Award

Assisted Conception Services

STAFFORDSHIRE AND STOKE-ON-TRENT ICB

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

27 Oct 2025 at 15:15

Award

18 Sep 2025 at 10:49

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process described concerns the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board's (ICB) contract for "Assisted Conception Services" in the health services sector, particularly focusing on in vitro fertilisation services. The buyer, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB, located at Stafford Education & Enterprise Park, awarded this contract under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) 2023 with a direct award process. No competitive bidding was involved, and instead, the contract was awarded to the existing provider, Circle Health Group Limited. The contract spans from 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026, with the total contract value set at £684,630.00. This announcement follows an intention to award notice released on 18th September 2025, clarifying that procurement laws under PCR 2015 do not apply.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in healthcare services, particularly those equipped to provide fertility treatment services. Enterprises that can offer innovative and efficient fertility solutions could benefit from similar future opportunities, indicating prospects for partnerships or sub-contracting roles with Circle Health Group Limited. Business growth can be supported by aligning service offerings with key criteria such as quality and compliance with the ICB's standards. Suppliers in the healthcare industry that adhere to established quality parameters and have a track record of successful service delivery may find new opportunities within similarly targeted procurement processes. The direct award process highlights potential for strategic engagements rather than traditional competitive tenders, offering a stable pathway for expansion within the healthcare sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Assisted Conception Services

Notice Description

Intention to Award Notice for Direct Award C Process for the Provision of Assisted Conception Services for Staffordshire and Stoke - on - Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB). NHS Midlands & Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (MLCSU) are acting on behalf of the Commissioner, NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (SSOT ICB). The ICB intends to follow the Direct Award C process in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) (PSR) 2023 for the Provision of Assisted Conception services with CPV code 85111310- Fertility treatment services.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Intention to Award Notice for Direct Award C Process for the Provision of Assisted Conception Services for Staffordshire and Stoke - on - Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB). NHS Midlands & Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (MLCSU) are acting on behalf of the Commissioner, NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (SSOT ICB). The ICB intends to follow the Direct Award C process in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) (PSR) 2023 for the Provision of Assisted Conception Services with CPV code 85111310-Fertility treatment services. The Direct Award C process involves awarding a contract to provider(s) without running a competitive process, because the relevant authority (SSOTICB) confirms that the existing providers are satisfying the existing contracts and are likely to satisfy the new contracts, and the proposed contracting arrangements are not changing considerably from the existing contracts. The total value for Assisted Conception Services is PS684,630.00. The new contracts will run from 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026, and the estimated lifetime value of the new contract for Circle Health Group Limited is PS3,000.00. This is a zero-based activity contract, paid at a locally agreed price per activity. The unit price remains unchanged from the previous contract. Activity during 2024/25 was valued at PS3,000.00

Procurement Information

PSR - Intention to Award under Direct Award process C

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-059d01
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068631-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85111310 - In vitro fertilisation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£3,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Oct 20251 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
16 Sep 20252 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
STAFFORDSHIRE AND STOKE-ON-TRENT ICB
Contact Name
Gabriela Bussoli
Contact Email
gabriela.bussoli@nhs.net
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
STAFFORD
Postcode
ST18 0BF
Post Town
Stoke-on-Trent
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG24 Staffordshire CC
Delivery Location
TLG23 Stoke-on-Trent, TLG24 Staffordshire CC

Local Authority
Stafford
Electoral Ward
Milwich
Westminster Constituency
Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CIRCLE HEALTH GROUP

