ENT Outsourcing Services

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust are jointly seeking a provider to deliver consultant-led Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) outsourcing services on behalf of University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN).

The commissioned service will provide additional ENT capacity to help meet demand from the local population, improve patient access and reduce long Referral to Treatment (RTT) waits while maintaining patient safety, quality and experience.

The initial contract will run for 36 months, with the potential for two further 12-month extensions.

Service Requirements

The successful provider will be responsible for delivering a full consultant-led ENT RTT pathway on behalf of UHN.

Patients will be transferred to the provider through the IPT process, with the commissioned pathway encompassing:

• Referral management
• Diagnostics
• Outpatient activity
• Elective procedures
• Day case procedures
• Post-operative follow-up
• Patient discharge
• RTT administration and clock management

The provider will be expected to deliver an integrated, safe, high-quality and patient-centred pathway in accordance with UHN requirements.

The service is intended to provide resilient elective capacity, improve access and address long RTT waits while operating in line with relevant NHS and GIRFT guidance.

The appointed provider will have full accountability for RTT performance for patients transferred or referred under the contract.

The service will be commissioned jointly by Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust under the UHN structure. The provider will be accountable to the UHN Chief Operating Officer through the respective Head of Operations or nominated deputy.

Contract Information

Buyer: Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

Deadline: 6 October 2026, 1:00pm

Contract Value: Not disclosed

Delivery Length: 36 months, with two optional 12-month extensions – up to 5 years

Tender Link: Atamis ePortal – Reference C470907

Bidders will be required to maintain their tenders for six months from the tender submission deadline.

Evaluation Criteria

Price is not the only award criterion.

Detailed Evaluation Criteria and Weightings: Not disclosed in the information provided.

The full contract award criteria, including the relative importance of the key criteria and the assessment methodology, are contained within Document 1 – ITT for Provision of ENT Outsourcing Services.

Provider Selection Regime

The procurement is being conducted under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

The notice confirms that the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this contract award.

Prospective providers should review the complete procurement documentation for the requirements and assessment arrangements applying under the Provider Selection Regime.

Participation Requirements

Bidders must satisfy the basic selection criteria contained within the tender documentation.

Providers will be required to demonstrate their:

• Suitability to undertake the professional activity
• Economic and financial standing
• Technical and professional ability

Relevant questions must be completed through the procurement ePortal, with the detailed selection requirements contained within the tender documents.

Regulatory Requirements

Specific regulatory registrations or professional accreditations are not disclosed in the information provided.

Given the clinical nature of the commissioned service, prospective providers should refer directly to the tender documentation for all applicable clinical governance, workforce, professional registration, patient safety, information governance and service quality requirements.

This procurement represents an opportunity for suitably experienced healthcare providers to deliver a complete consultant-led ENT pathway on behalf of University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.

With responsibility spanning referral management through to diagnostics, treatment, follow-up, discharge and RTT administration, the appointed provider will support UHN’s objective of increasing elective capacity and reducing waiting times while maintaining safe and patient-centred ENT services.

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