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National Framework Agreement for the provision of Secure Patient Transport Services

COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

16 Jul 2026 at 10:09

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is procuring secure patient transport services through a national framework agreement for use by eligible NHS bodies, local authorities and other relevant health authorities in England and Wales. The service supports mental health patient transport requirements across the UK. Suppliers must provide safe, professional transport tailored to patients’ needs, using suitable vehicles and appropriately qualified, experienced accompanying staff. Services include conveying patients safely and respectfully to the correct destination, meeting industry best practice and NICE guidance, and providing an efficient booking system to minimise delays. Suppliers must also provide required paperwork and service-level reports, while reducing aborted journeys and empty vehicle movements. The procurement is classified as health services, including patient-transport vehicle, transport and ambulance services.

The process has reached tender: the framework is being reopened to new applicants through an open procedure, under the Provider Selection Regime. This is the second annual reopening, and offers were invited electronically. The submission deadline set by the buyer was 17 August 2026 at 2:00pm, with bids required to remain valid for 90 days. The framework agreement is for up to 720 days, with renewal options. Its current framework term runs to November 2027, with one further 12-month extension available. The estimated framework value is £25,000,000 including the published currency, GBP. One lot is included. Electronic catalogues are required, variants are allowed, and electronic auctions may be used for later competitions. Evaluation uses economic and technical selection criteria.

This opportunity suits secure patient transport operators, ambulance and specialist healthcare transport providers with the vehicles, trained staff and operational systems needed to move mental health patients safely. Businesses should be able to match vehicles and staffing to individual patient requirements, protect dignity and respect, and deliver reliable journeys to the correct destinations. The requirement also favours suppliers with robust booking, scheduling and administrative systems, including the ability to support electronic catalogues, process electronic orders and produce service-level reports and other required paperwork. Experience of delivering quality-assured transport in line with industry best practice and NICE guidance is relevant. Operational capacity to minimise delays, aborted journeys and empty vehicle movements will support the required efficient and sustainable service.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

National Framework Agreement for the provision of Secure Patient Transport Services

Notice Description

In 2024, the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust established a Framework Agreement under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (and as amended) (the PSR) for use by all Relevant Authorities (and any future successors to these organisations). This is extended to be include the Health Services (Provider Selection Regime)(Wales) Regulations 2025. "Relevant authority" is defined in section 12ZB(7) of the National Health Service Act 2006 and in section 10A(9) of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006. It means a combined authority, an integrated care board, a local authority in England, NHS England, an NHS foundation trust or an NHS trust established under section 25 of that Act, a county council or county borough council in Wales, a local health board established under section 11 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, a National Health Service trust established under section 18 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, or a special health authority established under section 22 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006. For the avoidance of doubt, any successor bodies of any of the above entities shall be entitled to place Orders and shall be deemed Relevant Authorities for the purposes of this Framework Agreement. This framework agreement aims to support mental health patient requirements through the provision of secure patient transport services. The framework was awarded to run for an initial term of 2 years with options to extend for up to a further 2 years in annual increments. The framework has been extended for 1 year, with one further extension available. As previously advertised in the Framework tender documentation, the Framework will be reopened to new applicants annually, approximately 90 days before the anniversary of the Framework Commencement Date. Previously appointed Suppliers will NOT be obliged to reapply on an annual basis. Framework Suppliers appointed on the first anniversary of the Framework Commencement Date will be awarded a Framework Agreement of up to 3 years duration; Framework Suppliers appointed on the second anniversary of the Framework Commencement Date will be awarded a Framework Agreement of up to 2 years duration and Framework Suppliers appointed on the third anniversary of the Framework Commencement Date will be awarded a Framework Agreement of up to 1 year duration. This notice concerns the Second re-opening of the Framework to new applicants.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Supplier will provide secure patient transport services. The expected outcomes of the Services will be: * Provide patients with a safe, professional, and quality service which is appropriate to their needs. * Provide the appropriate vehicle and accompanying suitably qualified and experienced staff in a timely manner. * Convey patients to the appropriate destination in a vehicle suitable for their needs, ensuring their dignity and respect. * Provide a high-quality service based on individual patient needs which meets industry best practice and NICE guidance. * Provide an efficient, easy to use booking system for Contracting Authorities to utilise to minimise delays. * Provide all appropriate paperwork and service level reports in accordance with national and local requirements. * Eliminate aborted journeys/empty vehicles to provide a financially and environmentally sustainable service.

Options: The framework was awarded to run for an initial term of 2 years with options to extend for up to a further 2 years in annual increments. The initial framework period was for November 2024-November 2026. This has been extended for 12 months, so the current end date is November 2027. There is one further 12 month extension available.

Renewal: The framework was awarded to run for an initial term of 2 years with options to extend for up to a further 2 years in annual increments. The initial framework period was for November 2024-November 2026. This has been extended for 12 months, so the current end date is November 2027. There is one further 12 month extension available.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06cc7f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067074-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

34114122 - Patient-transport vehicles

60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

85100000 - Health services

85143000 - Ambulance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£25,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
17 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL 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
CHESTER
Postcode
CH2 1UL
Postcode Area
Chester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Cheshire West and Chester
Electoral Ward
Upton
Westminster Constituency
Chester North and Neston

Further Information

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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