--- title: "Ambulance Conversion Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-043704" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-043704" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-043704.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-043704.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "SOUTH WESTERN AMBULANCE SERVICE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST" published: "2024-02-04" --- # Ambulance Conversion Services Buyer: SOUTH WESTERN AMBULANCE SERVICE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-043704 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-043704) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-043704.json) ## Summary The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has awarded a contract for "Ambulance Conversion Services" to Advanced Emergency Vehicles Limited. The procurement process was in the award stage, with the contract signed on 31st January 2024. This opportunity falls under the services category, specifically for ambulance conversion services. The Trust intends to convert 63 vehicle chassis, each located in the UK, and the procurement was carried out through a limited procurement method without publication of a contract notice. This tender for ambulance conversion services presents a growth opportunity for businesses in the medical transportation equipment industry. Companies specialised in ambulance conversion services, particularly those with expertise in technical specifications and unique solutions for ambulance fleets, would be well-suited to compete. The Trust's emphasis on the need for warranties over converted vehicles highlights the importance of quality and reliability in delivering healthcare services and emergency response efficiently to the public. ## Notice The Trust intends to award a contract to Advanced Emergency Vehicles Limited ("AEV") for ambulance conversion services in respect of 63 vehicle chassis on the basis that the services can only be supplied by one provider. This is on the grounds that competition is absent for technical reasons arising from AEV's obligations over retention of title rights owed to third parties, interoperability issues with any other provider completing the works to date and AEV's ability to provide warranties over the converted vehicles in acquiring the business and assets of VCS. ### Lot Information Lot 1 The Trust originally awarded a contract to Vehicle Conversion Specialists Limited (Company Number 07214183) ("VCS") for ambulance conversion services through a call-off contract (dated 15 June 2023) under a framework agreement established by East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement (hosted by West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust). 63 vehicle chassis were transferred into the possession of VCS for performing the contract. VCS went into administration on 20 November 2023. Personnel from Teneo Financial Advisory Limited (the Administrators) have been appointed as the administrators of VCS. The Administrators intends to sell all assets of VCS to AEV including work in progress and motor vehicles subject to third party retention of title rights. The Trust intends to award a contract to AEV to complete the ambulance conversion of the 63 vehicles. Additional information: The original call-off contract to VCS was under Lot 1 of the East of England Collaborative NHS Procurement Hub Framework Agreement for Ambulance and Specialist Vehicle Conversions. Framework OJEU Number: 2020/S 240-594961. ### Procurement Information The Trust transferred 63 vehicle chassis into the possession of VCS for it to convert into ambulances for the Trust pursuant to a framework call-off contract dated 15 June 2023. The vehicles are subject to retention of title (RoT) rights which VCS owes to third parties in relation to work fitted to them. These rights prevent the Trust from regaining possession of the vehicles because VCS will not be in a position to release the vehicles to the Trust without VCS discharging the RoT rights. The proposed sale by the administrators of the assets of VCS to AEV will also transfer the retention of title obligations to AEV. Consequently, the RoT obligations when vested in AEV would also prevent the Trust from regaining possession of the vehicles from AEV. Furthermore, the work carried out on the vehicles to date by VCS is specific to VCS' workflow and assembly approaches and is likely to be incompatible with those of other providers for them to be able to take-over and complete the existing conversions. AEV in acquiring the business and assets of VCS is in a unique position to be able to overcome that interoperability issue and consequently offer a warranty over the complete conversion of the vehicle. Such warranties are necessary requirements for the Trust given its reliance on the quality and functioning of the ambulance fleet to deliver health services and emergency response to the public. The Trust considers that competition is absent for technical reasons (pursuant to Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended)) for the combination of reasons given above. The Trust considers that commissioning the acquisition of a new fleet of chassis for ambulance conversion is not a reasonable alternative or substitute to awarding the contract to complete the conversion of the existing 63 vehicles given the prior fleet investment, the operational and commercial benefits to upgrade the ambulance fleet as soon as possible and value for money considerations for the NHS. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003620-2024 | | Notice type | Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Limited | | Procurement method details | Negotiated without publication of a contract notice | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 4 Feb 2024 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 31 Jan 2024 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | SOUTH WESTERN AMBULANCE SERVICE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | | Locality | EXETER | | Post town | Exeter | | Postcode | EX2 7HY | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK4 Devon | | ITL 3 | TLK43 Devon CC | | Local authority | Exeter | | Electoral ward | St Loyes | | Westminster constituency | Exmouth and Exeter East | | Delivery location | TLK South West (England) | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | ADVANCED EMERGENCY VEHICLES (AEV | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 50 - Repair and maintenance services ### Codes - 50117200 - Ambulance conversion services ## Release History - 4 Feb 2024 at 15:57 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003620-2024 ## Notice URLs - https://www.justice.gov.uk - https://www.swast.nhs.uk ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-043704. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-043704.json.