Official UK procurement notice
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust Renal Dialysis Service Managed Service Agreement
Authority: Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (Central government)
Sectors: Medical Devices & Pharma (33)Real estate services (70)Business Services & Consultancy (79) Delivery: UKLondon (UKI)
Published estimate£189,062,000≈ £17m / year · £211,956,000 inc. VAT · 2 value updates
Submissions closed 8 Aug 2025awarded 16 Mar 2026
Award (standstill) to DaVita (UK) Limited
Contract term 10 yrs 11 moends 31 Mar 2037 · up to 1 Apr 2042 with extensions · starts 8 May 2026
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionRoyal Free London NHS Foundation Trust ("RFL") sought to procure renal dialysis provision through a partnership with an independent dialysis provider contracted under a Managed Service Agreement (MSA) to work together as a long-term strategic partner. This is in response to a requirement for the Trust to relocate its renal service from an existing kidney care unit based on the St Pancras Hospital site, currently undergoing redevelopment and is also intended to future proof dialysis capacity, which is under significant strain given ongoing growth in demand.
- Not divided into lots: RFL has carefully considered the options of procuring the clinical and FM contracts using lots and has taken legal advice regarding potential risks/challenges of these options under procurement law alongside the experience of other NHS Trusts who similarly outsource renal dialysis services. Based on this, RFL has taken the decision not to use Lots for the following reasons: 1. RFL wishes to establish a strategic partnership with a recognised dialysis specialist as the lead supplier, given the growing demand for dialysis in north London. 2. Separating future expansion from the initial contract runs the risk of RFL having two different suppliers delivering renal dialysis services via two separate procurement processes. This would be a significant contract management challenge and interface risk between suppliers, as well as present an operational and clinical challenge in managing multiple relationships across multiple sites, which are, in effect, part of a single service. 3. RFL has carefully researched the market and conducted market engagement to ensure that RFL's proposals are viable.
- How the procedure runs: RFL plans to award the Managed Service Agreement through a competitive flexible procedure process under section 20 of the Procurement Act 2023. The competitive flexible process involves the following stages and is set out in more detail in the Instructions and Guidance to Tenderers document: • Stage 1: Bidders will be required to respond to the Supplier Information Questionnaire 1 (Pass/ Fail and to be scored for shortlisting the three (3) highest-ranked tenderers that will be selected to progress to Stage 2). • Stage 2: The three (3) highest-ranked tenderers that have not been excluded from the procurement process at Stage 1 will be invited to participate in the Initial Tender. The Initial Tender will not be scored and will serve solely as the basis for the Negotiation Stage (Stage 3). However, the three (3) highest-ranked Tenderers are still required to complete the relevant questionnaires and documentation. • Stage 3: The tenderers that have not been excluded from the procurement process in Stage 2 will be invited to participate in the negotiations. The basis for negotiations will be informed by the questions raised by the Authority during the market engagement and the completed relevant questionnaires/ documentation submitted by the three (3) highest-ranked tenderers during Stage 2 (Initial Tender). • Stage 4: Following the completion of Stage 3, the tenderers that have not been excluded from the procurement process will be invited by the Contracting Authority to submit Best and Final Offer (BAFO) Tenders.
CPV: Facilities management services · Hospital dialysis services · Nephrology or nervous system specialist services · Non-residential property renting or leasing services · Renal support devices
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedWhat it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
How bids were scored
Published sub-criteria (3)
- Technical Questionnaire: 60%
- Commercial Questionnaire: 30%
- Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (3)
- Commercial Questionnaire
- Technical Questionnaire
- Social Value
What this means for your bid
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 27 Mar 2025, 10:11 GMT
- Last source update
- 24 Mar 2026, 14:06 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 21 Apr 2026
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-046534- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04f947Find a Tender
- How it runs
RFL plans to award the Managed Service Agreement through a competitive flexible procedure process under section 20 of the Procurement Act 2023.
The competitive flexible process involves the following stages and is set out in more detail in the Instructions and Guidance to Tenderers document:
- Stage 1: Bidders will be required to respond to the Supplier Information Questionnaire 1 (Pass/ Fail and to be scored for shortlisting the three (3) highest-ranked tenderers that will be selected to progress to Stage 2).
- Stage 2: The three (3) highest-ranked tenderers that have not been excluded from the procurement process at Stage 1 will be invited to participate in the Initial Tender. The Initial Tender will not be scored and will serve solely as the basis for the Negotiation Stage (Stage 3). However, the three (3) highest-ranked Tenderers are still required to complete the relevant questionnaires and documentation.
- Stage 3: The tenderers that have not been excluded from the procurement process in Stage 2 will be invited to participate in the negotiations. The basis for negotiations will be informed by the questions raised by the Authority during the market engagement and the completed relevant questionnaires/ documentation submitted by the three (3) highest-ranked tenderers during Stage 2 (Initial Tender).
- Stage 4: Following the completion of Stage 3, the tenderers that have not been excluded from the procurement process will be invited by the Contracting Authority to submit Best and Final Offer (BAFO) Tenders.
