Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland) ("NSS")
Gyle Square (NSS Head Office), 1 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh
EH12 9EB
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
National registration number
NP 5062/21
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.nss.nhs.scot/browse/procurement-and-logistics
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA11883
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
PACS Reprovisioning
Reference number
NP506221
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The existing NHS Scotland Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) contract is coming to an end and National Services Scotland (NSS) is managing a procurement exercise on behalf of NHS Scotland to procure a new PACS solution.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £137,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48329000 - Imaging and archiving system
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The existing NHS Scotland Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) contract is coming to an end and National Services Scotland (NSS) is managing a procurement exercise on behalf of NHS Scotland to procure a new PACS solution.
The objective of this programme is to undertake a PACS Re-procurement exercise to establish a replacement national contractual arrangement that is sustainable and can evolve over time at a pace that is acceptable to the NHS in Scotland. To achieve a more effective and joined up imaging environment that supports changes to the clinical workflows required to implement the new Scotland Radiology Model.
As a minimum, the new contract for the PACS service aims to:
- Provide a modern, secure PACS system which will support the evolving models of care;
- Support the Scottish Government’s Digital Health and Care Strategy 2021;
- Enable evolving Scottish Government strategies related to integration, cyber security, digital imaging, Radiology transformation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and person-centred care.
The current PACS IT Solution for Acute services comprises a fully replicated central national PACS, which captures radiological images and reports from 22 (by Summer 2022) local PACS instances across 15 NHS Boards. A separate PACS solution for the Scottish Breast Screening Programme (SBSP) consists of six local PACS instances and a separate central archive.
The contract will deliver services to entities constituted pursuant to the National Health Service (Scotland) Act
1978 as amended.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £137,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
120
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Two optional three year extensions.
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged minimum number: 3
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
PACS RP SPD Instruction to Bidders document attached to this notice outlines the SPD evaluation criteria.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
There are a number of additional services which will be included in a contract catalogue which may be utilised throughout the contract term. These will be described in the procurement documentation at the Initial Bid stage.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
Contract Value Assumptions are included in the Additional Information document as attached to this contract notice.
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
PACS RP SPD Instruction to Bidders document attached to this notice outlines the SPD evaluation criteria.
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
PACS RP SPD Instruction to Bidders document attached to this notice outlines the SPD evaluation criteria.
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
four.1.4) Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated
four.1.5) Information about negotiation
The contracting authority reserves the right to award the contract on the basis of the initial tenders without conducting negotiations
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
14 February 2022
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
28 February 2022
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
The Public Sector in Scotland is committed to the delivery of high quality public services, and recognises that this is critically dependent on a workforce that is well-rewarded, well-motivated, well-led, has access to appropriate opportunities for training and skills development, diverse and engaged in decision making. These factors are also important for workforce recruitment and retention, and thus continuity of service.
Public Bodies in Scotland are adopting fair work practices, which include:
— a fair and equal pay policy that includes a commitment to supporting the living wage, including, for example being a living wage
accredited employer;
— clear managerial responsibility to nurture talent and help individuals fulfil their potential, including for example, a strong commitment
to modern apprenticeships and the development of Scotland's young workforce;
— promoting equality of opportunity and developing a workforce which reflects the population of Scotland in terms of characteristics such
as age, gender, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation and disability;
— support for learning and development;
— stability of employment and hours of work, and avoiding exploitative employment practices, including for example no inappropriate use of zero-hours contracts;
— flexible working (including for example practices such as flexi-time and career breaks) and support for family friendly working and
wider work life balance;
— support progressive workforce engagement, for example Trade Union recognition and representation where possible, otherwise
alternative arrangements to give staff an effective voice.
In order to ensure the highest standards of service quality in this contract we expect contractors to take a similarly positive approach to fair work practices as part of a fair and equitable employment and reward package.
Bidders who are invited to submit an initial bid will need to describe how they will commit to fair work practices for workers (including any agency or subcontractor workers) engaged in the delivery of this contract.
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see:
http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see:
https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=677889.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Yes as per contract.
(SC Ref:677889)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Sheriff Court House, 27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Telephone
+44 131225252
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The authority will notify economic operators who submitted a tender or (where no deselection notification has previously been made) applied to be selected to tender, of its decision to award the contract which notification will contain among other information, a summary of the reasons why the economic operator was unsuccessful. The notification will incorporate a ‘standstill period’ of a minimum of 10 clear calendar days (or a minimum of 15 if the communication method used is not electronic) between the date on which the authority despatches the notice(s) and the date on which the authority proposes to conclude the relevant contract. The bringing of court proceedings against the authority during the standstill period will automatically continue the prohibition on entering into the contract until the court proceedings are determined, discontinued or disposed of, or the court, by interim order, brings to an end the prohibition. The remedies that may be awarded by the courts before the contract has been entered into include the setting aside of the decision to award the contract to the winning tenderer(s). The bringing of court proceedings against the authority after the contract has been entered into will not affect the contract unless grounds for the imposition of special penalties under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 can be established. Otherwise the remedies that may be awarded by the courts where the contract has been entered into are limited to the award of damages. Economic operators are entitled to write to the authority after receipt of the notification should they require further clarification. The authority will respond within 15 days of such a written request, but it should be noted that receipt by the authority of such request during the standstill period may not prevent the authority from awarding the contract following the expiry of the standstill period. Economic operators should approach the contracting authority in the first instance. However, the only formal remedy is to apply to the courts:
An economic operator that suffers or is at risk of suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts(Scotland) Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Court of Session
Parliament House, Parliament Square
Edinburgh
EH1 1RQ
Country
United Kingdom