In the notice, published today (1 April) on the Official Journal of the EU’s electronic tenders service, the DHSC states it had been working to implement the replacement framework for 1 October 2020, and had undertaken pre-market engagement to this effect. 

The decision to extend the existing P22 agreement, which has been in place since October 2016, until September 2021 was taken after it was deemed unavoidable, owing to “departmental resource being re-routed to support COVID-19 responses”. The extension will allow the DHSC to respond to the emergency presented by the coronavirus in the immediate term. It intends later to hold an open competition for the replacement framework agreement, which, it says, will be designed to meet the future needs and expectations of the NHS and social care sector.

The DHSC had published a prior information notice on 27 December 2019, in order to engage the market in the renewal pre-procurement process and gain insights on how to develop a lot structure and contracting vehicles to maximise market interest, innovation and value for money. The feedback will be used to develop the Department’s plans and requirements before the launch of the open competition for the replacement framework.

Intended for the provision of design and construction works and services specifically within a health and/or social care environment, the P22 procurement framework allows NHS trusts to use principal supply chain partners (PSCPs) to deliver their capital investment schemes using common principles, practices and tools. Each PSCP represents the interests of a broad range of supply chain members involved in the strategic planning, design and construction of capital investment schemes for the NHS – from initial design through to completion of build and handover.

Six organisations hold PSCP positions on the P22 framework: Graham Construction; Galliford Try HPS; BAM Construction; Integrated Health Projects; Interserve Construction; and Kier Health.

A full tender process will be commenced in due course to implement the successor framework.

The value of the framework agreement is unchanged at £4bn over the initial term of four years, and this includes the 12-month extension. 

Meanwhile, one of the P22 PSCPs, Interserve Construction, has been appointed as contractor to convert the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham into a temporary NHS Nightingale hospital to treat patients who are ill with the virus. The hospital will initially hold up to 500 beds  but will have the capacity to increase up to 2000 beds if needed.

Another NHS Nightingale treatment facility will be based at the Manchester Central Complex and provide up to 500 beds for coronavirus patients. This could expand to 1000 beds to serve the North West of England. 

These two hospitals follow the rapid conversion of the ExCeL centre in London’s Docklands into the first temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital, a project delivered with the support of healthcare design practice BDP.