Joint Venture Partner for Assisted Conception Unit

The NHS Authority is seeking a strategic joint venture partner to establish and operate an Assisted Conception Unit (ACU) providing advanced fertility treatment services. The partner will deliver comprehensive assisted conception services including IVF, ICSI, egg and sperm donation, embryo donation, fertility preservation, consultations, ultrasound monitoring, counselling, pharmacy services, and cryostorage, with potential for pre-implantation genetic testing. The ACU will be located off the main hospital site (within 3.5 miles) and serve both NHS-funded and private patients. The selected partner will be responsible for clinical expertise, operational capacity, capital investment, premises and equipment, digital systems, workforce matters (including potential TUPE transfer), and operational risk management. The commercial structure will be a long-term strategic corporate joint venture (limited company or LLP) with a linked service provision arrangement. The Authority will conduct the procurement under the Procurement Act 2023 using a competitive flexible procedure with a multi-stage process. The anticipated contract term is 10 years with options to extend for up to 5 additional 12-month periods. Tender notice publication is expected end July 2026, with submission deadline end August 2026 and contract award end January 2027. Preliminary market engagement has already taken place.