Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography (PET-CT) Services

The Strategic Projects Team (SPT) is working with NHS England (NHSE) to identify & consider potential options for the commissioning of the services described below. The purpose of this notice is to elicit contributions to assist NHSE in assessing their options. NHSE may consider and discount any number of potential options.

NHSE will in all respects make its own decisions as to which course it will ultimately adopt: it may ultimately choose one of the options canvassed (and if it does, it may or may not advertise to compete that option), or it may do something completely different or it may do nothing. The steps being taken by NHSE at this stage are to identify the potential options so as to enable it to secure the best service solution in the future.

The issuing of this notice does not imply that any decision by NHSE has yet been made or is about to be made.

Background:

The scope of services is for the provision of PET-CT scanning services in England, currently delivered within the following geographical areas:

The present contracts providing PET-CT Services within the above mentioned areas delivered circa 40,000 reported PET-CT scans in 2014-15 at a cost of approx £35 million. This amounts to approximately 50% of the service capacity and provision in England.

Expression of Interest:

Organisations are invited to express interest in participating in any future opportunity to provide some or all of services described above. Organisations registering an expression of interest are requested to provide answers to the following key questions. The information provided will assist NHSE in its consideration of the available options:

• Would your organisation be willing to participate in a competitive process? If willing, which of the above mentioned geographical areas would you be most likely to submit a bid for?
• Do you consider that your organisation would be most likely to submit a bid on its own or is it likely partner with another organisation? If a partnership or consortium is likely, can you indicate at this stage who the likely partners might be?
• Do you consider that you would be able to manage/deliver services in a way that is financially sustainable for NHSE and how would you approach this?

Expression of interest should be sent by email to msc.strategicprojects@nhs.net by 12 noon on 28 August 2015.

Summary:

Organisations should note that this is a market sounding exercise and that no competition may follow this process. Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken by organisations prior to any subsequent procurement is a matter solely for their own commercial judgement.

Additional information: NHSE reserves the right to withdraw from the process at any time or to not tender the service or to tender on a different basis. In such circumstances, and in any event, none of the NHSE and SPT and/or their advisors shall be liable for any costs or loss of expenses whatsoever incurred by the respondent and company, agent, subsidiary or organisation may have contributed to any response submitted to this prior information notice.

This Future Opportunity Notice is published to enable NHS England to consult with the market about potential future opportunities for the provision of PET-CT services. The dates set out in the above sections are indicative only.

If you require any further clarification about this Prior Information Notice (PIN) please contact the Strategic Projects Team by telephone on 01223 596862 or e-mail to msc.strategicprojects@nhs.net