✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 12 Oct 2026, 13:37.
Opportunity overview
The development of an automated digital musculoskeletal (MSK) Single Point of Access (SPA) tool for BHFT's community physiotherapy (MSK Physio), specialist physiotherapy (Community Specialist Service – CSS), integrated pain and spinal service (IPASS) and MSK podiatry.
Classification
CPV85142100 — Physiotherapy services
Lots
See II.2.14.1 for detail of the market engagement.<br/><br/>The purpose of this soft market testing exercise is to understand the provider landscape and potential providers who are capable of delivering this solution. The outcome of the soft market engagement will assist BHFT to develop and obtain a sufficiently detailed knowledge of the provider landscape and to refine its requirements and approach to market in order to invite businesses to quote.<br/><br/>The timescales for the market assessment detailed in II.2.7.3 and II.2.7.4 of this notice are estimated.<br/><br/>There is no competition associated with the pre-market engagement. BHFT will liaise with any supplier with suitable experience and service offering, to inform its views of how to structure a potential downstream procurement project. Please ignore II.2.5 Award Criteria.<br/><br/>Once the pre-market engagement concludes, BHFT may take forward a project to develop the required solution under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. Whilst IV.1.1.1 states that restricted procurement procedure will be followed, any downstream procurement project will be sourced via the Competitive Process route under the Provider Selection Regime. Any downstream procurement project will involve multiple award criteria across technical, quality, social value and price criteria.<br/><br/>Participation or non-participation in this soft market engagement shall not prevent any supplier participating in any potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of this process shall place any supplier at an advantage in any potential procurement process. Additional information: See 'MSK Triage Single Point of Access (SPA) market engagement fact sheet' in the referenced PME document pack. Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT) are seeking to understand the potential to deliver a solution from suppliers that currently deliver digital clinical triage solutions that independently assess and manage patients without human intervention. It is likely that the developed tool sought by BHFT will require registration as a medical device. The developed SPA must be able to receive referrals from primary care, community services and secondary care via eRS in addition to patient self-referral via an online portal that BHFT is developing.<br/><br/>BHFT seeks providers of digital clinical triage services that can assess MSK conditions throughout the body and direct the patient into discrete and specialist MSK services without human intervention. <br/><br/>The level of automated clinical expertise to differentiate between general MSK physiotherapy, specialist MSK services, chronic pain and spinal services during assessment will be significant.<br/><br/>If possible, the tool should be made available in the most common languages relevant to the population of Berkshire – English, Polish, Punjabi, Nepalese and Urdu.Value not stated
Published notice details
Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.
This is a Prior Information Notice notice for a health service that falls under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.<br/><br/>We are seeking to understand the potential to deliver a solution from suppliers that currently deliver digital clinical triage solutions that independently assess and manage patient referrals without human intervention.<br/><br/>Participation in the soft market engagement process will be at each supplier's own cost. No expense in responding to this process will be reimbursed by BHFT.
