Procurement and Contracting
Competition, Procurement, Patient Choice and Contracting
NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) procures services from a range of providers and suppliers. Contracts vary from small one-off purchases for goods to large works or services including healthcare services.
When procuring services, we seek to ensure fair opportunity, competition and value for money. We follow public procurement regulations and guidelines when determining our approach, the form of procurement including the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Our activity is also governed by our Standing Financial Instructions. The regulations prohibit us from unfairly favouring providers simply because they are already in contract with us, an NHS organisation, located in our area, or employing local people. During the coming year, we expect that the regulations for our procurement activity for healthcare services will be replaced by the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
The forms of procurements used by the ICB vary depending on the nature of the service or product being procured but can include competitive and non-competitive tendering and a range of ways of undertaking competitive procurement.
Our procurement activities will usually result in the award of a contract for services or supply of goods. The ICB holds a significant number of contracts and these very greatly in nature from small contracts for supply of goods to highly complex contracts in place with providers of healthcare services such as acute hospitals, community, mental health and ambulance services.
A history of procurements undertaken and awarded contracts can be found in the Procurement Register on this webpage.
Procurement Register
A history of procurements undertaken and awarded contracts can be found here:
Please note: Procurement registers will be updated quarterly in December, March, June and September.
Contract Award notices are also published via OJEU and Contracts Finder.
Contracts Finder
Contracts Finder is used by NHS Arden & Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit, on behalf of the ICB to advertise procurements, PINs (prior information notices), market engagement events and activities, or to otherwise share, or seek, necessary information from the provider market.
In order to receive alerts about providing health related services to any part of the NHS, or joint commissioning services which would affect other Government bodies or organisations, for example, Local Authorities, you will need to register on Contracts Finder at https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder
eTender Portals
NHS Arden & Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit uses the eTender portal for procurements and tenders. Opportunities listed through OJEU notices, TED, and Contracts Finder will contain a reference directing and sign posting to the site being used to receive quotes, tender responses, and competitive bid submissions.
To view these opportunities you will need to register and then search via PQQs or ITTs visible to all suppliers’ (dependant on type of procurement sought after).
There is a guide to help you to register and navigate your way around ePortals and support helpdesk telephone numbers which can be found on the website home and login pages. The helpdesks are usually available Monday-Friday 8am-6pm GMT.
Please note that any questions relating to a live Procurement process must asked within the portal through the messaging facility.
Current Opportunities
Please register and check Contracts Finder regularly as any opportunities will be posted publicly.
Opportunities are usually open to all providers who are interested and applications are welcome from any organisations, partnerships or consortia.
For more details please contact the NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Procurement team on 01522 513355 or by mail at: NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Procurement Team, Cross O Cliff Court, London Road, Bracebridge Heath, Lincolnshire, LN4 2HN.