The list of successful bidders for the Express LIFT (Local Improvement Finance Trust) framework, which will reduce the time and cost in appointing LIFT partners for Primary Care Trusts and local authorities, has been published by the Department of Health.

Currently around half of PCTs in England are using LIFT to update facilities and build new, modern GP surgeries, health centres and walk-in centres. LIFT enables PCTs and local authorities to develop new capital schemes faster than traditional procurement methods and provides a framework for long-term partnership between the public sector and private sector developers.

Express LIFT accelerates this process even further, offering PCTs and local authorities who have not yet conducted their own procurement, the opportunity to select a pre-approved LIFT partner more quickly and cost effectively from the list. Local procurements from the Express LIFT framework can be completed within three or four months as opposed to two years as is currently the case.

The successful framework partners have been selected on their demonstrated ability to provide expert advice and services required of a successful LIFT Company whilst providing good value for money for the taxpayer. The seven approved LIFT partners are:

- Community Solutions for Primary Care
- Express LIFT Investments Limited
- Equity Solutions
- Eric Wright Group
- Fulcrum Infrastructure Group
- Odyssey Healthcare
- Prime Plc

For the first time ever in the LIFT process neither the bidder nor the PCT will need to engage in expensive design work prior to the establishment of a LIFT company. The list of framework partners reduces the cost of wasted bids, and will not only benefit the private sector, but ultimately the taxpayer. This new process allows both PCTs and the LIFT partners to focus on delivering through long-term strategic partnerships, some of which can last for twenty years.

Health Minister, Ben Bradshaw said:

"LIFT has proved highly successful in allowing Trusts to upgrade inadequate or ageing facilities around the country.

"The successful companies approved on the Express LIFT framework today will go one step further in cutting down on the time and cost of the procurement process and help the scheme expand rapidly. It will enable more Primary Care Trusts and local authorities to take advantage of its benefits - faster builds, improved working conditions for staff, better care environments for patients, and better overall facilities available for the local community."

Dr Ian Mitchell, a GP and Chair of NHS Cumbria's professional executive committee said:

"As Cumbria expects to be one of the first PCTs to use the new framework, this announcement is an important milestone and one that brings us a step closer to developing 21st Century healthcare facilities for the people of Cumbria.

"Cumbria's plans to revitalise our community hospitals are developing quickly, and the pre-approved Express LIFT partners will help us accelerate the process even further in a more cost effective way. By working with a LIFT Company to create purpose-built facilities, where healthcare is often on the same site as pharmacies and social care services, we can provide modern and much improved services, closer to where people live. This will bring benefits to both patients and professionals".

Providing the best potential LIFT partners with the opportunity to expand through their appointment to the framework will make the market stronger and deliver improved benefits to the NHS.

Notes

1. The LIFT programme was established in 2001. Under the initiative, a series of long-term public/private partnerships have been set up between Primary Care Trusts, local authorities and the private sector to provide modern, purpose-built facilities. Private sector partners benefit from long-term relationships and a steady flow of work.

2. All interested bidders were invited to submit a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire ("PQQ") setting out details of their relevant experience and qualifications to take part on the framework. 28 completed PQQs were received and, following evaluation, 14 bidders were invited to complete full tenders.

3. Selection was based on a robust evaluation process carried out by two teams, one from the Department and the other from Community Health Partnerships, whose scores were moderated to come up with an agreed score for each bid.

4. It is proposed that the framework will run for two years with an option for the Department to extend for a further two years depending on the performance of the framework partners. This will allow for a re-tender, meaning new, companies can be added.

5. There are currently 48 LIFT Companies (47 of which have reached financial close) covering around half of England's population which have delivered over £1,500 million worth of primary care facilities.

Department of Health, UK