How it was run
Official noticeRun through: Atamis (Health Family) · Who buys & how to bid on Atamis
Access & registration note: Free · one account PER buying organisation portal · password resets come "from Salesforce.com" (check spam)
- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 1 Sept 2025, 10:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 8 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 20 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release
The Authority will be using the Atamis E-Tendering Portal to conduct the procurement process ("E-Tendering Portal").
The E-Tendering Portal can be accessed at atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome ↗
All communications (including submission of Conditions of Participation and Tenders) should be carried out via the E-Tendering Portal.
Timeline
27 Mar 2025 → 8 May 2026 · 12 dates- Planning notice published27 Mar 2025, 10:11 GMT
- Market engagement30 Apr 2025, 23:59 BST
The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust ("RFL") is inviting expressions of interest from industry providers who wish to explore the opportunity to partner with the NHS through a Managed Service Agreement (MSA) for the delivery of renal dialysis services.
This market engagement aims to:
- Inform the market of RFL's intention to procure an MSA;
- Assess the level of industry interest; and
- Obtain feedback on the proposed project vision and scope.
RFL intends to run a competitive flexible procedure to identify the most suitable delivery partner. As part of this process, a virtual market engagement session will be held via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, 2nd April 2025 from 15:45 to 17:00.
How to Register:
To confirm your attendance, please respond by no later than 17:00 on Tuesday, 1st April 2025 by emailing [email protected] with the following information:
- Names and email addresses of up to five (5) attendees from your organisation who wish to join the virtual event.
- Following registration, each provider will receive a Bidder Briefing Document and Questionnaire.
- The completed questionnaire must be submitted back to [email protected] by no later than 17:00 on Friday, 4th April 2025.
- Next notice expected14 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published6 Aug 2025, 13:50 BST
- Submission deadline8 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST
- Clarification questions by20 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST
- Expressions of interest by1 Sept 2025, 10:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent222 days ago16 Mar 2026
- Latest notice published214 days ago24 Mar 2026, 14:06 GMT
- Standstill ends204 days ago2 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Award decision expected by185 days ago21 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts169 days ago8 May 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
13 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 27 Mar 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published27 Mar 2025, 10:11 GMTUK2
- Planned procurement notice published4 Jun 2025, 11:20 BSTUK3
- Published value updated to £169,043,0004 Jun 2025, 11:20 BSTwas £96,000,000
- Status changed to planned4 Jun 2025, 11:20 BST
- Procurement method changed4 Jun 2025, 11:20 BST
- Deadline published: 8 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST4 Jun 2025, 11:20 BST
- Tender notice published6 Aug 2025, 13:50 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £189,062,0006 Aug 2025, 13:50 BSTwas £169,043,000
- Status changed to active6 Aug 2025, 13:50 BST
- Procurement method changed6 Aug 2025, 13:50 BST
- Contract award notice published24 Mar 2026, 14:06 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete24 Mar 2026, 14:06 GMT
- Contract signature expected7 Apr 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-03: 1 release · 27 Mar 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecastAwards 1
Awarded value £189,062,0001 award exc. VAT
Bids received 3
Named bidders 3published on the award notice
| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| DaVita (UK) LimitedRoyal Free London NHS Foundation Trust Renal Dialysis Service Clinical Managed Service Agreement1 Apr 2027 – 1 Apr 2038 · up to 1 Apr 2043Extensions: The Contracting Authority proposes to enter into Contracts for a maximum period of sixteen (16) years with the successful Tenderer. The initial contract term of both the Clinical and FM MSAs shall be eleven (11) years with the potential for up to five (5) years in the Contract extension period by election of the Contracting Authority, on such notice and for such periods as are specified by the Contract. The Service Provider will enter into both MSAs on the same date. · Options: The terms and conditions of each MSA allow for the provision of Services at separate units to be commissioned throughout the life of the Contract through the agreement and signing of a separate Statement of Service ("SoS") by both parties for each unit. At contract award, a Facilities Management SoS will be entered into in respect of the first unit, which will re-locate the current St Pancras Kidney Care Centre. There will be no Clinical SoS for the first unit at the time the Contract is signed. It is anticipated that a second unit may be required during the Contract period, likely between 2030 and 2032. This may include both a Facilities Management SoS and, at the Authority's discretion, a Clinical SoS. Where additional units are commissioned, the Service Provider will be required to enter into the relevant SoS under the MSAs. The exercise of these options is subject to the Authority's requirements and is not guaranteed. | £189,062,000 | 16 Mar 2026standstill to 2 Apr 2026 | Standstill |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonDAVITA (UK) LIMITED · Greater London
- did not winDIAVERUM FACILITIES MANAGEMENT LIMITED · East of England
- did not winFRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE (HOLDINGS) LIMITED · East Midlands
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
3 commercial parties on the notice · 1 awarded- DAVITA (UK) LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- DIAVERUM FACILITIES MANAGEMENT LIMITEDBidder / tenderer
- FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE (HOLDINGS) LIMITEDBidder / tenderer
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender