Private Patient Strategy Review

The rationale for the direct award is justified under Section 41 by reference to paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023, as the requirement comprises a tightly integrated programme of specialist services where competition is materially constrained for technical and timing reasons. The supplier market capable of delivering this specific combination of expertise is limited, and a full competitive process would result in material delay to interdependent capital and estates decisions.

The services are strictly necessary to support imminent decisions and cannot reasonably await a competitive tendering process. The urgency arises from live strategic interdependencies and market conditions, and the Trust has proportionately scoped and prioritised those elements required urgently to inform immediate internal decision-making, rather than commissioning the full strategy brief.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust is relying on Section 41 and paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 to justify the use of direct award in special cases.