This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Sep 2026 at 14:32

Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service intends to procure independent qualified medical practitioner services for ill-health retirement assessments across all regions of Scotland, including remote and rural areas. The service will support decisions on whether employees meet ill-health retirement criteria under relevant pension schemes. Expected work includes initial assessments, reviews of medical evidence and occupational health records, independent medical examinations, written medical determinations and reports, professional advice on pension provisions, and secure handling of confidential information. The provider will also support appeals, including attending appeal hearings when requested. Scotland Excel will conduct the procurement on behalf of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, but will not be a party to, or manage, the resulting contract. This is a healthcare service procurement.

This is a Prior Information Notice at the planning stage: the buyer has announced its intention to procure the service and has not invited tenders. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service anticipates using a competitive procurement process for a single service requirement covering Scotland. The buyer expects the next notice to be published on 2 October 2026; this is an indicative date rather than a tender deadline. The intended arrangement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement. The service is presented as one lot, with Scotland-wide delivery including remote and rural locations. The procurement concerns company health services, with medical opinions required to align with pension scheme ill-health retirement regulations.

The procurement will suit occupational health providers, medical assessment companies and organisations able to supply independent practitioners with relevant experience in ill-health retirement work. Strong candidates will need access to appropriately qualified and experienced medical professionals who can assess complex evidence, conduct examinations where required, interpret occupational health records and apply pension scheme criteria. Providers should be prepared to produce clear, defensible written reports and medical opinions, give professional advice, and support appeals or attend hearings. The service also calls for reliable systems for receiving, managing and returning confidential information securely. Suppliers with Scotland-wide capacity, including the ability to serve remote and rural communities, will be better placed to prepare for the future competitive procurement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Ill Health Retiral IQMP Services

Notice Description

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is being issued to inform the market of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's intention to establish a contract for the provision of Ill Health Retiral Independent Qualified Medical Practitioner (IQMP) Services. The purpose of this PIN is to raise awareness of the forthcoming procurement opportunity and provide interested suppliers with advance notice of the Service's requirements to support future participation in the tender process. The successful Contractor will provide appropriately qualified, experienced and independent medical practitioners to undertake ill health retirement assessments and associated services on behalf of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The scope of the Services is expected to include, but is not limited to: -Initial Ill Health Retirement (IHR) assessments. -Reviews of medical evidence and occupational health records -Independent medical examinations where required -Provision of medical opinions in line with pension scheme regulations -Determination of whether the employee meets the schemes ill health retirement criteria -Appeals support services. -Attendance at appeal hearings where requested by the Authority. -Provision of written medical determinations and reports. -Professional advice relating to pension scheme ill health retirement provisions. -Secure receipt, management and return of confidential information. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service anticipates undertaking a competitive procurement process and encourages interested suppliers to monitor Public Contracts Scotland for further information regarding the opportunity.

Lot Information

Lot 1

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is being issued to inform the market of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's intention to establish a contract for the provision of Ill Health Retiral Independent Qualified Medical Practitioner (IQMP) Services. The purpose of this PIN is to raise awareness of the forthcoming procurement opportunity and provide interested suppliers with advance notice of the Service's requirements to support future participation in the tender process. The successful Contractor will provide appropriately qualified, experienced and independent medical practitioners to undertake ill health retirement assessments and associated services on behalf of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The scope of the Services is expected to include, but is not limited to: -Initial Ill Health Retirement (IHR) assessments. -Reviews of medical evidence and occupational health records -Independent medical examinations where required -Provision of medical opinions in line with pension scheme regulations -Determination of whether the employee meets the schemes ill health retirement criteria -Appeals support services. -Attendance at appeal hearings where requested by the Authority. -Provision of written medical determinations and reports. -Professional advice relating to pension scheme ill health retirement provisions. -Secure receipt, management and return of confidential information. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service anticipates undertaking a competitive procurement process and encourages interested suppliers to monitor Public Contracts Scotland for further information regarding the opportunity. Additional information: Scotland Excel (SXL) will be acting on behalf of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) in the execution of this procurement exercise but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f5c8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085443-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning 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

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85147000 - Company health services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Oct 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CAMBUSLANG
Postcode
G72 7NA
Postcode Area
Glasgow
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM9 Southern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM95 South Lanarkshire
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
South Lanarkshire
Electoral Ward
Cambuslang East
Westminster Constituency
Rutherglen

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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