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Provision of Independent Sector Abortion Services for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB

NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

29 Apr 2026 at 15:37

Tender Notice
Award

28 Mar 2026 at 11:08

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board has awarded a contract for the provision of Independent Sector Abortion Services in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, classified under health services (CPV code 85100000). The procurement process was conducted under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 through a Direct Award C Process. After a successful standstill period which ended on 10 April 2026, the formal award was completed on 3 September 2025. The contract spans from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2029, with a total estimated value of £2,910,000 excluding VAT. The procurement method was limited, with no prior publication of a call for competition, and is ultimately outside the scope of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in healthcare services, particularly those with expertise in abortion services. Companies like the British Pregnancy Assessment Service (BPAS), known for quality delivery and innovation, are well-suited to compete, especially with NHS as a contracting partner. The focus was on quality, integration, collaboration, and social value, ensuring businesses that excel in these areas can thrive. The contract’s continuity and value proposition do not involve significant changes, providing stability and growth prospects for providers to consolidate services and foster improvements in access and patient choice within the thriving healthcare market of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Independent Sector Abortion Services for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB

Notice Description

This is an Intention to Award Notice pursuant to Regulation 9 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 for the provision of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Independent Sector Abortion services. A Direct Award C Process is being followed under the above-named regulations. The existing provider is satisfying the current contract and will likely satisfy the new, non-significantly changed contract.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The current Independent Sector Abortion service contracts are due to expire on 31st March 2026. The provider for this service has delivered high-quality, accessible services under the existing agreement, ensuring compliance with clinical standards and patient safety requirements. The existing care pathways for Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) services are well embedded across the local system with strong links to NHS providers and sexual health services. This provider also works well in offering women a wider choice, including different clinic locations. These pathways are well understood by clinicians and patients. The new contract period is from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2029. The value of this new contract is PS970,000 per annum (plus inflationary uplifts from 2027/28). Excluding any future uplifts, this is a total contract value of PS2,910,000 over the total 3-year period. The value of the original contact was PS2,881,806 over a period of 3 years. The proposed new contract is not significantly different from the existing one; it does not meet with the considerable change threshold, as specified in Regulation 9 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The total lifetime value (3 years) of the original contract is PS2,881,806; the total lifetime value (3 years) of the new contract is PS2,910,000. The percentage increase is 0.98% and the increase does not exceed the PS500k threshold (it is approxiamtely PS28k). The new value reflects increases in patient activity volumes in general and shifts in patient choice of provider as well as national changes to abortion service payments under the NHS Payment Scheme, which are beyond the ICB's control. There are no material changes to the Service Specification. The decision to use PSR Process C to assess and award this Independent Sector contracts was made by the members of the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Strategic Commissioning Committee (SCC) on 3rd December 2025; and PSR Process C documentation, provider engagement and assessment was undertaken between January and March 2026. There were no declared conflicts of interest for the individuals making the decision.

Procurement Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Intention to Award Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health and Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or PA2023 do not apply this award. The day after publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority at hwicb.corpgov@nhs.net by midnight on 10th April 2026. This contract has not been formally awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under PSR.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06772d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039342-2026
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
£2,910,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Apr 20265 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
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
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WORCESTER
Postcode
WR3 7NS
Postcode Area
Worcester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG12 Worcestershire CC
Delivery Location
TLG11 Herefordshire, County of, TLG12 Worcestershire CC
Local Authority
Worcester
Electoral Ward
Claines
Westminster Constituency
Worcester

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

British Pregnancy Assessment Service (BPAS)

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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