Provision of Hard Facilities Management Services (Hard FM)

Introduction

The Contracting Authority

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust is an Ambulance Trust providing Paramedic Emergency Services (PES), non-emergency Patient Transport Services (PTS) and 111 Services to a population of more than seven million across an area of 5,400 square miles. The North West region covers the areas of Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Mersey, Lancashire and Cumbria. Our headquarters is based in Greater Manchester but our services cover the whole region with three emergency operations centres, three area offices, five NHS 111 sites, one support centre, two patient control rooms, two hazardous area response team (HART) buildings and more than 100 ambulance stations. This large region combines both urban and rural areas which presents a range of challenges for the Trust and its staff.

As a Trust, NWAS:

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS) is undertaking a strategic review of its estate maintenance and engineering services with the objective of transitioning from the current reactive Measured Term Contract (MTC) arrangement to a fully integrated Hard Facilities Management (Hard FM) contract.

This pre-market engagement exercise is intended to inform the Trust's procurement strategy, understand market capability, and gather supplier feedback regarding the proposed scope, delivery model, innovation opportunities, and commercial structure.

The Trust welcomes engagement from experienced Hard FM providers capable of delivering a safe, compliant, efficient, and customer-focused service across a geographically diverse healthcare estate.

Background

The current service model is primarily focused on reactive maintenance and statutory compliance activities. Whilst this approach has supported operational requirements, NWAS is seeking to develop a more strategic estate management model that:

The future contract is expected to provide an integrated Hard FM solution that aligns with NHS estate management best practice.

NWAS Estate Overview

The Trust operates across 5,400 square miles, from Crewe to as far north as Carlisle, serving over 7.5 million residents. We currently have 126 sites with an occupied floor area of 37,971 m².

The estate portfolio includes:

Cheshire and Merseyside

Greater Manchester

Lancashire and Cumbria

Headquarters and Strategic Sites

The estate includes both owned and leased properties varying in age, size, complexity and operational criticality.

Example of Reactive call quantities

In the last 12 months there were approximately 3,355 recorded reactive issues dealt with, of which 149 were out of hours call outs. These where split into the following geographical areas:

Historic spend data

Planned Maintenance

2025/26 £658,890.00

Reactive Maintenance

2023/24 £1,899,711.00

2024/25 £1,979,029.00

2025/26 £1,824,708.00

The Trust also incurred capital expenditure of more than £1 million during the last financial year. However, this figure may fluctuate from year to year depending on the allocated capital budget.

Proposed Contract Objectives

The Trust is seeking market feedback on the delivery of a single integrated Hard FM contract designed to:

Indicative Scope of Services

The future contract may include:

Mechanical Services

Electrical Services

Building Fabric

Statutory Compliance

Specialist Systems

Additional Services

Geographic Delivery Requirements

The Trust seeks a provider capable of delivering services across all NWAS operational areas, including:

The provider must demonstrate:

Technology and Innovation

NWAS is interested in understanding market capability regarding:

Social Value, Carbon Reduction, Sustainability & Business Continuity Planning The Trust expects suppliers to support the North West Ambulance Service in its aim to achieve relevant targets.

Commercial Considerations

NWAS is seeking market feedback regarding: