Express LIFT

Following the successful establishment of 48 LIFT companies covering more than half of the population of England, Express LIFT has been developed to provide a 'fast-track' procurement route. A 'private sector partner' is selected from a nationally procured framework of pre-approved partners, without the need for a 'traditional' competition based around the design of sample schemes, making it more cost effective.

The difference between Express LIFT and a traditional LIFT procurement

In a 'traditional' LIFT procurement, bidders are required to provide fully costed designs for the sample schemes in competition. This is a time consuming and costly process for all bidders and PCTs. In Express LIFT, public sector participants will be required to have an outline SSDP which they will utilise assistance from their LIFT company to complete. This means that the LIFT company can have a far greater influence on what it is that the PCT is trying to achieve through its commissioning and estates strategy. There will be no competitive design element (which will significantly reduce both time and cost) and no obligation to establish a supply chain for delivery and maintenance of defined projects at this stage.

Procurements under the Express LIFT programme will be significantly shorter. PCTs will need to undertake a reasonable amount of preparatory work before commencing a competition and will, of course, have to be mindful of the logistics of obtaining all the requisite Board approvals, however, it ought to be possible for a PCT to run the competition process in less than three months.

National procurement

The Department of Health ran a national procurement, which resulted in the following seven companies being selected to join a national framework as prospective LIFT company partners in March 2009:

• Community Solutions for Primary Care

• Express LIFT Investments Limited

• Equity Solutions

• Eric Wright Group

• Fulcrum Infrastructure Group

• Odyssey Healthcare

• Prime Plc

Subject to receiving the necessary approval, PCTs can now commence their local call-off procurements. All of the prospective partners have demonstrated that they are able to provide the partnering services in a manner capable of realising and demonstrating value for money.

Framework timeline

Under EU procurement rules, a framework contract can exist for a maximum of four years. Our intention is for the Express LIFT framework to run for two years with the option on the part of the Secretary of State to extend the framework for a further two years.

National competition

The Department of Health ran the national framework procurement on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health with the assistance of Community Health Partnerships and other external advisers.

For further details please see the following - Memorandum of Info for PCTs - April 2009

CHP LIFT Procurement support

The experience and knowledge of CHP, built up during the 48 successful LIFT procurements, is available to support any PCT considering Express LIFT. The guidance provided by CHP will help to ensure time spent and expenditure is minimised, whilst the opportunity for a high quality outcome is maximised.

Through their extensive experience CHP are well placed to support PCT's as they consider and engage in the Express LIFT procurement process. The consistency of approach that CHP can bring to the process will help to establish a partnership that is immediately fit for purpose going forward.

For more details contact CHP at communityhealthpartnerships@dh.gsi.gov.uk or 0207 633 4113

Express LIFT Information Sheet (PDF)

Express LIFT Presentation (PPT)