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Medical Physics Support Services

GREAT WESTERN HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

10 Jul 2026 at 14:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The upcoming procurement process initiated by the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust focuses on securing Medical Physics Support Services across multiple locations, including the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and other associated sites. The procurement is still at the planning stage with a preliminary market engagement notice issued to gather supplier feedback by 31st July 2026. The proposed services will include a wide array of advisory and quality assurance tasks concerning radiation usage, covering both ionising and non-ionising radiation modalities. This initiative aims to capture market capacity, capability, and innovative solutions to enhance service delivery within the healthcare sector. The expected contract period is slated to start on 1st December 2026, with potential extensions up to November 2028.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses in the medical physics field, particularly those skilled in providing radiation protection, medical physics expertise, and quality assurance across various diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Companies with a proven track record in delivering comprehensive healthcare solutions, equipped with relevant accreditations and innovative approaches, stand to benefit. Engaging with this procurement process could facilitate business expansion by allowing enterprises to influence the service specification and potentially secure a long-term partnership with a reputable NHS trust. Businesses capable of meeting service expectations, including rapid response and comprehensive advisory support, are encouraged to participate in this engagement process.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Medical Physics Support Services

Notice Description

Provision of medical physics advisory and quality assurance services to The Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in relation to the use of all types of radiation throughout the Trust.

