Provision of Ambulance Auxiliary Support PIN

NHS England & NHS Improvement (NHSEI) is looking to commission a national support offer to provide surge capacity and enhance the response, conveyance and support to ambulance trusts across England. Specifically, this will include provision of emergency and non-emergency ambulance crews with capacity to respond to callouts across categories 1-4.

Historically NHSEI has commissioned surge support for ambulance services on a reactive basis during winter pressures. Such services have been successful in reducing conveyance of patients to hospital, freeing up emergency ambulance provision and reducing hospital handover delays. Recognising demand for ambulance services fluctuates throughout the year with seasonal pressures not just contained to winter, we are looking to commission a year-round programme of responsive support, providing additional capacity to ambulance trusts when and where it is most needed.

By commissioning a longer-term programme this will enable the development of a flexible model which will allow the NHS to call off support when needed including in the event of Ambulance Surge Level 3 & 4, NHS OPEL level 4 pressures and declared local and major incidents. NHSEI expects to work with the successful provider and the national ambulance trusts to develop the model over time and ensure continuous improvement to deliver greater impact throughout the life of the contract.

The successful provider will work under the direction of the National Strategic Advisor for Ambulance Service with deployment directed by the National Ambulance Coordination Centre. Due to the scale of the contract and the variability in demand, the provider must have a presence across all seven NHS regions in order to be able to deploy support to all NHS ambulance trusts in England. The estimated run rate for deployment is expected to be between 5,000 to 10,000 hours per month with the latter run rate likely required for a sustained period over winter periods. The successful provider will need to be able to evidence sufficient resource and readiness to respond to meet the anticipated run rate.

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to advise prospective providers of the Commissioners intention and to establish provider interest. Interested providers are requested to express their interest in writing to Natalie Gyami, Project Manager- Voluntary Partnerships Team: (email england.voluntarypartnerships@nhs.net )

The commissioner reserves the right not to proceed with the Procurement, or any part thereof, or change the requirements as necessary at any time.