Enteral Feeds · UK public procurement notice

The proposed contract award is for 12 months, from 1st April 2026 and expiring 31st March 2027. The Authority carefully considered it's options prior to deciding this approach.

The main reason for the decision is that a change of supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods used within mid and south Essex and that difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation for clinical teams.

Additionally, this decision is being driven by the outcomes and advice within the NHS England Nutrition on Prescription programme that has been launched to support all NHS organisations, systems and providers at every level to:

• provide more consistency in the provision of nutritional products across acute and community care
• improve whole patient pathway and process
• ensure the NHS gets the best value for money- this programme will aim to address a significant NHS cost pressure regarding nutrition on prescription.

The NHS England Nutrition on Prescription programme has recommended that ICB's put in place short term arrangements in the interim, as opposed to longer term contracts, so that specifications and approaches can be aligned with the outcomes of the programme when they are available.

Also, there is an imminent change in the geographical footprint for the ICB over the coming 12 months which means that the scope of the requirement is likely to change considerably and include a significant increase in activity/funding attributed to the 'successor in title' ICB when the geographical footprint is confirmed. This contract term is in line with neighbouring ICB's current contracts, to ensure co-terminous expiry and joint procurement opportunity going forward.

Finally, the Authority found that there were insufficient timescales to conclude a full procurement as well as afford sufficient time to manage the transition process to a new provider and a short-term contract of 12 months is not viable given the considerable transition of TUPE where applicable/assets/data/risk etc that may be required to be taken on by any new service provider.