Official UK procurement notice
2526-0313 Community Equipment Service - North London Equipment Partnership (NLEP)
Authority: Islington Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionProvision of community equipment to support independence, hospital discharge, and care at home for adults and children. Includes supply, maintenance, and collection of items.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Awarded
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 18 Sept 2025, 16:12 BST
- Last source update
- 18 Sept 2025, 16:12 BST
- Authority reference
2425-0313- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-057844- Latest notice
- Transparency notice (UK5)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-059d83Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Urgency
- Published justification
The Council has a statutory duty to provide the integrated community equipment and service pursuant to the Care Act 2014. The existing provider has notified the Council that they will cease trading from 15 September 2025 and therefore cease providing these services to the Council. Due to the short notice provided by the incumbent provider it is impossible to commission a new contract within the relevant timescales and ensure continuity of service. It is necessary for the Council to urgently award a replacement contract to secure continuity of these critical statutory services in Islington. The Council has considered all options and has concluded that due to this extreme urgency a directly awarded contract under Section 41 and Sections 13 and 14 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 to Essex Cares Limited should be made.
- Risks
The primary risk to contract performance arises from the short mobilisation period following the insolvency of the incumbent provider, NRS Healthcare, and the service formally closing on 15 September 2025. This created an urgent need to secure continuity of statutory services under the Care Act 2014.
Risks include potential delays in service mobilisation, supply chain disruption, and gaps in equipment availability or maintenance during the transition. These could impact hospital discharge timelines, people’s ability to live independently, and safeguarding outcomes. Mitigation measures include a phased transition with interim ‘patchwork’ arrangements, contingency planning for high-priority equipment, and collaborative oversight from the eight-borough consortium.
Notice history
2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 18 Sept 2025- Transparency notice published18 Sept 2025, 16:12 BSTUK5
- Contract signature expected19 Sept 2025, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provide Care Solutions LtdSME2526-0313 Community Equipment Service - NLEP20 Sept 2025 – 21 Sept 2026 · up to 21 Sept 2028Extensions: Initial term of 24 months with an optional extension of 12 months | £4,435,750 | — | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Provide Care SolutionsAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender