Provision of a community advanced musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy service for Wyre Forest registered GP patients for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB

This is an Intention to Award Notice pursuant to Regulation 9 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 for the provision of a community advanced musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy service for Wyre Forest registered GP patients for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB. A Direct Award C Process is being followed under the above-named regulations.

The existing provider is satisfying the current contract and will likely satisfy the new, non-significantly changed contract. The Wyre Forest community advanced musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy service provides timely triage, diagnostic and physiotherapy intervention to residents registered with a GP in Wyre Forest.

Patients can be referred by GPs or by community physiotherapists. This service in Wyre Forest is provided by a single private provider.

The service supports adults aged 16+. The current contract for community MSK physio is expiring on 31st March 2026 and a new one is required.

This contract was awarded in April 2023 for an initial period of 2 years, with an option to extend for a further year subject to mutual agreement. The 1-year optional extension period is now coming to an end.

The total lifetime value of the original contract was £1,045,153. The incumbent provider of the above service is satisfying the existing contract.

The commissioning authority, NHS Herefordshire & Worcestershire Integrated Care Board, has assessed the incumbent provider against PSR basic selection criteria and the PSR 5 Key Criteria to determine whether the incumbent provider is satisfying the current contract and will likely satisfy the new contract. The proposed new contract is not significantly different from the existing one; it does not meet with the considerable change threshold, as specified Regulation 9 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

The total lifetime value of the original contract is £1,045,153; the total value of the new contract is £885,295. The percentage increase is -15.3%, which is below the 25% threshold specified under Regulation 9 (Direct Award C), therefore, the new contract value does not meet the considerable change threshold.

There are no material changes to the Service Specification. The new contract period is from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2028.

The decision to award the contract was made by the members of the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Strategic Commissioning Committee on 4th March 2026. There were no declared conflicts of interest for the individuals making the decision.

Additional information: This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Intention to Award Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health and Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or Procurement Act (PA2023) 2023 do not apply this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period.

This contract has not been formally awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under PSR. Written representations should be sent to NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB at the following email address: hwicb.corpgov@nhs.net The decision to award the contract was made by the members of the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Strategic Commissioning Committee on 4th March 2026.

There were no declared conflicts of interest for the individuals making the decision. NHS Herefordshire & Worcestershire ICB assessed the incumbent provider on Quality and Innovation, Value, Integration, Collaboration and Service Delivery, Improving access, and Social Value. The assessment determined that the incumbent provider has satisfied this contract for the last 3 years following a competitive tendering process, and will deliver the new contract at the same cost to a sufficient standard.