Special Allocations Service in Buckinghamshire

Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB) is planning to recommission the following service, with a proposed contract commencement date of 1 April 2027: • Special Allocations Service (SAS) provision for Buckinghamshire (sub-ICB area) - currently supporting approximately 30-35 patients. The proposed contract term is 3 years, with the option to extend for up to two additional periods of 12 months.

The ICB is seeking market feedback to help inform future commissioning decisions relating to this service. Interested providers are invited to complete the market engagement questionnaire by 5:00pm on 17 July 2026.

The anticipated service commencement date is 1 April 2027, with an indicative mobilisation period from 1 March 2027 to 31 March 2027. Previous market engagement activity was undertaken when the ICB was considering commissioning APMS and SAS services within High Wycombe as a single procurement exercise.

However, due to ongoing work relating to the APMS service requirements, the ICB has decided to focus solely on procurement options for the SAS service at this stage. This procurement is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

SCW is currently undergoing organisational restructuring and, as a result, responsibility for managing this procurement may transfer to a successor organisation during the procurement process. Bidders will be notified of any such change and of any associated administrative updates.

Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB) intends to recommission a Special Allocations Service (SAS) for the Buckinghamshire sub-ICB area, with a proposed contract commencement date of 1 April 2027. The Special Allocations Service supports patients who meet the nationally defined criteria for inclusion within SAS arrangements and require primary medical services to be delivered.

The current service supports approximately 30-35 patients across Buckinghamshire. The proposed contract term will be 3 years, with the option to extend for up to two further periods of 12 months.

The ICB is undertaking this market engagement exercise to inform future commissioning intentions and to better understand provider interest, capacity, capability, and potential delivery models for the service. Interested providers are invited to complete the market engagement questionnaire by 5:00pm on 17 July 2026.

The anticipated mobilisation period is expected to run from 1 March 2027 to 31 March 2027, ahead of the proposed service commencement date of 1 April 2027. Previous market engagement activity was undertaken when the ICB was considering commissioning APMS and SAS services within High Wycombe as a single procurement exercise.

However, due to ongoing work relating to the APMS service requirements, the ICB has decided to focus solely on procurement options for the SAS service at this stage. Interested providers will be able to view this opportunity via the live opportunities list on the 'Health Family' e-procurement system, Atamis.

Click on 'View our Live Opportunities' from the home page, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome. This procurement is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

SCW is currently undergoing organisational restructuring and, as a result, responsibility for managing this procurement may transfer to a successor organisation during the procurement process. Bidders will be notified of any such change and of any associated administrative updates.