Pre-engagement for MRI Scanning Services for Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust (HWHCT) Worcestershire Patients

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

01 Sep 2026 at 12:59

Planning

28 Aug 2026 at 15:38

Summary of the contracting process

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust is exploring a future direct-access MRI scanning service for patients in Worcestershire, referred mainly through the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Musculoskeletal Service. The requirement is for medical imaging and associated healthcare delivery, rather than the supply of MRI equipment alone. The Trust is considering different service models, including provision by a mobile MRI unit. The service would support patients needing MRI investigations within the NHS musculoskeletal pathway. Suppliers should therefore be able to provide an operational diagnostic imaging service, suitable clinical facilities or mobile capability, and the staffing and arrangements needed to receive referrals and deliver scans. The stated delivery area is Worcestershire, within the Trust’s service arrangements.

This is a preliminary market engagement at the planning stage under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023; it is not an invitation to tender or a commitment to award a contract. Interested suppliers are asked to complete an Expressions of Interest Questionnaire by 25 September 2026. The Trust may hold follow-up market engagement discussions during October and November 2026, with a further notice currently expected on 1 December 2026. Feedback will be used to refine the service specification and decide the future procurement approach. The estimated value is £2,580,000 excluding VAT, or £3,096,000 including VAT. One planned lot is expected to run from 4 October 2027 to 3 October 2030, with renewal potentially extending it to 3 October 2032.

The engagement is relevant to MRI and diagnostic imaging providers that can deliver direct-access scanning for NHS musculoskeletal referrals in Worcestershire. It may suit SMEs, as the planned lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. Providers with experience of managing patient referrals, clinical scanning pathways, reporting and service capacity at NHS scale are likely to be well placed to respond. The Trust is specifically seeking evidence of market capability and capacity, feedback on a draft service specification, and views on alternative delivery models such as mobile MRI. Suppliers should use this stage to explain how their facilities, equipment, workforce, governance and operating model could support the service, and to identify practical barriers or conditions that could affect participation in a later procurement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Pre-engagement for MRI Scanning Services for Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust (HWHCT) Worcestershire Patients

Notice Description

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust ("the Trust") is undertaking a preliminary market engagement exercise in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The Trust is considering future arrangements for the provision of a Direct Access MRI Service for patients referred primarily from the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Musculoskeletal (MSK) Service. A draft service specification is enclosed for review. The purpose of this questionnaire is to: * Understand supplier interest in a potential future opportunity. * Assess market capability and capacity. * Obtain feedback on the draft service specification. * Explore alternative service delivery models, including mobile MRI provision. * Identify any barriers or considerations which may affect participation. * Inform the Trust's future commissioning and procurement strategy. This exercise is for information gathering purposes only and does not constitute a procurement process, invitation to tender, commitment to procure, or award of any contract. Participation in this exercise will not provide any supplier with an advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement activity. The Trust may invite suppliers expressing an interest to participate in follow-up market engagement discussions. The Trust would like interested parties to complete the Expressions of Interest Questionnaire by 25 September 2026. Documents available and responses to be uploaded via the Health Family Single eCommercial System (Atamis) https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome by the stated submission deadline. All documents are available via the above weblink, once you have accessed the website search for reference C468898 in the "find opportunities" area.

Planning Information

The Trust would like interested parties to complete the Expressions of Interest Questionnaire by 25 September 2026. Documents available and responses to be uploaded via the Health Family Single eCommercial System (Atamis) https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome by the stated submission deadline. All documents are available via the above weblink, once you have accessed the website search for reference C468898 in the “find opportunities” area. The Trust may invite suppliers expressing an interest to participate in follow-up market engagement discussions during October / November 2026 The responses received from the questionnaire and the discussions from any follow up meetings will help the Trust to refine it's service specifications and determine the most suitable complaint PSR procurement process to be undertaken.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06eecd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082634-2026
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
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85100000 - Health services

85111000 - Hospital services

85121000 - Medical practice services

85140000 - Miscellaneous health services

85150000 - Medical imaging services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,580,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Sep 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Dec 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Oct 2027 - 3 Oct 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS 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
WORCESTER
Postcode
WR5 1JR
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
TLG12 Worcestershire CC

Local Authority
Worcester
Electoral Ward
Leopard Hill
Westminster Constituency
Worcester

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.

Loading OCDS record...