Partners Procurement Service, on behalf of Whittington Health NHS Trust (the "Authority")is procuring a Framework Agreement for the provision of non-emergency patient transport services (the "Framework Agreement") that will be available to all current and future members of North Central London sustainability and transformation partnership (NCL STP) members and Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust group members (together, “Participating Authorities”) who may access the Framework Agreement during its term and enter into contracts under it. This procurement and resulting Framework Agreement is split into 2 lots:

— Lot 1 is "Eligibility and Booking Services",

— Lot 2 is "Patient Transport Service ("PTS")".

Bidders may bid for one or both lots. The Authority intends to award one supplier onto each of the 2 lots. The same supplier may be awarded onto both lots.

The procurement process will be carried out in accordance with the restricted procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("PCR").

Whilst any Participating Authority may enter into contracts under the Framework Agreement, on award of the Framework Agreement, it is anticipated that The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust may enter into a single 5 year call-off contract with the Contractor for Lot 1, on behalf of itself and Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust; and The Whittington Health NHS Trust. This contract will have the option of 2 12-month extensions. It is the intention for The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust to manage this contract on behalf of all four trusts named above.

It is envisaged that other Participating Authorities may choose to make a direct award under Lot 1 on their own behalf, or may alternatively share the service commissioned and managed by The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust with the appropriate contract change notice being issued to the successful provider by Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

The procurement process will be carried out in accordance with the restricted procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("PCR").

Whilst any Participating Authority may enter into contracts under the Framework Agreement, on award of the Framework Agreement, it is anticipated that the following Trusts will enter into separate contracts under Lot 2 within the first month of its term:

— Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,

— North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trus,;

— The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, and

— The Whittington Health NHS Trust.

Each of the above Trusts wishes to put in place a separate 5 year call-off contract with the Contractor for Lot 2, with the option of 2 12-month extensions. This will allow the Trusts maximum flexibility when planning for next steps following their contract.