Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Devon Integrated Care Board
Aperture House, Rydon Lane
Devon
EX2 5AZ
Contact
Mark Harding
scwcsu.clinical.procurement@nhs.net
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK4 - Devon
NHS Organisation Data Service
15N
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome
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
NHS Devon - Audiology Specialist Services - Eastern Locality
Reference number
C322283
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85121240 - ENT or audiologist services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The specialised audiology service is a comprehensive specialised service for adults and children experiencing hearing and communication difficulties who would benefit from assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.
The ICB commissioned specialist services will accept referrals direct from health professionals in the community via DRSS and hospitals for all aspects of hearing care for adults for whom the standard community service (over 55 Routine Adult Hearing Aid Service) is not suitable, and children. This will range from babies of a few days old and their families to the elderly. The service includes diagnosis of, quantification of degree, and rehabilitation of hearing loss, tinnitus or balance impairment.
It also includes provision of supporting services for patients who may be considering or have bone anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants in addition to providing audiological support to ENT inpatient and outpatient services, as commissioned by those service providers.
NHS Devon intends to contract for the Services using the latest version of the NHS Standard Contract. The contract term will be for a duration of 5 years and will commence on 1st April 2025. The total contract value is £9,760,312.
This notice is placed to set out NHS Devon's (the Commissioner's) intention to award a contract under the Competitive Process of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
This is an existing service being awarded to a new provider.
This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.
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: £9,760,312
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 33185000 - Hearing aids
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK4 - Devon
Main site or place of performance
Eastern Locality of Devon
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The aim of the specialised audiology service was to commission a comprehensive specialised service for adults and children experiencing hearing and communication difficulties who would benefit from assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.
The ICB commissioned specialist services will accept referrals direct from health professionals in the community via DRSS and hospitals for all aspects of hearing care for adults for whom the standard community service (over 55 Routine Adult Hearing Aid Service) is not suitable, and children. This will range from babies of a few days old and their families to the elderly. The service includes diagnosis of, quantification of degree, and rehabilitation of hearing loss, tinnitus or balance impairment.
It also includes provision of supporting services for patients who may be considering or have bone anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants in addition to providing audiological support to ENT inpatient and outpatient services, as commissioned by those service providers.
The service will also be expected to work closely with ENT and other specialist services to establish care pathways that maximize quality while reducing reliance on medically qualified staff, for example in the glue ear pathway for children. Where agreed, such pathways will be included in this specification and a contract variation order completed. It is expected that care pathways will be unified across the ICB regardless of different service providers.
The vision for people with hearing problems is for them to receive high quality, efficient services, with short waiting times and high responsiveness to the needs of local communities, free at the point of access.
Key principles of the service is to:
• Improve public health and occupational health focus on hearing loss;
• Reduce prevalence of avoidable permanent hearing loss;
• Encourage early identification, diagnosis and management of hearing loss through improved service user and professional education;
• Provide person-centred care, and respond to information and psychosocial needs, including for the effect on partners (and family) of living with poor hearing;
• Support communication needs by providing timely signposting to lip reading classes and assistive technologies and other rehabilitation services;
• Promote inclusion and participation of people who are deaf or hard of hearing;
• Compliance with clinical guidance and good practice;
• Improve the service through research and development and the adoption of new evidence based technologies and practices.
NHS Devon intends to contract for the Services using the latest version of the NHS Standard Contract. The contract term will be for a duration of 5 years and will commence on 1st April 2025. The service will be provided between 1st April 2025 and 31st March 2030. The total contract value is £9,760,312.
This notice is placed to set out NHS Devon's (the Commissioner's) intention to award a contract under the Competitive Process of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
This is an existing service being awarded to a new provider.
This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality and Innovation / Weighting: 48
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability / Weighting: 14
Quality criterion - Name: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities, and Facilitating Choice / Weighting: 14
Cost criterion - Name: Value / Weighting: 14
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-038084
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
24 January 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Barrack Road
Exeter
EX2 5DW
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKK4 - Devon
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address
https://www.royaldevon.nhs.uk/
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £10,003,755
Total value of the contract/lot: £9,760,312
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Decision Makers:
NHS Devon PSR Steering Group.
Approval was granted on 25th November 2024 via the NHS Devon PSR Steering Group to procure the Specialist Audiology Service for the Eastern Locality and ensure compliance with NHS Devon's procurement policy.
The Key Criteria and Evaluation Methodology was reviewed and approved by the NHS Devon PSR Steering Group.
The Decision-Making record was approved by the NHS Devon PSR Steering Group on 22nd January 2025 and formally signed by the Director of Finance for Strategy.
No conflicts of interest were declared.
The decision to award this contract in line with the Competitive Process was based on evaluation against the basic selection criteria, which were assessed on a "Pass" / "Fail" basis, and the 5 key criteria (see below), which were scored using a 0-5 assessment criteria.
NHS Devon considered the five key criteria as stated in the Regulations when applying the Competitive Process and authorised the following weightings:
- Quality and Innovation (48%)
- Value (14%)
- Social Value (10%)
- Integration, collaboration and service sustainability (14%)
- Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice (14%)
The Quality and Innovation was weighted heaviest to recognise the importance of having a service that results in increased quality and innovation for NHS Devon. The criteria tested and ensured an accessible service will be provided that is aligned to appropriate guidance, best practice and the local and national evidence base. The service will link with interdependent services. Service delivery will continue to change, develop and provide innovative responses to meet the changing profile of the population. Quality was also tested to determine how Clinical Governance is core to the service, Patient Safety and compliance with current safeguarding legislation.
Value, Integration, collaboration and service sustainability and Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice were weighted equally at 14%.
The value criteria tested that the service would deliver value for money and efficiencies.
Integration, collaboration and service sustainability considered effective and relevant partnership working with all stakeholders and the electronic process for transmitting patient information to referring or subsequent treating clinician.
Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice ensured equitable access will be given to audiology services, with a particular focus on addressing inequalities among different patient populations. It also considered the personalised care plans that will be developed and shared with the service users.
Social value was weighted at 10% and considered the assessment of policies and practices aligning with moving towards net zero by 2045 and supporting and promoting health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health, in the contract workforce.
The bids were assessed and evaluated on the basis of most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) against the key criteria. At conclusion of the evaluation process, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust submitted the highest scoring bid and were recommended as the winning bidder to the NHS Devon PSR Steering Group.
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period.
Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by midnight on 5th February 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the PSR.
Written representations should be sent to scwcsu.clinical.procurement@nhs.net
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Devon Integrated Care Board
Aperture House, Pynes Hill, Rydon Lane
Exeter
EX2 5AZ
Country
United Kingdom