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Discharge to Access Service- (West Locality)

Suffolk County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

21 Sep 2026 at 10:24

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Suffolk County Council is procuring a Discharge to Assess service for the West locality. The requirement is for bed-based nursing care for medically optimised people leaving acute hospital, supporting swift discharge through the Discharge to Assess model. The service is intended to maintain hospital discharge pathways, provide preventative care under the Care Act 2014 and support stability in the local care market. Delivery is in Suffolk, for the council in partnership with Morar Living. This is a health and social care service, classified under CPV 85000000. The work involves operating bed-based provision, mobilising and staffing the service, managing capacity across seasonal demand, and working collaboratively with the council to establish an effective local service. It is therefore aimed at nursing and care providers experienced in complex discharge-to-assess provision.

The procurement has been awarded by direct award to MORAR PAGHAM LTD, an SME, following the incumbent provider’s decision not to continue. The award date is 21 September 2026. The awarded value is £1,400,175 excluding VAT, or £1,750,217 including VAT. The contract period runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027, with an option to extend to 30 September 2028. The award includes a one-year extension to allow a further procurement process. The council used a direct award under the light-touch regime, citing urgency, the absence of viable alternatives within the required timescale, continuity of statutory services and the need to avoid disruption to hospital discharge. The single lot is complete, and the planned contract signature date is 28 September 2026.

This award indicates sustained demand from Suffolk County Council for bed-based nursing capacity supporting hospital discharge, particularly where continuity and rapid mobilisation are important. A credible future competitor would need a proven track record in Discharge to Assess services and the operational ability to manage the complexities of nursing people leaving acute care. Providers would need sufficient immediately available capacity to accept placements, alongside the workforce and management systems to recruit, retain and mobilise staff reliably. The council also values proactive engagement, collaborative partnership working and the ability to provide stability across the local care market. Organisations able to plan capacity across both winter and summer demand, maintain discharge pathways without disruption and operate within an allocated public-sector budget would be well placed for comparable work with this buyer.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Discharge to Access Service- (West Locality)

Notice Description

Discharge to Access - West Locality Service The provision of bed based nursing services commissioned by Suffolk County Council in Partnership with Morar Living to provide a swift discharge of medically optimised customers from the acute as part of the Discharge to Assess model. Due to current provider of the service having declined to continue their services for the remaining contract period, a Direct Award has been agreed. The proposed approach is a 12-month direct award to a new provider with an option of a plus one year extension. The rationale for this includes: * The operational complexities of providing D2A care. * The need to ensure continuity and avoid disruption to hospital discharge pathways. * The preventative role of the service under Section 2 of the Care Act 2014. * The need to provide stability within the local care market. * The importance of giving the new provider sufficient certainty to recruit, retain and mobilise staff. * The need to plan capacity across both winter and summer periods. * Alignment with the wider 12-month extension arrangements. * The fact that there are currently no voids within the area, demonstrating continued demand for the service. * The proposed provider's proven track record in delivering D2A services and ability to deliver the service successfully. * The proposed provider currently has capacity, including approximately 14 voids, which is significantly more than any other provider in the area and supports immediate mobilisation. * The provider's willingness to engage proactively with Suffolk County Council and work collaboratively to build a strong and productive partnership relationship. A 12-month arrangement would provide sufficient time for the new provider to mobilise and establish the service, while also allowing commissioners to monitor delivery and develop a longer-term procurement approach.

Procurement Information

This is required due to the absence of viable market alternatives available in the timeframe required due to the incumbent provider no longer wishing to carry out the services. This direct award delivers significant cost avoidance by preventing disruption to hospital discharge pathways, avoiding emergency purchasing arrangements and reducing the risk of higher-cost care interventions. It also provides added value through immediate capacity availability, continuity of service, market stability and the opportunity to develop a robust longer-term procurement solution without compromising current service delivery. The need to maintain service continuity in order to effectively discharge our statutory duties. The new provider has committed to carry out the services within the allocated budget.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07761a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088994-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,400,175 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Suffolk County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
IPSWICH
Postcode
IP1 2BX
Postcode Area
Ipswich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH6 Suffolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH62 Ipswich
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Ipswich
Electoral Ward
Gipping
Westminster Constituency
Ipswich

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

MORAR PAGHAM LTD

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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