Prior Information Notice Published

The Trust has published a Prior Information Notice (PIN) in the Official Journal of the European Union advising prospective consortia of the project and the forthcoming OJEC Notice.

It will take between 7 and 10 days for the PIN to appear on the European Union tenders website.

The facilities required to implement the Health Investment Plan will be procured using the NHS standard PFI procurement process. If only two bidders pre-qualify the Trusts will omit the Preliminary Invitation to Negotiate (PITN) stage. However, there will be an initial design review and interim submission prior to the final bid submissions.

The expected programme for the project over the next six months is:

• OJEC Notice  - 12 Sept 2003

• MOI and PQQ issued in response to requests.

• Bidders day - Early to Mid Oct 2003

• OJEC Close - 20 Oct 2003

• PQQ Return Date - 14 Nov 2003

• Selection of Bidders - 17 Dec 2003

• Issue PITN - 5 Jan 2004

The remainder of the procurement programme is based on achieving financial close during the second quarter of 2005.