Additional MRI Capacity plus Scanner

Tender description

Additional MRI Capacity plus Scanner Lot 1: Provider Selection Regime (PSR)<br/>PSR Direct Award – Option A. Additional information: As of the 1st January 2024 the selection process to identify and award contracts to Providers <br/>of healthcare services has been removed from the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and are <br/>now part of the new Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This report is to seek approval to <br/>award a contract under the PSR procedures. The PSR process provides greater flexibility <br/>than the traditional procurement procedures through a number of routes to award contracts <br/>including Direct Awards. Whilst the PSR does offer greater flexibility ESNEFT’s default <br/>starting position for the selection of a Provider and award of contracts under PSR is <br/>competition and Value for Money. <br/>Service Outline and History <br/>Funding has been secured from the Norfolk and Suffolk ICB to support the reduction of <br/>cancer, elective and diagnostic waiting lists during the 2026/27 financial year. Current MRI <br/>performance within East Suffolk remains significantly challenged, with DM01 performance at <br/>60% and over 1,000 patients waiting in excess of six weeks for a diagnostic test. Demand is <br/>anticipated to increase further as pathway redesign work progresses across both elective <br/>and cancer services, resulting in additional imaging requirements to support timely diagnosis <br/>and treatment.<br/>To deliver the intended benefits of the ICB investment and avoid further deterioration in <br/>waiting times and performance standards, the additional MRI capacity must be operational <br/>from the beginning of November 2026. Any delay in mobilisation would directly impact the <br/>Trust's ability to reduce diagnostic waiting lists, meet cancer pathway requirements and <br/>support elective recovery.<br/>Alliance Medical is uniquely positioned to provide immediate continuity of service due to its <br/>established operational presence within ESNEFT. Alliance currently delivers MRI services <br/>under the North East Essex contract and operates the existing mobile MRI service on the <br/>Ipswich acute site. As a result, robust shared Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), <br/>established clinical protocols, workforce arrangements, governance frameworks and fully <br/>integrated IT connectivity are already in place.<br/>Awarding the contract to an alternative provider would require a new mobilisation period, <br/>implementation of IT interfaces, agreement of governance processes, validation of clinical <br/>protocols and staff training, creating a significant risk to service continuity and delaying the <br/>commencement of additional capacity. A direct award to Alliance Medical therefore <br/>represents the most proportionate and effective route to ensure uninterrupted service <br/>delivery, maximise the benefit of the available funding, and support the Trust's urgent <br/>cancer, elective and diagnostic recovery objectives<br/>2<br/>This is a contract for new services in that this is additional and separate capacity not previously <br/>commissioned, and has been separately funded through a bidding route with commissioners <br/>outside the usual contract discussions. The provider is the only provider that is able to deliver <br/>an integrated service that aligns to ESNEFTs clinical and operational requirements in the very <br/>short timescale that the bidding process has requested. This is therefore considered best <br/>awarded under PSR option A<br/>Recommendation – Direct Award under PSR Option A