Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS SUSSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Sackville House, Brooks Close
Lewes
BN7 2FZ
Contact
Robert Kitt
Telephone
+44 7823534547
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
NHS Organisation Data Service
QNX
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.sussex.ics.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
Keyworker Service East Sussex
Reference number
C335475
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS Sussex ICB has implemented the national commitment that by 2023/24 autistic people and people with a learning disability up to the age of 25, with the most complex needs, will be allocated a designated keyworker.
The service provides a named keyworker for children, young people and adults up to 25 years old with a learning disability and or who are autistic, where there is a significant risk of hospital admission/s due to lack of alternative preventative support.
The NHS Sussex ICB review is being undertaken across all Keyworker services in Sussex to assess the current models (including current assessment of need, delivery of outcomes against criteria and best use of resources). This will inform the NHS Sussex commissioning approach for 2026/27 onwards which the ICB plans to confirm in Quarter 1 of 2025/26, following which commissioning of the service for 2026/27 onwards will be undertaken.
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 - Direct Award C) 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. The standstill period will end at 2359 hrs 21.02.2025. Representations by providers must be submitted to the relevant authority via email to robert.kitt1@nhs.net
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: £804,800
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
Main site or place of performance
Sussex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Sussex ICB has implemented the national commitment that by 2023/24 autistic people and people with a learning disability up to the age of 25, with the most complex needs, will be allocated a designated keyworker.
The service provides a named keyworker for children, young people and adults up to 25 years old with a learning disability and or who are autistic, where there is a significant risk of hospital admission/s due to lack of alternative preventative support.
The NHS Sussex ICB review is being undertaken across all Keyworker services in Sussex to assess the current models (including current assessment of need, delivery of outcomes against criteria and best use of resources). This will inform the NHS Sussex commissioning approach for 2026/27 onwards which the ICB plans to confirm in Quarter 1 of 2025/26, following which commissioning of the service for 2026/27 onwards will be undertaken.
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice (Direct Award C). 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 submitted to the relevant authority via email to robert.kitt1@nhs.net (Ref: C335475) by midnight (23:59 hrs) on 21/02/25.
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
This direct award is for a term of 24 months, from 1/4/25 to 31/3/27.
The service value is £402,400.00 per annum.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard. / Weighting: 100
Cost criterion - Name: N/A / Weighting: 0
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
This procurement falls under the Provider Selection Regime 2023 Direct Award Process C.
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
Contract No
C335475
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
11 February 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Aspens Charities (AMQJ)
Cornford Lane
Pembury
TN2 4QU
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ4 - Kent
Charity Commission (England and Wales)
Charity number: 1171446 Company number: 10342980
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £804,800
Total value of the contract/lot: £804,800
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
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 - Direct Award C. 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 submitted to the relevant authority via email to robert.kitt1@nhs.net (Ref:C335475) by midnight (23:59 hrs) on 21/02/25.
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an Intention to Award under the PSR.
Decision maker: Deputy Chief Integration & Primary Care Officer and Director of Joint Commissioning, NHS Sussex ICB.
No conflicts of interest were declared.
The service evaluation was reviewed against the 5 key criteria:
• Quality & Innovation
• Value
• Integration, collaboration & service sustainability
• Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice
• Social value
These were then weighted as follows:
Quality and innovation (30%),
Value (20%),
Integration, collaboration and service sustainability (20%), Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice (20%);
Social Value (10%).
In determining the weightings for each of the criteria, our primary focus was on ensuring that the evaluation process reflects the key priorities and objectives of the service.
Quality & Innovation: Seeking a home-based supportive service for a vulnerable cohort of young people and their families
Value: Value is based on achieving relative hospital avoidance and reduction in presentation to emergency services.
Integration, Collaboration, and Service Sustainability: Integration is based on the interoperability of the pathway and service with Dynamic Support Register, CAMHS, Children Services, Education.
Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice: Improving access is based on the uptake of 'recovery' based opportunities, for example accessing education and care interventions.
Social Value: Social value is based on a service informed by participation and expert by experience of young people and their carers.
The existing provider was assessed against key criteria which were weighted according to importance in terms of service delivery and scored satisfactorily against the assessed criteria.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board
Sackville House, Brooks Close
Lewes
BN7 2FZ
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
NHS England
Skipton House, 80 London Road
LONDON
SE1 6LH
Country
United Kingdom