Website of the Department of Health
Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.
Page menu
You are here:
Equitable Access to Primary Medical Care services (EAPMC): procurement at PCTs
The NHS Next Stage Review Interim Report (October 2007) carried out by Lord Darzi (the Report), reported that, despite sustained investment and improvement in the NHS over the past ten years, access to primary medical care services and the quality of those services, continues to vary significantly across the country. Many of the poorest communities experience the worst health outcomes and major inequalities exist within England in life expectancy, infant mortality and cancer mortality. Further, the gap in life expectancy between the most deprived and least deprived areas has widened, despite improvements in life expectancy in the most deprived areas.
The Equitable Access to Primary Medical Care programme will play a significant role in achieving more personalised care set out by Lord Darzi. The focus of the programme will be on achieving the visions of a fair and personalised NHS (whilst upholding the values of safe and effective primary care services). Ministers have announced that the Government will be providing new investment of £250m to support PCTs in establishing:
- at least 100 new general practices in the 25% of PCTs with the poorest provision; and
- one new GP-led health centre in each PCT in easily accessible locations.
New documentation guidance
14 August 2009
Please note that guidance on publication of Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ), and Invitation to Tender (ITT), evaluation criteria is currently under review. PCTs are advised to consider Office of Government Commerce (OCG), Action Note 04/09 29th April 2009 when conducting a PQQ or ITT process. Updated Evaluation Guidance will be available on this website shortly.
To see what new guidance or template documents have been released on the Equitable Access to Primary Medical Care web pages, please see:
PCT Procurement Framework
The Department of Health have produced a PCT Procurement Framework based on the Fairness in Primary Care procurements, to enable PCTs to conduct local procurements and deliver the new services to local populations. Every PCT conducting a procurement will manage the procurement process locally with guidance and support available from strategic health authorities and the Department of Health. The PCT Procurement Framework consists of:
- an interactive procurement plan
- a PCT Procurement Handbook
- template procurement and guidance documentation
- procurement support
EAPMC Procurement Handbook
The PCT Procurement Handbook provides a step-by-step guide to manage each procurement. Each step reflects the stages in the 'Interactive Procurement Plan'.
For each step the PCT Procurement Handbook describes the:
- Objective
- Tasks to complete
- Resource requirements including the expertise, documents and time
- Outcome
The PCT Procurement Handbook intends to provide a basis upon which the PCT can build a comprehensive plan for each step in the procurement. The Handbook is not exhaustive and should be viewed as a guide only.
Procurement support
Support for the PCT Procurement Framework will be available to PCTs through:
- their SHA
- technical assistance by email, and
- the external consultancy services.
- Frequently asked questions
Interactive Procurement Plan
The Interactive Procurement Plan is a comprehensive support tool for the PCT or SHA to manage each procurement.
The Interactive Procurement Plan includes:
- all steps in the desired procurement process
- milestone tracker to monitor procurement progress in real-time
- quick reference links to key documents required to support the procurement process
The Interactive Procurement Plan operates a colour-coded system to indicate the lead organization (SHA/PCT) at each stage of the procurement process.
Procurement template documentation and guidance
The Interactive Procurement Plan and the PCT Procurement Handbook are supported by template documentation and guidance, which includes specific procurement documentation and guidance on various aspects of the procurement process. The documentation should be adapted to reflect local requirements.
Disclaimer
The procurement documentation and best practice guidance contained in the PCT Procurement Framework have been produced by the Commercial Directorate of the Department of Health (DH) to assist PCTs participating in the Equitable Access to Primary Medical Care Services Programme.
PCTs should note that the procurement documents have been produced as template documents only and will require input by the PCT to make the documents appropriate to their particular, local requirements.
The DH accepts no liability for the accuracy of the contents of the procurement documents nor their suitability in meeting the specific requirements of a PCT. PCTs are advised to seek their own legal advice when using the documentation and guidance contained in the PCT Procurement Framework.
Best practice guidance contained within the PCT Procurement Framework, should not be taken in any way as constituting, or as a substitute for, legal advice.
Impact assessments
Impact assessments, including an equality impact assessment, are being undertaken for EAPMC policy.
Access keys
