A trust is set to provide services for around two million people after winning all six lots in a £1.8bn procurement, HSJ has reported.
Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board has chosen Kent Community Health Foundation Trust to provide child and adult community services across its entire patch. However, the contract is currently in the “standstill” period, meaning the losing bidders can submit a challenge to the decision.
The trust’s proposals involve working in partnership with the two other main incumbent providers in the patch, HCRG and social enterprise Medway Community Healthcare.
MCH currently provides many adult and children’s services in the Medway Towns and HCRG provides adult services in the north of Kent. KCHFT already provides adult services to most of the county, as well as children’s services across a wider footprint. Some specific community services are also currently provided by acute trusts.
If the award is confirmed, KCHFT would be the lead provider for at least five years from October, and potentially until 2033. A notice published last week said the lifetime value of the contracts is expected to be £1.8bn.
It is unclear which aspects of the work the FT would subcontract.
The ICB said: “There is now a standstill period, which will run until midnight on 7 May - this enables us to receive any representations against awarding the contract to the intended provider and complies with the Provider Selection Regime.”
Date: 6 May