Planning

Dorset Integrated Urgent Care Service (DIUCS)

NHS DORSET INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

14 May 2025 at 13:35

Planning

02 May 2025 at 14:38

Summary of the contracting process

NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board is currently in the planning stage for the procurement of the Dorset Integrated Urgent Care Service (DIUCS). This procurement process focuses on delivering integrated health services across Dorset, UK, including 111 Call Handling and Clinical Care Coordination. This project is scheduled to commence on 1st April 2026, following a contract period set to end on 31st March 2029. Preliminary Market Engagement is underway, with a scheduled event on 30th May 2025 from 14:00 to 15:30, for which interested suppliers are encouraged to express interest by 28th May 2025. This initiative, classified under the health services industry category, aims to enhance digital integration and service interoperability, aligning with NHS Commissioning Standards.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in health services, digital healthcare solutions, and urgent care service management to contribute to a high-profile NHS project. Companies offering innovative digital solutions or experience in healthcare service provision are particularly well-suited to engage with this project, helping NHS Dorset improve service delivery and patient outcomes. Participation in the preliminary market engagement event will allow businesses to gain insights into the requirements, influencing future procurement decisions, and fostering partnerships that could lead to long-term business growth within the NHS framework.

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Notice Title

Dorset Integrated Urgent Care Service (DIUCS)

Notice Description

NHS England mandated that every ICB have an Integrated Urgent Care Service and issued the 'Integrated Urgent Care Service Specification' in August in 2017. An updated service specification is due to be released in 2025. The market has seen significant change over the past decade driven by COVID-19, digital advances and greater patient choice. The NHS Long Term Plan outlined NHS 111 maintaining its place as the 'first line of defence' for the Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) system. The core vision for the revised service is to build on the success of Dorset Integrated Urgent Care Service (DIUCS) in simplifying access for patients, meeting their needs and increasing the confidence that the public have in the service. Taking into consideration changes Nationally, including the introduction of guidance to develop a Care Coordination Hub, which could be the foundations of a revised specification due for release by NHS England. DIUCS provides a service to all 810,000 people registered with a Dorset GP Practice. The current service receives on average 30,738 calls a month and provides both call handler capability and a Clinical Assessment Service. Our longer-term aim for this service is to align to Integrated Neighbourhoods Teams and strengthening the urgent care offer to reduce unplanned attendance to our Acute front doors. The focus of our service specification is outcome based with key concentration on: * Equity of access * Interoperability across our Urgent Care pathway * Digital opportunities for consult and complete models NHS Commissioning Standards, local emergency and urgent care strategies will continue to evolve over the life of the contract to improve efficiency and integration across the Service User journey pathway. Given this continual change it is anticipated that there will be service changes to ensure that the service remains compliant with NHS Commissioning Standards and local emergency and urgent care strategies. The commencement of new contract must be aligned to 1st April 2026.

Planning Information

This is a Preliminary Market Engagement event only and is not a call for competition. This Preliminary Market Engagement event seeks information for the potential procurement of a Supplier to provide an Integrated Urgent Care Service for Dorset which is likely to include: · 111 Call Handling · Clinical Care Co-ordination (including Clinical Assessment Service and Single Point of Access) · General Practice Out of Hours (including prison OOHs) · Night Nursing The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement is to: · Help define the requirement · Help provide a better understanding of the feasibility of the requirement · Understand the digital advances in this market · Understand the best approach · Understand the capacity of the market to deliver in proposed timeframes and the possible risks involved · Views of the current market · Provide the market with an opportunity to ask questions, raise queries and any issues to be addressed at an early stage NHS Dorset ICB shall maintain commercial confidentiality of information received during the Preliminary Market Engagement. About NHS Dorset NHS Dorset is the commissioning organisation for the whole county of Dorset and undertakes the statutory responsibilities for clinical commissioning and is responsible for planning to meet the healthcare needs of people and communities in Dorset. NHS Dorset vision is to make Dorset the healthiest place to live. By working together, NHS Dorset aims to achieve the best possible improvements in health and wellbeing for the Dorset population. NHS Dorset would welcome responses from organisations who may be interested in attending the Preliminary Market Engagement Event, scheduled for the 30th May 14:00 - 15:30. The agenda and supporting information will be available to all suppliers including suppliers who are unable to attend the Preliminary Market Engagement Event upon request by completing a form (link below), if you have any issues accessing this then please email uecteam@nhsdorset.nhs.uk. Form link: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=bHxMTLWhm0CvRpWSpbNyNKq2p5rjGS9JiNe-OICLWrJUQjhYWDAwN1lMU1BRRDJLUlBGOEU3UEtXWS4u&route=shorturl This contract award will be under the Provider Selection Regime.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050c84
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021322-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85100000 - Health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
28 May 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS DORSET INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
uecteam@nhsdorset.nhs.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
DORCHESTER
Postcode
DT1 1XJ
Post Town
Dorchester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK64 Dorset
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)

Local Authority
Dorset
Electoral Ward
Dorchester West
Westminster Constituency
West Dorset

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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