demonstrated specialist clinical capability, consultant-led CT-guided biopsy services, imaging infrastructure, pathology support, available capacity and the ability to mobilise within the required timescales. The provider was assessed as capable of supporting timely diagnosis and improving pathway resilience for East Kent patients.
The immediate requirement relates to approximately 15 patients; however, the Trust anticipates that additional activity may be required during the contract period. The proposed arrangement therefore provides access to additional specialist capacity should future demand arise.
The Trust concluded that HCA International Ltd represents the most suitable provider to deliver the required service and intends to award the contract following completion of the applicable Provider Selection Regime standstill period.
The standstill period begins on the day after publication of this notice.
Representations by providers must be made to the decision makers by 10 November 2026.
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the Provider Selection Regime.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: C485757
Title: CT-Guided Biopsy Diagnostic Capacity Support Service
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
26/10/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
HCA International Ltd
03020522
2 Cavendish Square
London
W1G 0PU
UK
NUTS: UKI
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.hcahealthcare.co.uk
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:
: 250 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted
Short description of the part of the contract to be subcontracted:
Histopathology, diagnostic reporting or associated specialist support services may be delivered through approved subcontracting arrangements operating under the provider's clinical governance framework.
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 and Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award.
The standstill period begins on the day after publication of this notice.
Representations by providers must be made by 10 November 2026.
Representations should be submitted in writing to:
ekh-tr.procurement@nhs.net
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
Decision-makers:
• Managing Director of Diagnostics, Cancer and Buckland Care Group
• Head of Operations - Radiology
• Senior Category Manager - Corporate Services acting on behalf of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
• Appropriate Trust approving officers in accordance with the Scheme of Reservation and Delegation
Conflicts of Interest:
No conflicts of interest were declared by the decision-makers. Any identified conflicts have been reviewed and managed in accordance with the Trust's Conflicts of Interest Policy.
Relative importance of the key criteria:
• Quality and Innovation - High
• Value - High
• Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice - High
• Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability - High
• Social Value - Medium
Rationale for provider selection:
The Trust identified HCA International Limited as the most suitable provider following assessment against the statutory key criteria under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
The service is required to support timely diagnosis within respiratory and lung cancer pathways by providing additional CT-guided biopsy capacity.
The Trust considered and discounted progression of the Ion Navigation Bronchoscopy pathway and determined that the immediate requirement was for CT-guided biopsy capacity.
HCA International Ltd. demonstrated specialist CT-guided biopsy capability, consultant-led clinical services, imaging infrastructure, pathology support and available capacity to support the Trust's requirements.
The provider demonstrated the ability to mobilise rapidly and provide a fully outsourced diagnostic service supporting timely intervention and diagnosis.
The Trust considered quality, patient outcomes, available capacity, specialist expertise, operational delivery, service continuity, patient access and value in reaching its decision.
The provider offers an established specialist service with access to consultant radiologists, supporting timely diagnosis for patients requiring CT-guided lung biopsy procedures.
The immediate requirement relates to approximately 15 patients. However, the Trust anticipates that additional activity may be required during the contract period to support respiratory, lung cancer and diagnostic pathways. The proposed arrangement therefore provides access to additional capacity should future demand arise.
Having regard to the statutory key criteria, HCA International Ltd. was assessed as the most suitable provider capable of delivering the required specialist CT-guided biopsy service within the required timescales.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The High Court of Justice
London
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
The provider selection process has been conducted in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
Representations relating to this intended award must be submitted in writing during the standstill period specified in this notice. Representations should be addressed to the contracting authority using the contact details provided within this notice.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
26/10/2026