Award

PAH Integrated MSK Contract 2026/31

NHS HERTFORDSHIRE AND WEST ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

20 Feb 2026 at 15:16

Award

09 Feb 2026 at 16:33

Summary of the contracting process

The NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board is managing the procurement process for the PAH Integrated MSK Contract 2026/31, focusing on health services within the United Kingdom. This service, targeted primarily in Hemel Hempstead (UKH23) and Harlow (UKH35), aims to deliver musculoskeletal expertise closer to patients, thereby reducing hospital dependency. The procurement process has reached the award stage, with the contract formally awarded on 20th February 2026, to be active from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2031, potentially extending for another two years. This direct award is structured under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Process C, with a contract value set at £68,754,724. The publication of this notice began the standstill period, and representations were accepted until 19th February 2026, reflecting strict alignment with the Health Care Services Regulations 2023.

This tender presents opportunities for businesses specialising in health services and community care. Businesses proficient in delivering comprehensive MSK services, such as physiotherapy, pain management, and podiatry, stand ready to engage with the West Essex MSK service framework. While Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust leads the contract, sub-contracting possibilities remain open for other providers like Essex University Partnership Trust, who have historically contributed services. Companies that can complement the existing service structure or innovate within community care pathways, meet precise health service KPIs, and maintain positive stakeholder feedback are well-suited to thrive in this procurement landscape.

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Notice Title

PAH Integrated MSK Contract 2026/31

Notice Description

The Integrated MSK service provides triage, assessment and clinical treatment expertise in relation to specific MSK specialities as an alternative to hospital based treatment (excluding trauma & acute admissions), therefore reducing dependency on hospital based services and ensuring care is delivered closer to home. This innovative service ensures that patients are only referred to hospital when there is a specific need for hospital-based treatment; otherwise most, if not all MSK activity is filtered through the single point of contact at the front end of the Clinical Co-ordination Centre. <br/>As per the PSR direct award process C requirements, the existing provider is satisfying the existing contract, delivering a good service, meeting all KPIs, with no quality concerns and good outcomes with very good feedback from GPs and patients and HWE ICB are satisfied that the incumbent Provider is likely to satisfy the new contract. The proposed contracting arrangements are not changing from the existing contract.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The contract was awarded to Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) in 2019 as a lead provider contract for MSK services across West Essex. PAH sub-contracted community MSK services to Essex University Partnership Trust (EPUT) and Stellar Healthcare. Currently, PAH remain as lead provider and since April 2024 have only had a sub-contract in place with EPUT for community MSK services.

The MSK services provided in West Essex as part of the contract are as follows.
PAH provides the following services:
(i)T&O (elective)
(ii)Rheumatology
(iii)MSK Physiotherapy

EPUT provides the following services:
(i)MSK physiotherapy
(ii)Advance Physiotherapy Practitioner
(iii)First Contact Practitioner
(iv)Persistent pain management service
(v)Podiatry service
(vi)MSK Podiatry

West Essex has a full offer of MSK services compared to peers in ENH & SWH. There is not a secondary care pain service for outpatients as this is delivered fully in the community.

The original contract was for five years, from 1st April 2019-31st March 2024. The two-year extension clause in the contract was exercised by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) from 1st April 2024-31st March 2026.
A full-service review was undertaken in 2023 identifying duplication and capacity in the community pathway so from 2024 Stellar Healthcare were decommissioned which realised the QIPP efficiency.

The contract is being awarded under Provider Selection Regime Direct Award C which requires the new contract to mirror the existing contract, i.e. 5 years from 1st April 2026-31st March 2031, plus the option to extend by another 2-years.
A 12 month notice period will remain in place that can be enacted should the health landscape change. Additional information: This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to 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. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 19th February 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Any formal written representations should be sent to: hweicbhv.procurementteam@nhs.net

The business case including the recommendation to award the contract under Provider Selection Regime Process C was approved by the Central East ICB Board on the 6th February 2026 and there were no recorded or potential conflicts of interest of individuals making the decision declared at this meeting.

The decision to award this contract in line with Direct Award Process C.

Options: Option to extend for 2 years

Procurement Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to 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. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 19th February 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-064ba0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015773-2026
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

85100000 - Health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£68,754,724 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Feb 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
9 Feb 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS HERTFORDSHIRE AND WEST ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
hweicbhv.procurementteam@nhs.net
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
MARLOWES, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
Postcode
HP1 1DN
Post Town
Hemel Hempstead
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH27 South West Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
TLH35 West Essex

Local Authority
Dacorum
Electoral Ward
Hemel Hempstead Town
Westminster Constituency
Hemel Hempstead

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PRINCESS ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL TRUST

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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