Provision of Hepatitis C Elimination
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTEstimated Value
Not specified
Deadline
Not specified
Published
11 June 2026
Type
services
Overview
Provision of Hepatitis C Elimination with prison peer support service The Trust considers that an award must be made urgently, the reason for the urgency was not foreseeable by and not attributable to the Trust due to the Emergency Award by NHS England of the Head Contract for Healthcare Services at HMP Lincoln to the Trust.
Delaying the award of the contract to satisfy the requirements of the PSR would likely pose a risk to patient or public safety. The award term reflects the novation of existing supplier subcontracts from the incumbent on existing terms to ensure the continuity of healthcare services during the mobilisation period of less than three-months.
The period of mobilisation would not have allowed the Trust to identify alternative provision for the subcontracted service. The relevant authority has awarded this contract under the Direct Award Process A - Urgent situation (F03) under 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.
Regulations cited
- Public Contracts Regulations 2015
AI Analysis
Powered by AI — always verify against official documents
A prison healthcare trust needs to quickly set up a Hepatitis C elimination service with peer support at HMP Lincoln prison. This is an urgent direct award to keep healthcare running smoothly when the main prison healthcare contract changed hands to the Trust, and there wasn't time to run a normal competitive tender.
Requirements
- Must be able to deliver Hepatitis C elimination services
- Must provide peer support component (prisoners supporting other prisoners)
- Must be able to mobilise within less than three months
- Must take on existing supplier arrangements and terms (novation of subcontracts)
- Must maintain continuity of healthcare services during changeover
- Experience working in prison healthcare settings
Key Tasks & Deliverables
- Design and deliver a Hepatitis C elimination programme at HMP Lincoln
- Establish and train a peer support service run by prison prisoners
- Take over existing subcontracted arrangements from the previous healthcare provider
- Ensure seamless transition of services within a mobilisation period of under three months
- Provide clinical assessment, treatment, and monitoring for Hepatitis C patients
- Support prisoners as peer educators and advocates for the programme
How to Read This Tender
- 1This is a Direct Award, not a competitive tender — the buyer has already chosen the supplier due to emergency circumstances. You won't be competing against other bidders if you're the selected provider, but understand this is a novation (handover of existing contracts, not a fresh contract).
- 2The phrase 'PSR' (Provider Selection Regime) and reference to Healthcare Services Regulations 2023 means normal UK procurement rules were waived because of the urgent prison healthcare handover. Check the full tender documents to understand what existing arrangements you're inheriting.
- 3The three-month mobilisation window is very tight — this isn't a gradual startup. The buyer is under pressure to keep services running at the prison without interruption. Look carefully at what the previous provider was delivering and what resources they had in place.
- 4Watch for 'novation of subcontracts' — this means you may be taking on third-party suppliers (e.g. labs, counselling services) on their existing terms. You won't be able to renegotiate these easily, so identify them early in the full documents.
- 5The urgency is genuine (NHS England emergency award) but also time-limited — this may be a short-term contract while a full competitive procurement happens later. Check the contract end date and any extension terms.
Tips for Small Businesses
- If you're not currently the incumbent provider, this direct award may not be open to you — direct awards are typically made to the existing supplier or a pre-identified alternative. Contact the buyer urgently to clarify eligibility; don't spend time bidding if you're not invited.
- If you are involved, prioritise identifying the existing peer support volunteers and staff at the prison immediately — they are critical to continuity. A quick win is proving you can retain and support them during handover.
- Partner with a larger healthcare provider or prison services specialist if you're a small outfit — the clinical complexity (Hepatitis C treatment) and prison security requirements are challenging. Consider a consortium or subcontracting arrangement to manage risk and compliance quickly.
Award Details
The Hepatitis C Trust
Likely incumbents
Suppliers who won similar work from this buyer in the last 5 years.
- 1
Forensic Eyecare LTD
- 2
The Hepatitis C Trust
- 3
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
1 contract wonlatest 11 Jun 2026 - 4
Premier Physical Healthcare
Forensic Eyecare LTD is the most likely incumbent based on recency and category match. To win, bidders typically need a clearly differentiated proposition or a price advantage.
Independent software, web & cloud studio. We design, build and grow digital products that quietly outlast their category.
How to Apply
Step-by-step submission guide
Submission Portal
Find a Tender
Open the original notice
Click the button below to view the full notice on Find a Tender Service (FTS)
Check the procedure type
The "Procedure" section tells you if it's Open (one stage) or Restricted (SQ then ITT). This changes how you apply
Access the eSourcing portal
FTS notices link to the buyer's eSourcing platform — register there to access documents
Complete the Selection Questionnaire
Higher-value contracts often require an SQ first — this pre-qualifies you before the full bid stage
Submit electronically
Upload your completed response through the eSourcing platform before the closing date and time
FTS contracts are above UK procurement thresholds. Late submissions are strictly rejected — submit at least 24 hours before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
Buyer Profile
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTKey Dates
Published
11 June 2026
Submission deadline
Not specified
Notice type
award
Source
find a tender
Related Contracts
Invitation to Tender: Community First Aid
The Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner is looking for an experienced organisation to deliver a youth violence prevention and first aid training programme for young people aged 11-24. The service will combine practical first aid training with education about knife and weapon dangers, confidence-building, and engagement activities for vulnerable young people.
Taxi and MPV (1-8 seats) Passenger Assistant - Taxi and MPV (1-8 seats) Passenger Assistant
This is a school transport contract to provide an 8-seater taxi or MPV service with a trained Passenger Assistant on board. The service will run Monday to Friday during school hours, transporting students from five postcodes in the Hastings area to The Flagship School in Hastings.
Smoking Cessation Case Management System (CMS)
We are looking for an intuitive system that enables us to access quick timely data to inform our decision making, highlight service need and future direction of travel as new evide
Sheffield Vehicle Recovery RFQ
Sheffield City Council is seeking to appoint a suitably experienced Service Provider to deliver a 24/7 vehicle breakdown and recovery service for Council-owned, leased, and hired v