Planning Information

Prior Market Engagement (PME) Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ("the Trust") is seeking feedback from interested suppliers in relation to the future procurement of a Medical Physics Support Services Contract. This Prior Market Engagement exercise is intended to: • Test market capacity and capability. • Obtain supplier feedback on the proposed scope and service model. • Understand innovative approaches and best practice within the market. • Inform the development of the final specification, contract structure, performance measures and procurement strategy. • Assess supplier interest in a future tender opportunity. The Trust is not committing to any procurement process at this stage. Information obtained through this PME may be used to inform any future procurement activity Background Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides acute hospital services at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and community healthcare services across Wiltshire. The Trust delivers a broad range of diagnostic imaging and clinical services requiring ongoing medical physics support, quality assurance, radiation protection, and specialist scientific advice. Services are delivered across multiple sites including: • Great Western Hospital, Swindon • Savernake Hospital, Marlborough • Fairford Hospital • West Swindon Community Diagnostic Centre The Trust wishes to engage with providers capable of delivering comprehensive Medical Physics Support Services covering ionising and non-ionising radiation modalities. Proposed Requirement The Trust is considering procuring a contract for the provision of Medical Physics Support Services including, but not limited to: Radiation Protection Services Provision of: • Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) services in accordance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17). • Medical Physics Expert (MPE) services in accordance with the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R). • Radioactive Waste Adviser (RWA) services. • Laser Protection Adviser (LPA) services. • Magnetic Resonance (MR) Safety Expert services. The successful provider would be expected to provide advice to Trust managers, clinical teams, Radiation Protection Supervisors (RPS), Responsible Persons and relevant committees as required. Quality Assurance and Performance Testing The Trust is seeking a provider capable of undertaking: X-ray and CT • Acceptance testing of new equipment. • Routine performance testing. • Post-repair and post-upgrade testing. • Patient dosimetry support. • Optimisation advice. • Diagnostic Reference Level (DRL) support. • Radiation protection advice. Nuclear Medicine • SPECT-CT quality assurance. • Source and patient dose audits. • Calibration of dose calibrators and radiation monitors. • Radioactive waste management advice. • Incident support and investigations. • Environment Agency liaison. MRI • MR safety expert support. • Acceptance testing of new systems. • Quality assurance testing. • Procurement and specification advice. Ultrasound • Acceptance testing of new systems. • Repeat testing throughout equipment lifecycle. • Support in accordance with national guidance. Laser and Optical Radiation • Annual laser safety audits. • Optical radiation risk assessments. • Laser quality assurance testing. • UV equipment audits and safety assessments. Governance and Advisory Support The provider would be expected to: • Support compliance with IRR17, IR(ME)R and associated legislation. • Assist with departmental audits and governance reviews. • Support internal quality control programmes. • Advise on statutory and mandatory training requirements. • Attend Trust meetings and committees. • Provide timely responses to ad hoc queries by telephone, email and on-site attendance when required. • Support equipment procurement and replacement planning. • Advise on radiation protection design specifications for new builds, refurbishments and equipment installations. Equipment Portfolio The current equipment portfolio includes: X-ray, Fluoroscopy and CT • Fixed digital general radiography rooms • Fluoroscopy systems • Interventional fluoroscopy/cardiac catheter laboratories • Mobile image intensifiers • Mobile digital radiography units • Orthopaedic mini C-arm • DEXA scanner • CT scanners • Dental radiography • Cone Beam CT MRI • Siemens Magnetom Sola 1.5T • Siemens Magnetom Aera 1.5T • Siemens Magnetom Sola 1.5T (Community Diagnostic Centre) Nuclear Medicine • Siemens SPECT ProSpecta including CT • Dose calibrators • Radiation monitoring equipment Ultrasound • Approximately 14 ultrasound systems across acute, maternity, vascular and community services. Laser Systems Multiple laser systems supporting: • Urology • Ophthalmology • Oral Surgery • Vascular Services Ultraviolet Equipment • UV hand and foot therapy units • Associated calibration and testing equipment The equipment portfolio may change during the term of any future contract. Key Service Expectations The Trust is considering service requirements including: Area Indicative Requirement General enquiries Response within 2 working days Critical enquiries Response within 2 hours during core hours Routine site attendance Within 1 week Urgent site attendance Within 2 working days Test reports Within 4 weeks of testing Radiation incident reports Within 1 working week Suppliers are invited to comment on the achievability of these response times and propose alternative service levels where appropriate Meetings and Governance The provider may be required to attend: • Trust Radiation Protection Committee • Imaging Radiation Protection Operational Meetings • Regional professional meetings • Quarterly contract review meetings • Annual service review meetings Supplier Feedback Requested The Trust welcomes feedback from potential providers on the following: Service Delivery 1. Can your organisation provide the full scope of services outlined? 2. Are there any elements that would typically be subcontracted? 3. How would you structure service delivery and governance arrangements? 4. What staffing model would you propose? Capacity and Capability 1. Describe your experience delivering Medical Physics services to NHS organisations of comparable size and complexity. 2. Please provide details of relevant accreditations and professional registrations. 3. How would resilience and business continuity be maintained? Innovation 1. What innovative approaches, digital solutions or service improvements could be offered? 2. Are there alternative service models that the Trust should consider? Commercial Considerations 1. What contract duration would be most suitable? 2. What pricing mechanisms are commonly used for similar services? 3. Are there any barriers that may limit market participation? Specification 1. Are there any elements of the draft specification that require clarification, amendment or additional detail? 2. Are there any key performance indicators or service standards that should be added, amended or removed? Potential Contract Scope The Trust is currently considering a contract covering: • Radiation Protection Adviser Services • Medical Physics Expert Services • Radioactive Waste Adviser Services • Laser Protection Adviser Services • MR Safety Expert Services • Quality Assurance and Acceptance Testing • Radiation Safety Audits • Advisory and Governance Support Wiltshire Breast Screening Service MPE Services are currently excluded from this proposed requirement and are managed under separate arrangements. Engagement Process Interested suppliers are invited to submit: • A summary of their organisation. • Feedback on the proposed specification. • Suggestions for service delivery models. • Any innovative approaches or market insights. • Indicative commercial and contractual considerations. Responses received through this PME may be used to refine the final service specification and procurement strategy. Participation in this PME will not influence the outcome of any future procurement process and will not confer any advantage to participating suppliers Authority Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Main Service Locations • Great Western Hospital, Swindon • Savernake Hospital, Marlborough • Fairford Hospital • West Swindon Community Diagnostic Centre Estimated Procurement Timetable The Trust may undertake a formal procurement exercise following completion and review of this market engagement activity. Further information will be published via Find a Tender Service (FTS) and Contracts Finder, where applicable. Interested suppliers are invited to provide written feedback against the questions above by the deadline stated within this PME notice.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c8c7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065279-2026
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

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50421200 - Repair and maintenance services of X-ray equipment

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Jul 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Aug 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 30 Nov 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
GREAT WESTERN HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN3 6BB
Post Town
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Ridgeway
Westminster Constituency
East Wiltshire

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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