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Delivery of Protected Learning Time (PLT) for General Practice, Pharmacy, Optometry and Dental

NHS NORTH EAST AND NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

23 Sep 2026 at 09:24

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board commissioned a Protected Learning Time (PLT) service for primary care. The provider is to lead, design, deliver and expand a standardised programme of learning events, initially for general practice and then extending to community pharmacy, optometry and dentistry. The service includes developing the future PLT model with general practices and arranging and funding clinical cover for learning sessions, while maintaining patient access to primary care in person, by telephone and online. The work also includes assessing the capacity and capability needed to extend the same level of support to other primary care professions. Delivery is across North East and North Cumbria.

The procurement has been awarded to Hartlepool & Stockton Health, with an active contract. The ICB used an urgent-circumstances route under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, without a prior competition, citing the risk to patient or public safety from delay. The contract was signed on 1 September 2026 and runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2029; its value is £1,262,000. The ICB states that the term is the minimum needed to align with the associated PCC contract and support continuity and programme objectives. The award decision was made by the ICB’s Neighbourhood Health Sub-Committee. The stated assessment addressed immediate risks to safety and quality of care.

For suppliers considering comparable future work for this ICB, the award indicates demand for an integrated primary-care learning programme spanning general practice, community pharmacy, optometry and dentistry. A credible provider would need to design and co-produce a consistent learning offer, organise and fund clinical cover, and protect patient access during learning sessions across in-person, telephone and online channels. The requirement also calls for the ability to assess workforce capacity and capability and extend delivery across different primary care contractor groups. Because the service is linked to a wider programme and continuity of delivery is a stated concern, relevant experience coordinating interdependent services and sustaining delivery across multiple years would help demonstrate readiness. The buyer selected a provider through the PSR urgent-circumstances route, with the assessment focused on immediate safety and care-quality risks.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Delivery of Protected Learning Time (PLT) for General Practice, Pharmacy, Optometry and Dental

Notice Description

To lead, design, deliver and expand a model of Protected Learning Time (PLT) for general practice in year 1 (and in year 2 and 3 Pharmacy, Optometry and Dental), ensuring a standardised offer across NENC in terms of the number and type of events and the arrangements and funding for any clinical cover per session.

Lot Information

Lot 1

To lead, design, deliver and expand a model of Protected Learning Time (PLT) for general practice in year 1 (and in year 2 and 3 Pharmacy, Optometry and Dental), ensuring a standardised offer across NENC in terms of the number and type of events and the arrangements and funding for any clinical cover per session. As a first step, co-produce a future PLT model with general practices, recognising any cover arrangements must comply with the new contractual requirements to ensure patients have access to primary care services in person, on the telephone and through an online consultation tool. Further work will be required in year 1 to scope the capacity and capability needed to provide the same level of support across the wider primary care contractor groups (community pharmacy, optometry and dentistry) for PLT. The relevant authority intends to award this contract under the urgent circumstances provision under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 and Procurement Regulations 2024 do not apply to this award. The lifetime value of the contract is PS1,262,000. Contract Start Date: 01 September 2026 Contract End Date: 31 March 2029

Procurement Information

This contract has been awarded under the urgent circumstances provision of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 and Procurement Regulations 2024 do not apply to this award.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077823
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089925-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85100000 - Health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1,262,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS NORTH EAST AND NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SUNDERLAND
Postcode
SR5 3XB
Postcode Area
Sunderland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC44 Sunderland
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England)
Local Authority
Sunderland
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Washington and Gateshead South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Hartlepool & Stockton Health

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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