Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS NORTH EAST AND NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
QHM
PEMBERTON HOUSE COLIMA AVENUE SUNDERLAND ENTERPRISE PARK
Sunderland
SR53XB
UK
E-mail: nencicb.procurement@nhs.net
NUTS: UKC
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://northeastnorthcumbria.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
Delivery of Protected Learning Time (PLT) for General Practice, Pharmacy, Optometry and Dental
Reference number: PROC004
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
To lead, design, deliver and expand a model of Protected Learning Time (PLT) for general practice in year 1 (and in year 2 and 3 Pharmacy, Optometry and Dental), ensuring a standardised offer across NENC in terms of the number and type of events and the arrangements and funding for any clinical cover per session.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
1 262 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKC
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
To lead, design, deliver and expand a model of Protected Learning Time (PLT) for general practice in year 1 (and in year 2 and 3 Pharmacy, Optometry and Dental), ensuring a standardised offer across NENC in terms of the number and type of events and the arrangements and funding for any clinical cover per session.
As a first step, co-produce a future PLT model with general practices, recognising any cover arrangements must comply with the new contractual requirements to ensure patients have access to primary care services in person, on the telephone and through an online consultation tool.
Further work will be required in year 1 to scope the capacity and capability needed to provide the same level of support across the wider primary care contractor groups (community pharmacy, optometry and dentistry) for PLT.
The relevant authority intends to award this contract under the urgent circumstances provision under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 and Procurement Regulations 2024 do not apply to this award.
The lifetime value of the contract is £1,262,000.
Contract Start Date: 01 September 2026
Contract End Date: 31 March 2029
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: To address immediate risks to safety and quality of care.
/ Weighting: 100%
Cost criterion: To address immediate risks to safety and quality of care.
/ 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 contract has been awarded under the urgent circumstances provision of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 and Procurement Regulations 2024 do not apply to this award.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: PRO004
Title: Delivery of Protected Learning Time (PLT) for General Practice, Pharmacy, Optometry and Dental
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
01/09/2026
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
Hartlepool & Stockton Health
TBC
Gloucester House, 72 Church Road
Stockton on Tees
TS18 1TW
UK
NUTS: UKC
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:
: 1 262 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
This contract has been awarded under the urgent circumstances provision of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 and Procurement Regulations 2024 do not apply to this award.
Regulation 14 has been applied because delaying the award of the contract would be likely to pose a risk to patient or public safety.
The contract has been awarded for a period exceeding 12 months because the contract term represents the minimum period considered necessary to align with the duration of the associated PCC contract and to ensure continuity of service delivery and achievement of programme objectives. The services are intrinsically linked to, and interdependent with, the wider programme of work being delivered by the PCC and cannot realistically be provided separately.
The award decision was made by the ICB's Neighbourhood Health Sub-Commiittee in line with the ICB's Scheme of Reservation and Delegation (SoRD).
Conflicts of interest were identified with the Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director, and were excluded from taking part in the discussion/decision. There were no other conflicts of interest identified.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board
Sunderland
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
23/09/2026