Applies To
supplier
Covered By
GPA
Tender Period
Ends
2 Nov 2026, 12:00
Submission terms
Languages
en
Lots and requirements
Entry 1
Id
1
Description
See II.2.14.1 for detail of the market engagement.<br/><br/>The purpose of this soft market testing exercise is to understand the provider landscape and potential providers who are capable of delivering this solution. The outcome of the soft market engagement will assist BHFT to develop and obtain a sufficiently detailed knowledge of the provider landscape and to refine its requirements and approach to market in order to invite businesses to quote.<br/><br/>The timescales for the market assessment detailed in II.2.7.3 and II.2.7.4 of this notice are estimated.<br/><br/>There is no competition associated with the pre-market engagement. BHFT will liaise with any supplier with suitable experience and service offering, to inform its views of how to structure a potential downstream procurement project. Please ignore II.2.5 Award Criteria.<br/><br/>Once the pre-market engagement concludes, BHFT may take forward a project to develop the required solution under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. Whilst IV.1.1.1 states that restricted procurement procedure will be followed, any downstream procurement project will be sourced via the Competitive Process route under the Provider Selection Regime. Any downstream procurement project will involve multiple award criteria across technical, quality, social value and price criteria.<br/><br/>Participation or non-participation in this soft market engagement shall not prevent any supplier participating in any potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of this process shall place any supplier at an advantage in any potential procurement process. Additional information: See 'MSK Triage Single Point of Access (SPA) market engagement fact sheet' in the referenced PME document pack. Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT) are seeking to understand the potential to deliver a solution from suppliers that currently deliver digital clinical triage solutions that independently assess and manage patients without human intervention. It is likely that the developed tool sought by BHFT will require registration as a medical device. The developed SPA must be able to receive referrals from primary care, community services and secondary care via eRS in addition to patient self-referral via an online portal that BHFT is developing.<br/><br/>BHFT seeks providers of digital clinical triage services that can assess MSK conditions throughout the body and direct the patient into discrete and specialist MSK services without human intervention. <br/><br/>The level of automated clinical expertise to differentiate between general MSK physiotherapy, specialist MSK services, chronic pain and spinal services during assessment will be significant.<br/><br/>If possible, the tool should be made available in the most common languages relevant to the population of Berkshire – English, Polish, Punjabi, Nepalese and Urdu.
1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
1 VERSION
1
096023-2026planning, tender ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is conducting soft market engagement for a potential automated digital MSK Single Point of Access tool. The proposed tool would independently triage and manage patients, receive eRS referrals and online self-referrals, and route patients to appropriate MSK services. This is an early-stage planned procurement, not an open competition.
Who this may suit
Potentially relevant to suppliers of automated digital clinical triage solutions for musculoskeletal pathways, particularly those able to support eRS, self-referral, multilingual access and medical-device registration requirements.
Key points identified
Automated clinical triageSolution should independently assess and manage patients without human intervention.Evidence: BHFT seeks suppliers delivering digital clinical triage solutions that independently assess and manage patients without human intervention.
MSK pathway coverageAssess MSK conditions throughout the body and direct patients into discrete and specialist MSK services.Evidence: BHFT seeks providers that can assess MSK conditions throughout the body and direct the patient into discrete and specialist MSK services without human intervention.
Referral integrationReceive referrals from primary care, community services and secondary care via eRS, plus patient self-referral via an online portal being developed by BHFT.Evidence: The developed SPA must be able to receive referrals from primary care, community services and secondary care via eRS in addition to patient self-referral via an online portal.
95% approved-analysis confidence8 supplier criteria identified5 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is conducting soft market engagement for a potential automated digital MSK Single Point of Access tool. The proposed tool would independently triage and manage patients, receive eRS referrals and online self-referrals, and route patients to appropriate MSK services. This is an early-stage planned procurement, not an open competition.
Who this may suit
Potentially relevant to suppliers of automated digital clinical triage solutions for musculoskeletal pathways, particularly those able to support eRS, self-referral, multilingual access and medical-device registration requirements.
Key deliverables
Automated digital MSK clinical triage and patient management tool
Routing to general physiotherapy, specialist MSK, chronic pain and spinal services
Referral intake via eRS and an online self-referral portal
Potential multilingual availability in English, Polish, Punjabi, Nepalese and Urdu
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
8 criteria identified
Automated clinical triage
98% confidence
Solution should independently assess and manage patients without human intervention.
View supporting evidence
BHFT seeks suppliers delivering digital clinical triage solutions that independently assess and manage patients without human intervention.
MSK pathway coverage
97% confidence
Assess MSK conditions throughout the body and direct patients into discrete and specialist MSK services.
View supporting evidence
BHFT seeks providers that can assess MSK conditions throughout the body and direct the patient into discrete and specialist MSK services without human intervention.
Referral integration
98% confidence
Receive referrals from primary care, community services and secondary care via eRS, plus patient self-referral via an online portal being developed by BHFT.
View supporting evidence
The developed SPA must be able to receive referrals from primary care, community services and secondary care via eRS in addition to patient self-referral via an online portal.
Clinical differentiation
98% confidence
Differentiate between general MSK physiotherapy, specialist MSK services, chronic pain and spinal services during assessment.
