Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB)
Sackville House, Brooks Close
Lewes
BN7 2FZ
Contact
Stuart Meredith
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
Life After Stroke
Reference number
C231716
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO AWARD: The Life After Stroke service provides practical advice, emotional support and high-quality information to stroke survivors, their family members and carers through 6 month Post Stroke Reviews and Stroke Recovery support as described before and after these reviews. Its aim is to help people navigate their way through the stroke recovery pathway. It offers a variety of support options, which includes home visits, video calls and telephone calls. The Life After Stroke service picks up patients that are discharged from hospital and works alongside NHS rehabilitation and community services, as well as other public and VCSE services.
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: £396,338
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85100000 - Health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO AWARD: This is an intention to award a contract to an existing provider following direct award process C. The total contract value will be for £396,338 beginning 1st October 2025 and ending 30th September 2026.
Currently The Stroke Association (TSA) provides Life After stroke services across Sussex in a varied way:
• In West Sussex the Stroke Association are commissioned to deliver a fully integrated service, which includes their Stroke Recovery Service with Post Stroke Reviews and Communication Support and groups for those with communication difficulties.
• In East Sussex the Stroke Association provide a post stroke review service only.
• In Brighton the Stroke Association provides a 10 hour support service in Brighton that sits alongside post stroke reviews that are provided by Sussex Community Foundation Trust (SCFT).
The TSA provides practical advice, emotional support and high-quality information to stroke survivors, their family members and carers through 6 month Post Stroke Reviews and Stroke Recovery support as described before and after these reviews. Their aim is to help people navigate their way through the stroke pathway. They offer a variety of support options, which includes home visits, video calls and telephone calls. They offer a free connect phone line for patients, although this isn't directly commissioned by NHS Sussex. They offer some access to grants and self-management tools for long-term support, including My Stroke Guide. Peer support options and universal products like an Online Activity Hub is also a key resource for those wanting to take part in activities and information sessions remotely.
Their ethos is about personalised tailored support, matched to individual needs and the wishes of the person. They provide ongoing touch points with the individual so that, as their needs change, they are prompted to get the help they need at the right time.
TSA actively contribute to all parts of the pathway from stroke prevention to recovery and are nationally recognised as being expert advocates and specialists in stroke recovery.
The Life After Stroke service picks up patients that are discharged from hospital and works alongside NHS rehabilitation and community services, as well as other public and VCSE services. They work with individuals as long as there is a need post stroke.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality - 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 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 Process 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 made to the relevant authority by midnight (11:59pm) on Friday 21st February 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
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
Title
Life After Stroke
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
29 November 2024
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
Stroke Association
Resource Centre, 1-2 Sterling Business Park, Salthouse Road
Brackmills
NN4 7EX
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKF2 - Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Charity Commission (England and Wales)
61274
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £396,338
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 Process 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 made to decision makers by midnight (11:59pm) on Friday 21st February 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
Written representations should be sent to Stuart Meredith at the following email address: stuart.meredith1@nhs.net.
No conflicts of interest were identified. Decision maker: Deputy Chief Integration & Primary Care Officer and Director of Joint Commissioning, NHS Sussex ICB.
Evaluation key Criteria
The service evaluation was reviewed against the 5 key criteria:
The key criteria were weighted as follows:
• Quality and innovation - 25%
• Value -20%
• Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability - 20%
• Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice -25%
• Social Value -10%
Quality & Innovation: This criterion shares the heaviest weighting, which was accessed equally to the "improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice" criterion. This weighting reflects our commitment that this service is of the highest quality for stroke survivors, to ensure that they receive a personalised and seamless experience that enables them to feel supported.
Value: The Value criterion is significant in that providers will need to ensure that they are able to utilise funding to maximise benefits to stroke survivors, ensuring they meet individualised needs and preferences when it will benefit stroke survivors most. If they are able to do this in an effective way, this in turn adds value by supporting the system, providing a crucial prevention element that can save whole system funding and improve whole system efficiency around the use of resources. Funds will need to be utilised efficiently and effectively to deliver a sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective service.
Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability: This criterion is weighted equally to Value. Integration and collaboration is key to ensure a seamless experience to patients, as well as motivating stroke survivor engagement with the service. A cohesive system partnerships between providers, local VCSE assets, the local authority services will allow wide opportunity for stroke survivors needs to bet met and utilise existing community assets whilst reducing duplication, as well as supporting the sustainability of local services.
Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice: This criterion shares the heaviest weighting, which was assessed equally to the "Quality and Innovation" criterion. Stroke is most likely to impact certain genders and ethnicities, and when the determinants of health are also considered, areas of greater deprivation paired with an older age profile see the biggest prevalence of stroke and other Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD) events. The weighting for this score reflects our commitment to ensure that this resource is targeted towards those who have the biggest need and who can benefit most from it, improving health outcome four our most disadvantaged population.
Social Value: This criterion recognises the potential impact of services and their contributions to broader social, economic, and environmental improvements in the community. Although this hasn't been weighted as heavily, it is important that providers are able to evidence their commitment to these areas, such as paying workers living wage, reducing consumption and waste and offering student placements and apprenticeships.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Sussex Integrated Board (ICB)
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