North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has a requirement for the provision of a safe and efficient transport service for patients discharged from treatment at Hospitals covered within the Trust.

The service will include the transfer of patients between the University Hospital of North Tees (UHNT) and the University Hospital of Hartlepool (UHH) and any other sites where appropriate and where required. The service will operate 7 days a week covering a 24 hour period. On rare occasions there may be a request to support a patient at home.

The service is required for NHS non-emergency patients who meet the eligibility criteria as defined by the Department of Health on 19th September 2007. The journeys will be between hospitals and healthcare facilities and a place of residence. The place of residence is defined as any address specified at the time of booking. For example, home, nursing home, hospice, hospital or treatment centre.

The service specification is underpinned by the following document: Department of Health – Guidance for the commissioning of Ambulance Services Department of Health – Eligibility Criteria for non-emergency patient transport.

The existing provider (EMED Group) are satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard, which is why a Direct Award C process has been undertaken.

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by the 24th July 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Conflicts of interest identified among key stakeholders: [0].