Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Service

Description

NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit are issuing this Prior Information Notice on behalf of NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) who are seeking expressions of interest in providing the future provision of the Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Service as the current contract is due to expire in 11th January 2026. The notice has been issued subject to the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations 2023 for the Procurement of Healthcare Services. Lot 1: The aim of the service is to provide a consultant led, community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) service to diagnose and treat a range of ENT conditions and manage relevant follow-up activity within the service before final discharge back to the patient's own GP, or onward referral to secondary care and audiology services where necessary. A further aim is to provide patients with access to diagnostics and treatment and providing a 'one- stop' service, where appropriate, with the overall aim of providing a timely assessment of the needs of a patient presenting with an ENT condition who would otherwise present in a secondary care service. The current Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Service has an annual contract value of £1,858,027 In the interest of transparency and to enable providers to know the expectations of the service a copy of the draft particulars, service specification and details of the pricing structure is available and can be requested by emailing: contractingrequests@staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk. Potentially interested parties are expected to following the process below: Phase 1 - Accreditation Providers must email their request for accreditation to the Provider Accreditation Inbox: contractingrequests@staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk. They will then receive a questionnaire to complete, which assesses their suitability based on standard criteria. The completed questionnaire is reviewed by a Provider Accreditation Panel (PAP), formed based on relevant expertise. Phase 2 - Service Specification Providers indicate the services they wish to offer in the accreditation questionnaire. If accredited, they must demonstrate how they will meet the relevant service specification, location requirements and fully mobilise the service by 12 Jan 26. This response is assessed for compliance, providers will receive confirmation and proceed to contract setup. Phase 3 - Contract Award Once accreditation and service specification assessments are successfully completed, and the provider is deemed suitable, a contract is awarded to deliver services on behalf of the ICB. There is no guarantee of business for any provider appointed. The NHS Standard Contract will take precedent and shall be updated accordingly on an annual basis. This service is anticipated to be in place for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for up to a further 2 years period. The service shall go live from 12th January 2026, note providers appointed after this date will be provided a contract on a pro rata basis to align the overall contract period.