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-059d01-2025-10-27T15:15:30Z",
    "date": "2025-10-27T15:15:30Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-059d01",
    "description": "This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Intention to Award notice. The award of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. This procurement was approved by the ICB at their Finance and Performance Committee on 5th August 2025. The ICB have reviewed the performance of the provider against the key criteria and are satisfied that the provider meets the requirements of the current contract. The ICB is also satisfied that the provider will continue to meet the requirements of the new contract. No conflicts of interest were identified or declared. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the PCR 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begin son the day after publication of this notice. Representation by providers must be made to the relevant authority by midnight of 1st October 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an Intention to Award under the Provider Selection Regime. Representations should be made via email to: governance@staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk contract to a sufficient standard.",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "CMT-1207",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "Assisted Conception Services",
        "status": "complete",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "85111310",
            "description": "In vitro fertilisation services"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "description": "Intention to Award Notice for Direct Award C Process for the Provision of Assisted Conception Services for Staffordshire and Stoke - on - Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB). NHS Midlands & Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (MLCSU) are acting on behalf of the Commissioner, NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (SSOT ICB). The ICB intends to follow the Direct Award C process in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) (PSR) 2023 for the Provision of Assisted Conception services with CPV code 85111310- Fertility treatment services.",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "Intention to Award Notice for Direct Award C Process for the Provision of Assisted Conception Services for Staffordshire and Stoke - on - Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB). NHS Midlands & Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (MLCSU) are acting on behalf of the Commissioner, NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (SSOT ICB). The ICB intends to follow the Direct Award C process in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) (PSR) 2023 for the Provision of Assisted Conception Services with CPV code 85111310-Fertility treatment services. The Direct Award C process involves awarding a contract to provider(s) without running a competitive process, because the relevant authority (SSOTICB) confirms that the existing providers are satisfying the existing contracts and are likely to satisfy the new contracts, and the proposed contracting arrangements are not changing considerably from the existing contracts. The total value for Assisted Conception Services is PS684,630.00. The new contracts will run from 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026, and the estimated lifetime value of the new contract for Circle Health Group Limited is PS3,000.00. This is a zero-based activity contract, paid at a locally agreed price per activity. The unit price remains unchanged from the previous contract. Activity during 2024/25 was valued at PS3,000.00",
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "name": "The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "100"
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "description": "0"
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "hasOptions": false,
                "status": "cancelled"
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKG23"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKG24"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethod": "limited",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition",
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "scheme": "TED_PT_AWARD_CONTRACT_WITHOUT_CALL",
                "id": "D_OUTSIDE_SCOPE",
                "description": "The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationale": "PSR - Intention to Award under Direct Award process C",
        "amendments": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice. This contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. This contract has now been formally awarded using direct award process C. The date of contract award was 1st October 2025 and dates between which the services are intended be provided are: 01/10/2025 to 30/09/2026. The total value for Assisted Conception Services is PS684,630.00. The new contracts will run from 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026, and the estimated lifetime value of the new contract for Circle Health Group Limited is PS3,000.00. This is a zero-based activity contract, paid at a locally agreed price per activity. The unit price remains unchanged from the previous contract. Activity during 2024/25 was valued at PS3,000.00"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "057653-2025-CMT-1207-1",
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "title": "Assisted Conception Services - CMT-1207",
            "status": "active",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-02164270",
                    "name": "Circle Health Group Limited"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-NHS-QNC",
            "name": "Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB",
                "id": "QNC",
                "scheme": "GB-NHS"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Stafford Education & Enterprise Park, Weston Road Stafford",
                "locality": "Stafford",
                "region": "UKG23",
                "postalCode": "ST18 0BF",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Gabriela Bussoli",
                "email": "gabriela.bussoli@nhs.net"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "BODY_PUBLIC",
                        "description": "Body governed by public law"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "id": "07",
                        "description": "Health"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-02164270",
            "name": "Circle Health Group Limited",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Circle Health Group Limited",
                "id": "02164270",
                "scheme": "GB-COH"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "1st Floor, 30 Cannon Street",
                "locality": "London",
                "region": "UK",
                "postalCode": "EC4M 6XH",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-161266",
            "name": "Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Stafford",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-NHS-QNC",
        "name": "Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB"
    },
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "057653-2025-CMT-1207-1",
            "awardID": "057653-2025-CMT-1207-1",
            "title": "Assisted Conception Services - CMT-1207",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amount": 3000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "dateSigned": "2025-09-17T00:00:00+01:00"
        }
    ],
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "measure": "bids",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 1
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en"
}