Invitation to Tender For: Community Diagnostic Hubs (CDH) Framework Agreement

The National Health Service Commissioning Board (which uses the operational name “NHS England”) has established a framework (the “Framework Agreement”)from which NHS England and other NHS bodies (Clinical Commissioning Groups (“CCGs”), NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts (each a “Contracting Authority” and together the “Contracting Authorities”)) have the ability to award contracts or sub-contracts for a range of clinical services to be provided from community diagnostic hubs (the “Services”). Please note, the name has changed from “Community Diagnostic Hubs”. These will be known as “Community Diagnostic Centres” going forward.

The objective of Framework Agreement is to: support the Contracting Authorities’ ability to improve population health: increase diagnostic capacity: improve productivity and efficiency of diagnostic activity, contribute to reducing health inequalities, deliver a better and more personalised diagnostic experience for patients and support integration of care.

The framework is divided into a number of clinical diagnostic modalities and sub-modalities. Successful providers onto the framework (a “Provider” and “Providers”) have, during the procurement process and potentially during the term of the framework, identify those modalities and sub-modalities which they are capable of providing in identified locations. A Framework Agreement has been entered into by NHS England on behalf of all Contracting Authorities with each successful Provider assessed as capable of providing such Services (or any of them) through this procurement process The term of each Framework Agreement awarded pursuant to this procurement is for [3] years with an option to extend for a further [24 month period] (the “Term”).

However (as permitted pursuant to Regulation 74(7)), it is anticipated (but not guaranteed) that the Framework will:

• be opened to new potential Providers every 12 months within the Term (in which case new Framework Agreements awarded shall be for the remaining length of the original Term only); and
• be opened or “refreshed” at any time during the Term to allow new and existing Providers to apply for new modalities or sub-modalities relating to the Services.

When awarding contracts pursuant to the framework it will be for Contracting Authorities to determine which modalities or sub-modalities they wish to purchase based on local need and award will be permitted on the basis of either criteria set out in the Framework Agreement or further competition among those on the Framework.

Contracts called off from the Framework from Contracting Authorities shall be based upon the NHS Standard Contract or Sub-Contract at National and Local NHS Prices and discounts may be offered.