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Medicare ultrasound insourcing for NOUS ultrasound

COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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22 Oct 2026 at 10:44

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust contracted Medicare Insourcing Services Limited to extend its existing ultrasound insourcing service for NOUS ultrasound. The service supports diagnostic ultrasound activity, helping the Trust manage sustained demand, sonographer vacancies and reduced capacity while two ageing scanners are replaced. Ultrasound is a high-volume diagnostic service for the Trust, and the extension is intended to support backlog recovery and maintain diagnostic capacity during this interim period. The work is for the Trust’s hospital service in Chester. The award’s delivery data also lists broad areas across England, but does not identify specific sites beyond the Trust’s Chester location.

The procurement is complete and the contract is active. The Trust used a below-threshold direct award without competition, under the Provider Selection Regime. Medicare Insourcing Services Limited was selected. The contract was signed on 20 October 2026 and runs from 20 October to 30 November 2026, extending the existing service for four months according to the procurement description. The contract value is £40,631.04 excluding VAT, or £489,757.25 including VAT. The published data does not set out an evaluation or award-scoring basis; the supplier was appointed directly to extend the incumbent ultrasound insourcing arrangement. There was one lot, covering the ultrasound service extension.

For a supplier considering similar work for the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, this award shows demand for outsourced diagnostic ultrasound capacity to help address sustained activity, workforce shortages and equipment-related constraints. A credible competitor would need to provide appropriately skilled sonographers and reliable capacity that can support routine service delivery and backlog recovery while the Trust’s scanner fleet is renewed. The requirement was handled as a direct, below-threshold extension of an existing arrangement, and the incumbent supplier was retained. That indicates the importance of continuity and the ability to mobilise or sustain an established insourcing service in a hospital setting. The procurement data does not describe specific accreditation, staffing numbers or technical qualification requirements, so these should not be inferred.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Medicare ultrasound insourcing for NOUS ultrasound

Notice Description

The trust requires a 4-month contract extension to extend the existing ultrasound insourcing contract. Ultrasounds remain one of the Trust's highest volume diagnostic modalities and continues to represent a significant risk to DM01 compliance due to sustained demand growth and ongoing workforce constraints. The service currently operates with a 25% sonographer vacancy rate, reflecting national shortages which are not expected to resolve in the short term. In addition to ongoing workforce shortages and sustained growth in demand, the service is currently experiencing reduced diagnostic resilience due to an aging ultrasound equipment fleet. Two ultrasound scanners have reached the end of their serviceable life and are in the process of being replaced following capital approval. While this investment is critical for long term sustainability, the interim period of reduced equipment availability has further exacerbated backlog recovery and constrained capacity.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078d9a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099847-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

98300000 - Miscellaneous services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£40,631 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
20 Oct 2026 - 30 Nov 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL 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
CHESTER
Postcode
CH2 1UL
Postcode Area
Chester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Cheshire West and Chester
Electoral Ward
Upton
Westminster Constituency
Chester North and Neston

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Medicare Insourcing Services Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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