Tender

APMS Caretaking Services for Ivel Medical Centre, Biggleswade

  • NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-005227

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03a74f

Published 21 February 2023, 4:59pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board

3rd Floor, Arndale House, The Mall

Luton

LU1 2LJ

Contact

Neelam Saroe

Email

neelamsaroe@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKH21 - Luton

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.bedfordshirelutonandmiltonkeynes.icb.nhs.uk/

Buyer's address

https://www.bedfordshirelutonandmiltonkeynes.icb.nhs.uk/

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at

https://health-family.force.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

APMS Caretaking Services for Ivel Medical Centre, Biggleswade

Reference number

AG22512

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85121100 - General-practitioner services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) (referred to as the Commissioner) is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers who currently hold an GMS or an APMS contract/s to deliver GP services in the BLMK area, to express an interest in delivering caretaking services for Ivel Medical Centre in Biggleswade, Central Bedfordshire.

The service is expected to start 1st June 2023 for a period of 18 months with the Commissioner having the option to extend the Contract for up to a further 6 months (maximum total contract duration 24 months).

Based on the current contract it is anticipated that the service provision resultant of this procurement will have an annual baseline contract value (excluding directed enhanced services, QoF, PCN and other income streams) of £1,250,000 (+ APMS premium as stated in bidders’ financial model) at the 2022-23 price.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85121100 - General-practitioner services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKH25 - Central Bedfordshire
Main site or place of performance

Ivel Medical Centre, Chestnut Avenue, Biggleswade SG18 0RA

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) (referred to
as the Commissioner) is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers who currently
hold either a GMS or an APMS contract/s to deliver GP services in the BLMK area, to express
an interest in delivering caretaking services for Ivel Medical Centre in Biggleswade, Central
Bedfordshire, by responding to this opportunity as required and described in this document,
and within the published tender.

Ivel Medical Centre is situated in the pleasant market town of Biggleswade in Central
Bedfordshire. Following the Covid pandemic, the practice has experienced challenges
relating to access, patient demand and expectation which has led to some negative publicity
in the local area about the practice and in part has impacted on recruitment and retention,
particularly of GPs. The main issues have related to concerns about access, patients not
being able to book appointments in person at the practice, the telephone system, and staff
turnover. No concerns have been raised about the quality of patient clinical care.

The caretaker provider will need to demonstrate how they will ensure adequate clinical
staffing is in place to meet the needs of the practice population and have a clear plan for how
they will address the individual operational concerns, listed above, as well as positively
promote the practice in the local area. Bidders will be required to demonstrate how they will
deal with and overcome the issues in their responses to the technical questions published
with this tender pack.

Given the issues listed above and the urgent need to stabilise the services provided at Ivel
Medical Centre, the ICB has decided the most appropriate way to achieve this aim is to offer
the caretaking services only to current GMS or APMS providers who are already delivering
primary medical care services in the BLMK area as they will already be familiar with the local
systems, pathways, processes, and have established links with local system stakeholders.

The caretaker provider will need to use their knowledge of delivery of primary care medical
services within BLMK to mobilise quickly and bring stability to the practice’s staff and patients
while building resilience and providing reassurance to the local community. This will enable
the ICB to ensure a safe and sustainable GP service is delivered while they work with local
system partners to develop, consider and implement longer term plans for meeting the
ongoing general practice needs of patients.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start date

1 June 2023

End date

31 May 2025

This contract is subject to renewal

No

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

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 three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information

three.1) Conditions for participation

three.1.2) Economic and financial standing

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

three.1.3) Technical and professional ability

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents


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: No

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

10 March 2023

Local time

10:00am

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Duration in months: 4 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

10 March 2023

Local time

10:00am


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.3) Additional information

The Contracting Authority will be using an eTendering system for this procurement exercise.
Further information and the ITT documentation can be found via the ‘Live Opportunities’ list
on the e-tendering system at the following link:

https://health-family-contract-search.secure.force.com/?searchtype=Projects

You can also register your interest via this page.

You can search for the opportunity by entering the following contract reference: C141137: APMS Caretaking Services for Ivel Medical Centre, Biggleswade.

Neither the publication of this notice nor the employment of any particular terminology nor
any other indication shall be taken to mean that the Contracting Authority intends to hold
itself bound by any of the Regulations.

Please see published procurement documentation for further details.

Please note, the deadline for ITT submissions is 10:00am on 10th March 2023.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

The High Court

The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.judiciary.uk/courts-and-tribunals/high-court/