--- title: "Assisted Conception Unit (ACU) Joint Venture" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-059c7f" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-059c7f" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059c7f.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059c7f.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "KINGSTON AND RICHMOND HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST" published: "2026-06-15" --- # Assisted Conception Unit (ACU) Joint Venture Buyer: KINGSTON AND RICHMOND HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-059c7f [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-059c7f) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059c7f.json) ## Summary The Kingston and Richmond Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is planning a procurement process for a strategic joint venture to provide assisted conception unit (ACU) services. This involves high-quality fertility treatment pathways for both NHS-funded and private patients. The procurement is set to take place near Kingston Upon Thames, UK, with a location approximately 3.5 miles from the main hospital site. The process is currently in the planning stage, with the tender notice expected to be published by the end of July 2026, followed by submission of tenders by the end of August 2026, and the contract award anticipated by January 2027. The procurement follows the Procurement Act 2023 and will utilise a competitive flexible procedure, covering services such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) among others. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses with strengths in advanced fertility services. Suitable candidates would include organisations capable of establishing and operating a comprehensive fertility treatment facility, demonstrating clinical expertise and operational capacity. The business engagement phase has already commenced to assess market capabilities and identify potential suppliers. This venture could be a lucrative opportunity for companies willing to engage in a long-term strategic partnership, envisioned to last 10 years with potential extensions. The aim is to enhance service delivery through collaboration and innovation, serving both NHS and private sectors. ## Notice Strategic Joint Venture Partner for Assisted Conception Unit Services 1. Overview The proposed service model is expected to support the delivery and expansion of high-quality assisted conception treatment pathways for NHS-funded patients and private patients. The ACU is expected to be located off the main acute hospital site but within a reasonable catchment area of the Authority, currently described for planning purposes as approximately 3.5 miles from the main acute site. The anticipated scope includes, subject to finalisation, advanced fertility treatment and related services, including in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), egg donation, sperm donation, embryo donation, fertility preservation, outpatient fertility consultations, ultrasound and monitoring, counselling, pharmacy / medicines management, cryostorage, and the potential to offer enhanced services such as pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT). The Authority currently anticipates that the commercial/legal model will comprise a long-term strategic corporate joint venture, anticipated to be structured as either a limited company or LLP, together with a linked service provision arrangement under which the joint venture will provide relevant services back into the Authority for patients receiving NHS-funded care, whilst also supporting private patient pathways. The provider / JV partner is expected to bring the necessary clinical expertise, operational capacity and commercial appetite to collaborate with the Authority on service establishment, mobilisation and operation, including capital investment, premises and equipment, digital integration, workforce matters including the anticipated TUPE transfer of certain nursing and administrative staff, regulatory compliance and assumption of operational risk, subject to the final procurement documents. Secondary care fertility clinic services operated by the Authority are currently considered to be out of scope of this procurement. The Authority currently anticipates conducting the future procurement under the Procurement Act 2023 using the competitive flexible procedure. A multi-stage process is anticipated, with further detail to be provided in the tender notice and associated tender documents. 2. Estimated contract value: Not yet established. 3. Indicative contract term: Currently expected to be a long-term strategic partnership, likely to comprise an initial term of 10 years with options to extend for a further five periods of 12 months each, subject to confirmation. 4. Estimated date for publication of the tender notice: End July 2026. 5. Estimated date by when suppliers will be asked to submit requests to participate or tenders: End August 2026 6. Estimated date of contract award: End Jan 2027 7. Supplementary Notes 7.1. Preliminary market engagement has already been undertaken. Relevant notices were published under Find a Tender notice number 2025/S 000-059024 and Contracts Finder notice reference CF-31955 in September 2025. 7.2. This planned procurement notice is issued for advance information only. It does not constitute a call for competition, does not commit the Authority to commence or complete any procurement, and does not commit the Authority to any particular commercial, legal or service delivery structure. The Authority reserves the right to amend, clarify, expand, reduce, suspend, discontinue or terminate the procurement and/or the proposed scope, structure, timetable and contractual approach at any time. 7.3. Documents relating to the procurement will be made available via the Authority's e-tendering portal (Atamis) or as otherwise identified in the future UK4 Tender Notice. 7.4. The public contract is not expected to be awarded by reference to suppliers' membership of a dynamic market. 7.5. Suppliers should monitor the Authority's e-tendering portal, Find a Tender and Contracts Finder for the future UK4 Tender Notice and associated tender documents. Any registration requirements will be set out in that future notice. 7.6. Please note that all dates cited in this notice are indicative only and may be subject to change. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Renewal: An extension beyond the initial term of up to 5 years is being considered. ### Planning Information Target Dates Preliminary Market Engagement Released = 17/09/25 Clarifications Deadline = 09/10/2025 14:00 Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire Submission Deadline = 17/10/25 14:00 Interactive Discussion Phase Target anticipated during Period 20/10/25 to 14/11/25 subject to Clinician and Management availabilities. To access the agreement please follow the attached link: https://atamis-1928.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=Projects&uid=a07Sr00000gYhfeIAC&searchStr=assisted&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=&County= ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056341-2026 | | Notice type | UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 15 Jun 2026 | | Submission deadline | 27 Aug 2026 | | Future notice date | 1 Jul 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 8 Feb 2027 - 7 Feb 2036 | | 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 | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | KINGSTON AND RICHMOND HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | | Locality | KINGSTON UPON THAMES | | Post town | Kingston upon Thames | | Postcode | KT2 7QB | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI6 Outer London - South | | ITL 3 | TLI63 Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton | | Local authority | Kingston upon Thames | | Electoral ward | Coombe Hill | | Westminster constituency | Richmond Park | | Delivery location | TLI63 Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85100000 - Health services - 85111310 - In vitro fertilisation services ## Release History - 15 Jun 2026 at 15:39 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056341-2026 - 23 Sep 2025 at 15:48 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059024-2025 - 17 Sep 2025 at 16:10 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057499-2025 - 17 Sep 2025 at 14:50 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057442-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056341-2026 15th June 2026 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059024-2025 23rd September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057499-2025 17th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057442-2025 17th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://atamis-1928.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=Projects&uid=a07Sr00000gYhfeIAC&searchStr=assisted&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=&County= - https://www.kingstonhospital.nhs.uk/ - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-059c7f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059c7f.json.