Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER
PARKGATE ROAD
CHESTER
CH1 4BJ
Contact
Procurement Services
Telephone
+44 1244512395
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Oxford Medical Simulation (OMS) VR Platform Licenses
Reference number
2022-Mar-V-01
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 48100000 - Industry specific software package
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The University of Chester has been awarded funding from Health Education England for the OMS VR Platform for 5 years.
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: £530,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The University of Chester has been awarded grant funding from Health Education England ("HEE") for the OMS VR Platform for 5 years. Using the OMS platform clinicians have the opportunity to manage patients in a safe and secure learning environment, learning from their experiences to optimise decision-making, critical thinking and clinical reasoning. This evidence-based approach aligns with NHS policies and procedures to improve the confidence and competence of medical students and practitioners.
Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology and, in medical education, is in its infancy. Oxford Medical Simulation (OMS) have created a medical education and training platform that delivers learning using unique, engaging, immersive and interactive methods. It is specifically designed to translate theory to practice to influence patient care.
OMS are named in the HEE grant agreement.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract can be extended following the agreement of both parties
two.2.14) Additional information
The University intends to contract with OMS for a 5 year period and is publishing its intention in this regard via this VEAT notice to maximise transparency and to confirm the process to be followed.
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:
- protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights
- Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting authority
Explanation:
Grant funding for this contract has been provided by HEE which has strict conditions with regards to:
- timelines by which the funding provided has to be spent. This requires full utilisation of the investment by 31st March 2022.
- Compliance with the terms of the grant funding; including sums to be spent with named suppliers.
Any delay in awarding this contract would risk HEE withdrawing funding from University of Chester. Failure to adhere to the grant funding terms would also entail clawback.
Virtual reality is an emerging immersive technology in medical training. OMS has been created by clinicians for clinicians. The platform provides training to healthcare professionals in a unique and interactive way allowing learners to practice and learn from their mistakes ina way that is safe and supported.
The OMS Platform has been trialed by several other HEE regions and is now being adopted more widely as an everyday teaching tool. Additionally, OMS was selected as one of only 12 companies to be part of the NHS Innovation Accelerator in 2021, after undergoing a rigorous evaluation process. This initiative supports high-impact, evidence-based innovations to scale within the NHS - which provides a further level of evaluation.
Health Education England detailed the Oxford Medical Simulation platform in their grant confirmation of funding letter issued to the University of Chester on 9th March 2022, creating an exclusive right.
As a result, University of Chester believes that Public. Contracts Regulations 2015, Regulation 32(2) applies.
Regulation 32(2) states:
"The negotiated procedures without prior publication may be used for public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts in any of the following cases:-
(b) where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator for any of the following reasons:-
(ii) competition is absent for technical reasons,
(iii) the protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights,
(c) insofar as is strictly necessary where, for reasons of extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the contracting authority, the time limits for the open or restricted
procedures or competitive procedures with negotiation cannot be complied with."
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
2022-Mar-V-01
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
15 March 2022
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
Oxford Medical Simulation
201 Borough High Street
London
SE1 1JA
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £530,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
University of Chester
Chester
Country
United Kingdom