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Emergency And Urgent Care Private Ambulance Services

SOUTH CENTRAL AMBULANCE SERVICE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

18 Aug 2026 at 09:05

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is procuring private ambulance services for emergency and urgent care patient transport in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. Providers may occasionally need to travel beyond their usual operating boundaries to meet the head provider’s demand. The requirement covers one activity block using required shift pattern A, with services organised around a total of 399 staff hours each week. This is a healthcare transport service rather than vehicle supply alone, and is suited to organisations able to provide appropriately staffed ambulance operations across either or both counties. The delivery location is described as Berkshire or Buckinghamshire, with the buyer based in Bicester.

The process has reached tender: the buyer invited offers through an open procedure, described as a competitive process under the Provider Selection Regime. It is a single-lot procurement with an estimated total value of £800,000 including the lot value, in GBP. The contract period is 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027, with an option for up to four further one-month extensions. Bids had to be submitted electronically in English by 26 August 2026 at 14:00. The tender set a 60-day bid validity period. Bid opening and the start of the award period were scheduled for 26 August 2026 at 14:05. The tender does not allow variant bids.

This opportunity suits private ambulance operators with the workforce, vehicles, operational systems and management capacity to deliver scheduled emergency and urgent care patient transport across Buckinghamshire or Berkshire. The buyer specifically seeks organisations able to evidence that they can mobilise to meet the service requirement, so bidders should be able to demonstrate dependable resourcing, deployment planning and the ability to cover the required shift pattern and weekly staffing demand. Providers should also be prepared for occasional journeys outside their normal boundaries when patient transport needs require it. Established ambulance businesses with relevant patient transport experience and the capacity to support NHS operational demand are likely to be best placed to compete. The requirement is suitable for an operator able to work across county boundaries rather than only at a single local base.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Emergency And Urgent Care Private Ambulance Services

Notice Description

SCAS is seeking the provision of a range of Private Ambulance Services ("the Services") across the following Counties: * Buckinghamshire and or * Berkshire During the course of a shift, providers may occasionally be required to travel outside of their normal working boundaries in order to facilitate the transportation of patients and to reflect the Head Provider's demand. The tender comprises of One Lot: Lot 1 - Buckinghamshire or Berkshire Total weekly staff hours - 399 Activity Blocks Required - 1 Required Shift Pattern - A Start Date: 1st October 2026 End Date: 31st January 2027 Option to Extend by a further four one month periods The Head Provider is seeking bids from those organisations that can evidence the capacity to mobilize to meet the requirements for this service.

Lot Information

Lot 1

SCAS is seeking the provision of a range of Private Ambulance Services ("the Services") across the following Counties: * Buckinghamshire and or * Berkshire During the course of a shift, providers may occasionally be required to travel outside of their normal working boundaries in order to facilitate the transportation of patients and to reflect the Head Provider's demand. The tender comprises of One Lot: Lot 1 - Buckinghamshire or Berkshire Total weekly staff hours - 399 Activity Blocks Required - 1 Required Shift Pattern - A Start Date: 1st October 2026 End Date: 31st January 2027 Option to Extend by a further four one month periods The Head Provider is seeking bids from those organisations that can evidence the capacity to mobilize to meet the requirements for this service.

Options: The Contract can be extended by up to four periods of 1 month

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e623
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078358-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
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

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85143000 - Ambulance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
26 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 31 Jan 2027 1-6 months
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
SOUTH CENTRAL AMBULANCE SERVICE 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
BICESTER
Postcode
OX26 6HR
Postcode Area
Oxford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Delivery Location
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Local Authority
Cherwell
Electoral Ward
Bicester South and Ambrosden
Westminster Constituency
Bicester and Woodstock

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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