Provision of Urgent Award MSK Pain Management and Rheumatology on behalf of NHS Mid and South Essex ICB

This is an updated notice and replaces Notice Number 2025/S 000-008527 and Notice Reference 2025-041034 due to these services being impacted by the community MSK and pain service procurement. This is a change to the original notification. The Contract Term is to reduce uncertainty for the Providers and to ensure continuity of service. Originally the award was approved by Executive Committee in November 2024 as an award for 7 months with an option to extend for 5 months. The Contract Term shall now be for 12 months, with a 3 months’ notice period. The current procurement timeline is indicating a new service may start on 1st February 2026, but this is subject to change. The Urgent Award to the existing provider is to ensure that there is continued provision of MSK Pain Management and Rheumatology Services to the registered population of NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (Basildon and Brentwood and Thurrock) to ensure sufficient time for the procurement and that there is no risk to patient safety through increased (long) waiting times unless an arrangement is in place for 1 April 2025 as all access would then be referred into MSEFT who have confirmed they cannot absorb the activity within current capacity. The current contract with the incumbent (Connect Health) expires on 31st March 2025 and as a consequence there is a requirement to award this contract. The value is a £0 value contract – paid at local prices – planning value for 2025-26 is £3,320,718