Managed Service for Endoscopy, Radiology, Cath Labs & CTC, and Theatres – Preliminary Market Engagement (Market Engagement Event)

Tender description

This is a UK2 Preliminary Market Engagement Notice only. Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (the “Authority”) is undertaking preliminary market engagement in accordance with sections 16–17 of the Procurement Act 2023 and the Procurement Regulations 2024, to inform the design of a potential future procurement for a managed service programme covering (indicatively) Endoscopy, Radiology, Theatres, and Cath Labs / Cardiothoracic & Vascular services. The Authority’s objectives for this engagement are to: (i) test the feasibility of different managed service / managed equipment service models; (ii) understand market capacity and capability (including SME and VCSE participation); (iii) explore commercial options (risk allocation, performance regimes, pricing structures, financing approaches); and (iv) identify innovation opportunities and potential constraints (workforce, estates, data, interoperability, and supply chain resilience). This engagement builds on a recent Request for Information exercise. The Authority is particularly interested in supplier input on: scope options (single integrated service vs. lots by modality), transition and mobilisation approaches, asset lifecycle management, consumables and inventory management, service continuity and resilience, and how outcomes and key performance indicators could be structured to support patient access and productivity improvements. Indicative scope areas for discussion (non-exhaustive): • Consumables and non-pay spend (e.g., gloves, syringes, dressings, surgical consumables, consignment stock) • Inventory and supply chain optimisation (e.g., stock management, just-in-time supply, waste reduction, catalogue management, logistics) • Capital equipment and managed equipment services (e.g., core/modality equipment, maintenance, replacement planning, asset management, decontamination/CSSD interfaces) • Facilities management interfaces (e.g., hard/soft FM dependencies and any lifecycle responsibilities that sit with the managed service) • Clinical pathways and service redesign (e.g., utilisation, demand management, pathway standardisation and productivity initiatives) The feedback from this engagement will inform the design of any future service model and the Authority’s procurement approach. Any dates, values, and commercial structures referenced at this stage are indicative only and may change. Important: This notice and the market engagement activity do not constitute a call for competition and do not begin a procurement. Participation is voluntary, is not a condition of participation in any future procurement, and will not be used to assess or pre-qualify suppliers. To protect fair competition and avoid any supplier gaining an unfair advantage, the Authority intends (where appropriate) to: share key engagement information and clarifications with the wider market via the eProcurement portal; keep an audit trail of engagement activity; apply the same ground rules to all participants; and ensure any future procurement documentation reflects relevant information exchanged during engagement. Participants must not rely on any statements made during engagement as commitments by the Authority. Further engagement (indicative): In addition to the live webinar, the Authority may undertake further market engagement activities such as a written questionnaire, follow-up virtual group sessions, and/or time-limited 1:1 supplier meetings. Any 1:1 meetings will be optional and, if capacity is limited, will be offered using a fair and transparent approach (for example, first-come-first-served or a published selection method). The Authority may also arrange site familiarisation visits where appropriate; any information shared that is relevant to the wider market will be communicated via the eProcurement portal. Following this engagement, the Authority may (without obligation): • refine the indicative scope and requirements; • undertake further targeted engagement (e.g., questionnaires, follow-up sessions); • publish a Planned Procurement Notice (UK3) and/or other notices as appropriate; and/or • commence a formal competitive procurement. Suppliers who register for the engagement will be able to view subsequent communications via the eProcurement portal. All future procurement notices (if any) will be published in accordance with the Act on the central digital platform. This preliminary market engagement is undertaken under sections 16–17 of the Procurement Act 2023 and in line with the Procurement Regulations 2024. The live event will take place on Friday 29 May 2026, 10:30 to 11:45 (UK time), via Microsoft Teams. Format: Authority presentation (10:30 to 11:15) followed by moderated Q&A (11:15 to 11:45). The Authority may publish anonymised Q&A themes and clarifications via the eProcurement portal after the event. Enquiries: All communications regarding this engagement should be submitted via the eProcurement portal message function. The contact email in this notice is provided for administrative support only.