Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS England - Specialised Commissioning
80 London Road,
London
SE1 6LH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - UNITED KINGDOM
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.ardengemcsu.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
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
Reference number
NHS England Spec. Commissioning
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) is a serious blood disorder that results in blood clots forming in small blood vessels throughout the body. It affects the kidneys, heart and brain. If a patient is treated outside a specialist centre, mortality is 50%; in a specialist centre, it is 20%. There is also an appreciable acute morbidity, particularly in neurological disorders.
The condition can be difficult to diagnose because initial presentation can be non-specific. Rapid treatment is essential for optimal outcomes and includes plasma exchange and a range of drugs. This disease primarily affects adults. Children are treated in paediatric haematology centres and are outside the scope of this process.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £25,600,000
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) – London and parts of the South East (Kent, Surrey & Sussex)
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
- 85100000 - Health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ - SOUTH EAST (ENGLAND)
- UKI - LONDON
Main site or place of performance
London and parts of the South East (Kent, Surrey and Sussex).
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
TTP is a very rare, complex condition which can present as an acute life-threatening disorder that requires prompt diagnosis, early referral and effective immediate management in a centre with comprehensive provision and a multi-discipline approach. Specialist aftercare is also required. There is also a cohort of patients who have a congenital form of the disease who require ongoing apheresis (where a patient’s blood is filtered and then put back into their body). The prevalence is 330 patients in England, with an acute incidence of 150 patients.
There is a very high mortality rate for patients with this disease: if a patient is treated outside of a specialist centre, the death rate is 50%. There are two centres in England where there are recognised services.
The Commissioners are planning to initially enter into contract with two providers for a term of four years to provide cover for patients in (a) the North West and (b) London and parts of the South East. The reasons for this decision are:
- The providers are the only two fully capable providers with recognised established services to meet the specification and will offer access to services, whilst new providers are identified through a competitive process to ensure access to services across England;
- The two providers have full capacity and the necessary skills to deliver the service and have been assessed as meeting the service requirements and thus are eligible to be commissioned by NHS England and Improvement.
Commissioners have undertaken a negotiated procedure without prior publication and have undertaken a due diligence assessment of the two Providers. They were required to complete a self-assessment questionnaire to ensure quality of service provision; which was approved as part of the strategic approach to commissioning these services and is in line with Commissioners internal governance mechanisms/processes to award these services.
While the Commissioners are intending to award a contract for services across London and parts of the South East (Kent, Surrey & Sussex) based on the negotiated procedure without publication, they wish to seek further expression of interest, which is due to be published in February 2021, to secure provision for up to a further 7 Lots across England which includes South West, West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, North East, Yorkshire and Humber and parts of the South East (Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight)*.
Providers who are interested in these future opportunities will be required to register and respond separately to any future Notice as applicable, published in line with the regulations following conclusion of this notice.
*Note, in securing the provision for parts of the South East, the Commissioners require the successful provider to work with the already established London provider. This will support shared care and improve local patient access to the service whilst ensuring availability of clinical expertise as appropriate.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
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) Description
two.2.1) Title
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) – North West
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
- 85100000 - Health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD - NORTH WEST (ENGLAND)
Main site or place of performance
North West
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
TTP is a very rare, complex condition which can present as an acute life-threatening disorder that requires prompt diagnosis, early referral and effective immediate management in a centre with comprehensive provision and a multi-discipline approach. Specialist aftercare is also required. There is also a cohort of patients who have a congenital form of the disease who require ongoing apheresis (where a patient’s blood is filtered and then put back into their body). The prevalence is 330 patients in England, with an acute incidence of 150 patients.
There is a very high mortality rate for patients with this disease: if a patient is treated outside of a specialist centre, the death rate is 50%. There are two centres in England where there are recognised services.
The Commissioners are planning to initially enter into contract with two providers for a term of four years to provide cover for patients in (a) the North West and (b) London and parts of the South East across England. The reasons for this decision are:
- The providers are the only two fully capable providers with recognised established services to meet the specification and will offer access to services, whilst new providers are identified through a competitive process to ensure access to services across England;
- The two providers have full capacity and the necessary skills to deliver the service and have been assessed as meeting the service requirements and thus are eligible to be commissioned by NHS England and Improvement.
Commissioners have undertaken a negotiated procedure without prior publication and have undertaken a due diligence assessment of the two Providers, who were required to complete a self-assessment questionnaire to ensure quality of service provision; which was then approved as part of the strategic approach to commissioning these services and is in line with Commissioners internal governance mechanisms/processes to award these services.
While the Commissioners are intending to award a contract for services across London and parts of the South East (Kent, Surrey & Sussex) based on the negotiated procedure without publication, they wish to seek further expression of interest, which is due to be published in February 2021, to secure provision for up to a further 7 Lots across England, which includes South West, West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, North East, Yorkshire and Humber and parts of the South East (Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight)*.
Providers who are interested in these future opportunities will be required to register and respond separately to any future Notice as applicable, published in line with the regulations following conclusion of this notice
*Note, in securing the provision for parts of the South East, the Commissioners require the successful provider to work with the already established London provider. This will support shared care and improve local patient access to the service whilst ensuring availability of clinical expertise as appropriate.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
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:
The current pathway of care is disjointed and there was a need to review delivery in order to improve outcomes for patients. The current pattern shows patients receiving varying level of care with some patients treated in expert centres whereas others without access to expert advice.
Due to the disjointed nature of the current TPP provision and the high mortality rate, the Prescribed Specialised Services Advisory Group (PSSAG) has requested that NHS England assume the commissioning responsibility for this disease, with the aim of establishing appropriate number of expert centres and clear and defined pathways to improve patient outcomes.
To address the issues identified in the current provision, a new service delivery model and service specification has been developed, where the principle elements are:
• Early diagnosis and commencement on apheresis.
• Access to apheresis must be 24/7
• Patients require acute inpatient admission, which include ITU.
• This disease is lifelong, and the expert centres must provide life monitoring and early intervention if the patient relapses.
• A requirement for a treating and educative/outreach role to raise awareness of the disease, as the disease can present with non-specific symptoms in the early stages.
The Commissioners recognise the importance of striking the right balance between geographical access, population and the need to maintain expertise and are working towards implementing the new delivery model.
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
Contract No
1
Lot No
1
Title
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) – London and parts of the South East (Kent, Surrey & Sussex).
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 January 2021
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
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
250 Euston Road
London
NW1 2PG
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - LONDON
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: £20,700,000
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
2
Lot No
2
Title
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) – North West
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
21 December 2020
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
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Prescot Street
Liverpool
L7 8XP
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKD - NORTH WEST (ENGLAND)
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: £4,900,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
- This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice for the award of two contracts for Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) – London and parts of the South (Kent, Surrey & Sussex).
- This notice has been published to notify the market of the Commissioners intension to enter into a contract with the providers named within. There will be no further standstill period and Commissioners will enter into contracts following conclusion of this notice.
- Any legal action must be brought promptly in the High Court and within the time limits as defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
- Contract values are indicative based on a projected baseline for 2021-2022 with forecasted growth over the term of the contract.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Arden & GEM Commissioning Support Unit
Derby
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
- This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice for the award of two contracts for Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) - London and parts of the South East (Kent, Surrey & Sussex).
- This notice has been published to notify the market of the Commissioners intension to enter into a contract with the providers named within. There will be no further standstill period and Commissioners will enter into contracts following conclusion of this notice.
- Any legal action must be brought promptly in the High Court and within the time limits as defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Arden & GEM Commissioning Support Unit
Derby
Country
United Kingdom