Procurement approach and policy
The ICB has a Procurement Policy [link to policy] that outlines the key principles and considerations that will inform decision-making. This policy reflects current competition and procurement rules that apply to our services. It will be updated in line with any changes to UK/EU legislation and NHS Policy.
Provider Selection Regime for Healthcare Services
The Provider Selection Regime (PSR) came into force on 1 January 2024.
The PSR is a set of rules for procuring health care services in England by organisations termed relevant authorities. Relevant authorities are:
- NHS England
- Integrated care boards (ICBs)
- NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts
- Local authorities and combined authorities
The PSR was introduced by regulations under the Health and Care Act 2022. In keeping with the intent of the Act, the PSR is designed to:
- introduce a flexible and proportionate process for deciding who should provide health care services
- provide a framework that allows collaboration to flourish across systems
- ensure that all decisions are made in the best interest of patients and service users.
The provider selection regime does not apply to the procurement of goods or non-health care services (unless as part of a mixed procurement), irrespective of whether these are procured by relevant authorities.
Provider Selection Regime annual summary
The ICB publishes an annual summary of the application of the Provider Selection Regime.
Central East ICB started on 1 April 2026. Before this date the PSR was applied by the three ICBs that joined together to create Central East. Annual summaries for each of the three legacy ICBs are below.
Summary for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 March 2025
- Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB: Provider Selection Regime Annual Summary 2024-25
- Cambridgeshire & Peterborough ICB: Provider Selection Regime Annual Summary 2024-25
- Bedfordshire Luton and Milton Keynes ICB: Provider Selection Regime Annual Summary 2024-25
Provider selection process
There are three selection processes under the Provider Selection Regime.
Direct award process. Contracts are directly awarded to providers when there is limited or no reason to seek to change from the existing provider or to assess providers against one another. This can be for one of the following reasons:
- the existing provider is the only provider that can deliver the health care service.
- patients have a choice of providers, and the number of providers is not restricted by the relevant authority.
- the existing provider is satisfying its existing contract, will likely satisfy the new contract to a sufficient standard, and the proposed contracting arrangements are not changing considerably.
Most suitable provider process. This involves awarding a contract to providers without running a competitive process, because the relevant authority can identify the most suitable provider.
Competitive process. This involves running a competitive process to award a contract.
Provider representations
Following direct award process C, the most suitable provider process, or the competitive process and the publication of the intention to award a contract notice (transparency notice), a standstill period must be observed for eight working days. During this period representations can be made and responded to as appropriate. Representations should be made to [give web or email address]
If no representations are received before midnight at the end of the eighth working day after the day the standstill period begins, the standstill period can come to an end, and the contract will be awarded to the selected provider.
As the relevant contracting authority, the ICB is required to publish a transparency notice announcing the award of a contract on the Find a Tender Service (FTS).