Framework Agreement to provide Fertility Services for NHS Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes ICB

NHS Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (ICB) invited suitably qualified and experienced providers to express their interest in delivering Fertility Services, by responding to the opportunity as required and described in the published tender documentation. NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands CSU (AGCSU) acted as an agent for and on behalf of the Commissioner and supported the procurement process. An advert (ref: 20221007150413-68205) was published on this Contracts Finder portal and a Contract Notice (ref: 2022/S 000-028246) on the Find-a-Tender Service portal was published 07th October 2022 for this opportunity.

The service is a Schedule 3 Service and has been procured under the Light Touch Regime (LTR) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015. The purpose of the procurement was to set up a multi-provider Framework Agreement. The commissioner reserves the right to open future windows at their discretion if further capacity or choice is required.

The purpose of the Specialist Fertility Services was to provide a range of appropriate assisted conception services for couples who meet the eligibility criteria. The service aims to treat subfertility. The objective of treatment for sub-fertility is to achieve a successful pregnancy quickly and safely with the least intervention required and the delivery of a healthy child.

As a result of this procurement exercise an agreement has been established with four (4) successful Bidder(s) for a period of 3 years with the Commissioner having the option to extend the contract for up to a further 2 years. The current contract(s) for the Services ended on 31st March 2023 and as a result the successful provider is expected to be fully operational, providing services from 01st April 2023.

Based on the current contracts it is anticipated that the service provision resultant of this procurement will have an annual expenditure of £1,200,000.00 per annum. However, all providers awarded to the framework agreement will have zero value contracts; no activity or spend is guaranteed as activity is driven by patient choice.

Please note, this process replaced the previous procurement '58660 - Framework Agreement to provide Fertility Services for NHS Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes ICB'.