View supporting evidence
The level of automated clinical expertise to differentiate between general MSK physiotherapy, specialist MSK services, chronic pain and spinal services during assessment will be significant.
Languages
94% confidence
If possible, support English, Polish, Punjabi, Nepalese and Urdu.
View supporting evidence
If possible, the tool should be made available in the most common languages relevant to the population of Berkshire – English, Polish, Punjabi, Nepalese and Urdu.
Medical device status
90% confidence
The developed tool is likely to require registration as a medical device.
View supporting evidence
It is likely that the developed tool sought by BHFT will require registration as a medical device.
Supplier experience
93% confidence
BHFT will liaise with suppliers with suitable experience and service offering.
View supporting evidence
BHFT will liaise with any supplier with suitable experience and service offering.
Participation effect
99% confidence
Participation or non-participation in this engagement will not prevent participation in a potential future procurement.
View supporting evidence
Participation or non-participation in this soft market engagement shall not prevent any supplier participating in any potential future procurement.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Published value
92% confidence
A value maximum of GBP 1 is recorded in the source; no reliable estimated procurement value is stated.
View supporting evidence
Process metadata records value_max as 1 GBP, while the notice describes soft market testing rather than a competed contract opportunity.
Future evaluation
95% confidence
Any downstream project may use technical, quality, social value and price criteria.
View supporting evidence
Any downstream procurement project will involve multiple award criteria across technical, quality, social value and price criteria.
Commercial terms
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No contract pricing, payment, contract value or commercial terms are stated for this market engagement.
Delivery
Buyer location
98% confidence
Bracknell, Berkshire (UKJ11).
View supporting evidence
Buyer location is listed as Bracknell, region UKJ11, postal code RG12 2UT.
Delivery region
94% confidence
UKJ11.
View supporting evidence
The delivery location is listed with region UKJ11.
Delivery dates
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
Contract start and end dates are not provided.
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Opportunity status
99% confidence
Upcoming soft market engagement; no competition is associated with this engagement.
View supporting evidence
Display status is upcoming, and the notice states: 'There is no competition associated with the pre-market engagement.'
Engagement deadline
94% confidence
2 November 2026, 12:00 UTC.
View supporting evidence
The process and lot metadata state submission_deadline: 2026-11-02T12:00:00Z.
Potential downstream route
96% confidence
BHFT may use the Competitive Process route under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
View supporting evidence
The notice states that any downstream procurement project will be sourced via the Competitive Process route under the Provider Selection Regime.
Source procedure metadata
99% confidence
Selective / restricted procedure is recorded in metadata, but the notice says to disregard that indication for any downstream project.
View supporting evidence
Metadata records 'Restricted procedure'; the notice says: 'Whilst IV.1.1.1 states that restricted procurement procedure will be followed, any downstream procurement project will be sourced via the Competitive Process route'.
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Not an open tender
99% confidence
This is market engagement only; suppliers should not treat it as a competition or confirmed contract opportunity.
View supporting evidence
The notice states that there is no competition associated with the pre-market engagement and that BHFT may take forward a downstream project.
Procedure inconsistency
99% confidence
Published metadata identifies a restricted procedure, while the notice says this should be ignored and describes a possible Provider Selection Regime Competitive Process for a future project.
View supporting evidence
The notice explicitly contrasts IV.1.1.1's restricted-procedure statement with the potential downstream Competitive Process route.
Unconfirmed downstream procurement
98% confidence
A future procurement is optional and its final scope, route, timetable and terms are unknown.
View supporting evidence
BHFT 'may take forward a project' after the engagement; the notice says market-assessment timescales are estimated.
Published value reliability
91% confidence
The GBP 1 maximum value appears inconsistent with the described engagement and should not be relied upon as a contract estimate.
View supporting evidence
Process metadata records value_max as 1 GBP, while no estimated contract value is described in the engagement narrative.
Medical device compliance
94% confidence
The proposed solution is likely to require medical-device registration, but the applicable registration route and evidence requirements are not specified.
View supporting evidence
The notice says the developed tool is likely to require registration as a medical device.
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
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