Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Health Education England
1st Floor, Blenheim House, Duncombe Street
Leeds
LS1 4PL
Contact
Ms Leila Hodson
Telephone
+44 7392273769
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://procontract.due-north.com/Opportunities/Index?p=40bb618e-0a24-e611-8114-000c29c9ba21&v=2
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://procontract.due-north.com/Opportunities/Index?p=40bb618e-0a24-e611-8114-000c29c9ba21&v=2
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
Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Echocardiography (Echocardiography Training Programme administered by the NSHCS)
Reference number
DN539431
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
HEE and the NSHCS would like to develop and implement this programme to run alongside and be accredited and commissioned in the same way as the existing HCS programmes, and would like to invite Expressions of Interest/Tenders from Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) or equivalent who would like to deliver the Academic content.
Following the Richards Report and in response to the Long term plan, HEE intends to implement the Post Graduate certificate in Echocardiography as an 18 month salary supported programme of the NSHCS starting in October 2021.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80300000 - Higher education services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
In line with the NHS People plan and Long term plan and the Richards report, the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) have recognised the need to develop alternative routes to qualifying as a clinical scientist. The Echocardiography Training Programme (ETP) has been developed, as a pathway that will respond more rapidly to the urgent workforce needs for Cardiac Physiologists able to independently operate as echocardiographers. The Cardiac Physiology workforce has grown as result of the Scientific Training Programme (STP), however, the demand for Cardiac Physiologists remains high, with a current estimated shortfall of 663 WTE.
The workforce shortfall represents a major risk to delivery of the people plan, particularly for waiting time targets in diagnosis and follow up of cardiovascular disease and cancer pathways, and the further development of 7-day services and delivery of Echocardiography in primary care. Currently 86% of patients diagnosed with cardiomyopathy have their echocardiogram in hospital, while only 10% are diagnosed by Echocardiography in the community – a large increase in access and delivery could offer significant improvements in speed of diagnosis and cost savings.
The ETP was run as a small pilot in 2020 and all indications to date are that it is welcomed by the workforce and is working well.
The pilot represents an accelerated pathway for Cardiac Physiologists to gain BSE Accreditation to enable them to work autonomously to meet the current workforce needs. The need for this course is urgent as the ability of training places is already extremely limited due to shortage of staffing and competing demands (delivering service, training Medical Staff, commitments to other areas of Cardiac Diagnostic department).This course is unique in offering an integrated programme to deliver both the Academic content leading to a Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Echocardiography and work place training, building on successful elements of the STP including Echocardiography modules, Accreditation of departments and support for trainees and training officers, kick-starting the hands-on skills by utilising a simulator – research has shown this can significantly increase skills in the early learning phase.
HEE and the NSHCS would like to develop and implement this programme to run alongside and be accredited and commissioned in the same way as the existing HCS programmes, and would like to invite Expressions of Interest/Tenders from Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) or equivalent who would like to deliver the Academic content.
Following the Richards Report and in response to the Long term plan, HEE intends to implement the Post Graduate certificate in Echocardiography as an 18 month salary supported programme of the NSHCS starting in October 2021.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,250,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
36
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Option to extend for a further 2 years, subject to an annual review of service need and budget availability.
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 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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
24 May 2021
Local time
12:20pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
24 May 2021
Local time
1:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: There is the possibility that this could be a recurrent procurement.
As such this will be advertised following the near completion of this contract.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court
London
Country
United Kingdom