CDC Phlebotomy Service

Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Decision and Intention to Award CDC Phlebotomy Service ESNEFT Ref: ESNEFT3317 Provider: Award Route: Report Date: GP Primary Choice PSR Direct Award – Option C 11th August 2026 As of the 1st January 2024 the selection process to identify and award contracts to Providers of healthcare services has been removed from the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and are now part of the new Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This report is to seek approval to award a contract under the PSR procedures.

The PSR process provides greater flexibility than the traditional procurement procedures through a number of routes to award contracts including Direct Awards. Whilst the PSR does offer greater flexibility ESNEFT’s default starting position for the selection of a Provider and award of contracts under PSR is competition and Value for Money.

Service Outline and History Our current contract with GPPC is due to expire on 30 September 2026. Following strategic discussions, ESNEFT has confirmed its intention to bring the Acute Phlebotomy service in house.

To ensure a safe and well-managed transition, we are proposing a six-month Direct Award under PSR option C. This extension will provide sufficient time to complete all transition activities, including the TUPE process for affected staff, handover of equipment and service arrangements, implementation of any in house operational processes, and communication with GPs, patients and any other stakeholders.

It will also enable ESNEFT and GPPC to work collaboratively to develop a coordinated transition plan for the additional services currently delivered by GPPC from the Community Diagnostic Centre, including Dermoscopy and 24 hour ambulatory monitoring. GPPC continues to provide a high-quality service and has consistently met the agreed activity levels, delivering approximately 1,300 blood tests per week.

The proposed extension will ensure continuity of patient care while allowing adequate time to complete the transition to an ESNEFT-delivered service in a safe, effective and sustainable manner. ESNEFT Acute CDC Phlebotomy was originally commissioned by NEE CCG/SNEE ICB as a Variation to their PES contract with GPPC.

In 2023 ESNEFT were informed they would need to commission the service as it would no longer be included in the PES Contract as a variation. At this time the GPPC PES contract was due to expire in late October 2023 and the SNEE ICB intentions post this date had not been defined.

As the service worked well for both parties and the patients within the community benefited from a single delivery location not just for Acute Phlebotomy/Community GP Phlebotomy, they were also delivering other services for MACNEE and Acute. In the interim GPPC were direct awarded a 6-month contract under Waiver with a further 6-month contract under PSR Option C to allow time for SNEE ICB to consider their options on their PES commissioning.

SNEE ICB has a PES contract with GPPC until September 2028. 1 Award Option - For this specific award of contract the decision is to Direct Award contract under route C of the PSR Decision Workflow (Appendix 1). The five (5) Key Criteria for a Direct Award as stated in PSR Regulations Part 1, Section 5 are met as stated below (extracted from PSR End to End Process Mapping Spreadsheet – copy at Enclosure 1):: 1.

Quality and Innovation – GP Primary Choice has consistently delivered a safe and effective Acute CDC Phlebotomy service, undertaking approximately 1,300 blood tests each week whilst maintaining service continuity and working collaboratively with ESNEFT clinical and operational teams. The provider has demonstrated compliance with Trust requirements, embedded local processes and contributed to reliable patient care throughout the contract period. 2.

Value – GP Primary Choice delivers the agreed service within the available contract value and achieved the required activity levels. Their established workforce and operational model have enabled efficient use of the Community Diagnostic Centre. 3.

Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability – GP Primary Choice has worked collaboratively with ESNEFT and primary care, delivering services from the Clacton CDC using integrated processes. The provider also delivers other services from the CDC, including Dermoscopy and elements of the Lung Cancer Screening pathway, enabling coordinated patient care. 4.

Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice – Delivery from the Clacton Community Diagnostic Centre has improved local access to blood testing by providing services closer to patients' homes. This has reduced the need for travel to acute hospital sites and supports earlier diagnosis and treatment across both primary and secondary care pathways. 5.

Social Value – GP Primary Choice employs a local workforce and delivers services from community-based facilities, supporting the local economy and strengthening relationships across primary and secondary care. Their established presence within the CDC contributes to integrated community healthcare delivery.

Recommendation – Direct Award under PSR Option C Contract Management Divisional Contract Owner/Manager: Name: Title: Division: Katie King Assistant General Manager Cancer and Diagnostics (Medical Imaging) What are the key KPIs (minimum of 3) - Detail below. 1. e-Training Compliance - IG 2. e-Training Compliance - Safeguarding 3. e-Training Compliance – IG - Safeguarding BLS 4. Blood Test Appointment Active Summary - This KPI will be reported separately for referrals originating from Primary Care and Secondary Care. 5.

Meet the activity plan of 1300 bleeds per week. 2 Note - Contract will be drafted against NHS Template sub-contract for the provision of clinical services for the use with the NHS Standard Contract which also required National KPIs and Reporting as per NHS Service and General Conditions Does the contract, or draft contract, include a methodology for CM in line with the Contract Management Framework? This will be:  frequency of meetings  types of meetings  named CMs from both parties  general and performance reporting requirements.

Confirm: Yes Note - Contract will be drafted against NHS Template sub-contract for the provision of clinical services for the use with the NHS Standard Contract which includes requirement above Contract Value Value of contract: £151,102.79 Contract Period: 1st October 2026 – 31st March 2027 Is the total value of contract £5m+? No Note – if the contract is formed under Procurement Act 2023 and is £5m+ the contract document has to be loaded onto Atamis and the Central Digital Platform.

Annual updates on performance and any Contract Change Control Notices also need to be uploaded onto Atamis/CDP. Intention to Award/Award Notices Standstill period end of 07 October 2026.

Additional information: PSR Schedule 3 () - Content of notice of intention to award to the existing provider under Direct Award Process C (Award Notice completed after contract award) Note: Intent to Award Notice will be published by Procurement on Find a Tender Site (FTS) and a standstill period of 8 days will follow date 7 October 2026 . If no challenges are received we would then publish a ‘Contract Award Notice’.

If a challenge is forthcoming we will follow the PSR guidance on any representations noting if a provider puts forward and representation remains unsatisfied with the response of the relevant authority (ESNEFT) to its representation and remains of the view that the PSR has not been applied correctly, the provider may submit a representation to the PSR Review Panel. The panel will be an independent panel, made available by NHSE.