Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board
Aspen House, Stephenson Road
Colchester
CO4 9QR
Contact
Jane Garnett
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKH3 - Essex
NHS Organisation Data Service
QJG
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://suffolkandnortheastessex.icb.nhs.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
Primary Care Pathology Services
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice and is intended to provide notice of the Authority's intention to award a contract to deliver a Primary Care Pathology Service.
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board have reviewed pathology services delivered within the
Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System.
The ICB intends to award the contract for the delivery of these services to NHS West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust working together to deliver Pathology needs within SNEE ICB.
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust and NHS West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust will be awarded the contracts as they are uniquely placed to continue to deliver the primary care pathology services for the locality.
The acute trusts have an integrated provision which includes delivery of pathology services for all acute divisions, community services and primary care. It is believed that retaining this configuration is in the best interest of the patients and the Integrated Care System.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £34,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH14 - Suffolk
- UKH3 - Essex
Main site or place of performance
The service will cover the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board locality.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This notice is made by the Contracting Authority; NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (hereinafter referred to as "the Authority") in compliance with their local standing financial instructions (SFIs) to notify the market of the intention to award a contract to deliver a Primary Care Pathology Service to NHS West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust.
The total contract value is forecasted to be £34,000,000 over the two year term (excluding VAT).
NHS West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust will receive a contract over two (2) years with a total value of £13,800,000. East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust will receive a contract over two (2) years with a total value of £20,400,000.
The two year contract will start on the 1st April 2023, ending on the 31st March 2025.
The Contracting Authority is yet to agree appropriate inflation and uplift for this contract for the period of 2023/24 through to 2024/25. These will be dealt with as Contract Variations in accordance with the NHS Standard Contract Terms and Conditions. The Authority deems any such variations are not substantial or material changes, as they occur due to external causes beyond the Authority's control, including changes in contract value driven by changes in patient volume. The Authority will publish appropriate Notices accordingly to communicate any such future changes to the market, once final.
The Authority will observe a 10-day standstill from the date of publication of this VEAT, during which the Authority will not enter into any contractual arrangement.
The Authority is to retain the provision within the Acute Trusts named in this notice to ensure the following risks (list is not exhaustive) are not realised:
-Clinical risks of involving different clinical IT systems within one pathology system - negative impact on patient safety
-Clinical risks and cost brought about from duplicate tests
-Reduction in economies of scale when integrated care systems are tasked with being more efficient.
-Risk of losing skilled staff or needing more skilled staff across multiple providers when recruitment for skilled pathology staff is difficult.
-Destabilising the core pathology function within the acute Trusts
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
The Service to which this procurement relates fall within Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as amended by as amended by The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, (the "Regulations"). As such, the Contracting Authority does not intend to hold itself bound by any of the Regulations, save those applicable to Schedule 3 Services.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
There are significant risks, particularly around the splitting of a single pathology service.
-Patient Safety risk due to split services and multiple records
-Patient Safety risk due to duplication of tests
-Financial risks around duplication of tests, exit costs from current service delivery
The proposed contractual term is for a period of 2 years , the services covered by the arrangement may change and expand as the integrated model develops.
The providers are core alliance partners and already deliver all pathology services. Retention of the Primary Care Pathology Services within the wider Pathology service will retain continuity of provision for the Authority's population.
There are significant risks associated with discontinuity of provision.
-Patient Safety
-Financial risks
-Workforce disruption
-Service disruption
-Destabilisation of core acute pathology services and impacts upon core acute services
The Authority is to retain the provision within the Acute Trusts named in this notice to ensure the risks (list is not exhaustive) are prevented.
The Authority believes competition is absent for the technical reasons outlined above and the potential for patient harm and disruption.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
14 November 2022
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
EAST SUFFOLK AND NORTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
TURNER ROAD
COLCHESTER
CO4 5JL
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH3 - Essex
NHS Organisation Data Service
RDE
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £20,400,000
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
14 November 2022
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Hardwick Lane
Bury St Edmunds
IP33 2QZ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH14 - Suffolk
NHS Organisation Data Service
RGR
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £13,600,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The Service to which this procurement relates fall within Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as amended by as amended by The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, (the "Regulations"). As such, the Contracting Authority does not intend to hold itself bound by any of the Regulations, save those applicable to Schedule 3 Services.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of Justice of England and Wales
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom