Website of the Department of Health

The revision of the Protocol was carried out by a Steering Group over 2002 and 2003 comprising representatives of the major interest groups (eg MCG, RIBA, NHS Estates, NHS Trusts, the Department of Health's Private Finance Unit). A draft version was then the subject of an extensive consultation exercise.

The overall objective of the Protocol remains the same: to ensure that the tendering process results in a clearly understood set of design proposals that address the Trust's needs, form a robust basis for the selection of the preferred bidder and fully defines the level of detail required by all parties at each stage in order to enter into a contractual commitments at Financial close. The update to the Protocol reflects the latest thinking and developments in standardisation, specification and further streamlining of the procurement process.

The main practical result is a change to the format and presentation of information to be provided by bidders. There is no longer a requirement for bidders to complete the Capital Investment Manual (CIM) FB forms; instead they must complete a number of new capital and lifecycle proformas in a new elemental cost format at PITN and FITN stages. These should allow for:

For ease of use and completion by bidders these proformas (Annexes B to F) have also been grouped into a separate word document which bidders can utilise in their bid submissions. This is published alongside the PDF version of the full document.

Action

The guidance should be observed by all Trusts undertaking a scheme except those whose ITN (PITN and /or FITN) was issued prior to publication of this revised version; these schemes may adopt the Protocol at their discretion of otherwise continue with the process set out in the ITN. This applies equally to NHS Foundation Trusts who wish to obtain a "Deed of Safeguard" from the Secretary of State for Health, but for those who choose not to, the Protocol's advice is for information only.