NHS Increasing Capacity Framework

The National Health Service Commissioning Board (which uses the operational name "NHS England") is seeking to establish a framework agreement in which NHS England acting for itself and other NHS bodies (Clinical Commissioning Groups ("CCGs"), NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts) for the purpose of this procurement (each a "Contracting Authority" and together the "Contracting Authorities") will award contracts or sub-contracts for a range of clinical services (the "Framework Agreement"). The clinical services under the Framework Agreement will include: 1) NHS inpatient & day case services (including full supporting pathology and imaging) and urgent elective care and cancer treatment in line with nationally set criteria; 2) NHS Diagnostic Services.

(the "Services") Please refer to the Specification at Schedule 1 for more details of the Services. 3) Clinical facilities and related services The objective of the Framework Agreement is to support the Contracting Authorities' ability to manage reduce waiting lists by purchasing additional activity from providers of required services. It is for Contracting Authorities to determine which specialties they wish to purchase based on local need.

The intention is that a Framework Agreement will be entered into by NHS England on behalf of all Contracting Authorities with each provider assessed as capable through this procurement process (a "Provider"). Once the Framework Agreement has been set up, contracts based upon the NHS Standard Contract or Sub-Contract may be placed by a Contracting Authority with any Provider holding a Framework Agreement covering the relevant Services required by that Contracting Authority.

It is the intention that in accordance with the Framework Agreement, each Contracting Authority, may enter into a separate NHS Standard Contract or Sub-Contract with any Provider, for the Services. Lot 1 invites bids to undertake clinical services at National and Local Prices.

Lot 2 invites bids to provide clinical facilities and related services for the contracting authorities to undertake clinical activity. Additional information: The procurement will comprise of (i) Assessment against a selection requirements including financial standing & (ii) Assessment against technical requirements.

The services in scope of this procurement process are healthcare services which fall under "social and other specific services" in Section 7 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("PCR"). In accordance with Regulation 76 PCR, the process is to set up a framework agreement and will follow a procedure similar to the open procedure.

However, NHS England and the Contracting Authorities using the framework are only bound by the parts of the PCR that specifically apply to social and other specific services. For the avoidance of doubt, the rules that apply to the open procedure under Regulation 27 and framework agreements under Regulation 33 do not apply to this procurement.

All providers that meet the minimum requirements set out under the procurement process will be appointed to the framework agreement. There will be no maximum number of providers appointed NHS England reserves the right to conduct any number of framework refreshes throughout the term of the Framework Agreement. A refresh will allow verification of existing providers' continuing ability to meet requirements and will also allow new entrants to be appointed to the framework agreement This procurement is on behalf of The National Health Service, namely NHS England, all Clinical Commissioning Groups, NHS Trusts, NHS Foundation Trusts and each of their successor bodies.