Contract Award for Abortion Services
Summary
The NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board has awarded a new contract for independent sector abortion services, valued at £2,910,000. This contract follows a Direct Award process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, as the existing provider has consistently met quality and safety standards.
What changed
This notice announces the award of a new contract for independent sector abortion services to an existing provider by the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board. The contract is valued at £2,910,000 and will run from April 1, 2026. The award follows a Direct Award Process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, justified by the provider's consistent delivery of high-quality services and the non-significant change to the contract terms.
Healthcare providers involved in delivering these services, or those seeking to provide similar services in the future, should note the specific regulatory framework (Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023) under which this direct award was made. While this is a contract award notice and not a proposed rule, understanding the criteria for direct awards and the performance expectations of existing providers is crucial for future procurement opportunities within the NHS.
What to do next
- Review the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 for direct award criteria.
- Note the contract value and duration for independent sector abortion services in the specified region.
Source document (simplified)
Contract
Provision of Independent Sector Abortion Services for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB
- NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board F03: Contract award notice
Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-028794
Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-06772d
Published 28 March 2026, 11:08am
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NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board
Kirkham House, John Comyn Drive, Perdiswell
Worcester
WR3 7NS
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG12 - Worcestershire
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://herefordshireandworcestershire.icb.nhs.uk/
Body governed by public law
Health
Provision of Independent Sector Abortion Services for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB
Reference number
BPAS
Health services
Services
This is an Intention to Award Notice pursuant to Regulation 9 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 for the provision of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Independent Sector Abortion services.
A Direct Award C Process is being followed under the above-named regulations.
The existing provider is satisfying the current contract and will likely satisfy the new, non-significantly changed contract.
This contract is divided into lots: No
Value excluding VAT: £2,910,000
NUTS codes
- UKG11 - Herefordshire, County of
- UKG12 - Worcestershire
Main site or place of performance
The counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, United Kingdom.
The current Independent Sector Abortion service contracts are due to expire on 31st March 2026. The provider for this service has delivered high-quality, accessible services under the existing agreement, ensuring compliance with clinical standards and patient safety requirements. The existing care pathways for Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) services are well embedded across the local system with strong links to NHS providers and sexual health services. This provider also works well in offering women a wider choice, including different clinic locations. These pathways are well understood by clinicians and patients.
The new contract period is from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2029.
The value of this new contract is £970,000 per annum (plus inflationary uplifts from 2027/28). Excluding any future uplifts, this is a total contract value of £2,910,000 over the total 3-year period.
The value of the original contact was £2,881,806 over a period of 3 years.
The proposed new contract is not significantly different from the existing one; it does not meet with the considerable change threshold, as specified in Regulation 9 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
The total lifetime value (3 years) of the original contract is £2,881,806; the total lifetime value (3 years) of the new contract is £2,910,000. The percentage increase is 0.98% and the increase does not exceed the £500k threshold (it is approxiamtely £28k).
The new value reflects increases in patient activity volumes in general and shifts in patient choice of provider as well as national changes to abortion service payments under the NHS Payment Scheme, which are beyond the ICB's control. There are no material changes to the Service Specification.
The decision to use PSR Process C to assess and award this Independent Sector contracts was made by the members of the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Strategic Commissioning Committee (SCC) on 3rd December 2025; and PSR Process C documentation, provider engagement and assessment was undertaken between January and March 2026.
There were no declared conflicts of interest for the individuals making the decision.
Quality criterion - Name: Quality and Innovation / Weighting: Pass/Fail
Quality criterion - Name: Integration, collaboration and service sustainability / Weighting: Pass/Fail
Quality criterion - Name: Name: Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice / Weighting: Pass/Fail
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: Pass/Fail
Cost criterion - Name: Value / Weighting: Pass/Fail
Options: No
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations Explanation:
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Intention to Award Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health and Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or PA2023 do not apply this award.
The day after publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority at hwicb.corpgov@nhs.net by midnight on 10th April 2026. This contract has not been formally awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under PSR.
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
3 September 2025
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
British Pregnancy Assessment Service (BPAS)
Ground Floor, Orion House, 2 Athena Drive, Tachbrook Park
Leamington Spa
CV34 6RQ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG13 - Warwickshire
Companies House
01803160
The contractor is an SME
No
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £2,910,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £2,910,000
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Intention to Award Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health and Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or Procurement Act 2023 (PA2023) do not apply this award.
The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by midnight on 10th April 2026.
This contract has not been formally awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under PSR.
Written representations should be sent to NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB at the following email address: hwicb.corpgov@nhs.net
NHS Herefordshire & Worcestershire ICB has applied the Basic Selection criteria and assessed the incumbent provider on Quality and Innovation, Value, Integration, Collaboration and Service Delivery, Improving access, and Social Value, with the relative importance being on Quality and on Value. The assessment determined that the incumbent provider has delivered this contract for the last 3 years to a high standard, and will deliver the new contract at the same cost, plus inflation.
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board
Kirkham House, John Comyn Drive, Perdiswell
Worcester
WR3 7NS
Country
United Kingdom
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