Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS England
Three-Six-Zero - 360, Marlborough Street
Bristol
BS1 3NX
Contact
Hannah Morley
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK11 - Bristol, City of
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/
Buyer's address
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
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
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
NHS England South West - Market Engagement - Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes for Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire (BNSSG)
Reference number
WA13997
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to facilitate engagement with potential providers and relates only to pre-procurement market engagement.
NHS England South West (The Commissioner) seeks to re-commission five Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes (DESP) to deliver screening to the eligible populations in the below geographies:
- Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
- Devon
- Somerset
- Gloucestershire
- Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG)
Consideration is being given to procuring separate contracts, subject to the outcome of market and stakeholder engagement.
The Commissioner invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced providers to provide the services in line with strict national standards and guidelines.
The contracts are due to commence on 1st April 2024.
The contract values have not been finalised. However, the current annual contract values for 2022/2023, based upon achieving the minimum acceptable 75% uptake, are provided below for indicative purposes:
• Cornwall and Isles of Scilly £1,028,930
• Devon £2,214,103
• Somerset £1,036,922
• Gloucestershire £1,092,286
• BNSSG £1,420,622
These values are subject to change depending on the financial mechanism adopted for these contracts and due to the finance and business rules in the NHS Operating Framework. The contract values could also reduce during the contract term owing to the anticipated national changes to screening frequency for low risk individuals.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please register on the e-procurement system, Atamis (details at the end of this notice), and submit a completed provider market engagement questionnaire by 12 noon 27th April 2023.
This exercise is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner(s).
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK - South West (England)
Main site or place of performance
Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire (BNSSG)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to facilitate engagement with potential providers and relates only to pre-procurement market engagement.
NHS England South West (The Commissioner) seeks to re-commission five Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes (DESP) to deliver screening to the eligible populations in the below geographies:
- Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
- Devon
- Somerset
- Gloucestershire
- Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG)
Consideration is being given to procuring separate contracts, subject to the outcome of market and stakeholder engagement.
The eligible population includes patients over the age of 12 diagnosed with diabetes and registered with, or eligible to be registered with a GP, as well as individuals within prisons, secure units and the armed forces.
The aim of the DESP is to reduce the risk of sight loss amongst people with diabetes by the prompt identification and effective treatment, if necessary, of sight threatening diabetic retinopathy.
This will be achieved by delivering an evidence-based service that:
• Identifies the eligible population and ensures effective delivery with maximum coverage
• Is safe, effective, high quality, externally and independently monitored, and quality assured
• Leads to earlier detection, appropriate referral, effective treatment and improved outcomes
• Is delivered and supported by suitably trained, competent and qualified clinical and non-clinical staff who, where relevant, participate in recognised ongoing continuing medical education (CME), continuous professional development (CPD) and quality assurance (QA) schemes
• Has audit embedded in the service
• Works effectively with other stakeholders to ensure the care pathway is smooth and efficient.
There are three key elements of service delivery, namely:
• Call/recall for all people with diabetes invited for routine digital screening - this is currently undertaken on an annual basis, but screening intervals are likely to extend to two years for people at low risk during the contract term in line with national guidance
• Digital surveillance where individuals need more frequent screening
• Slit lamp bio-microscopy (SLB) for those individuals where normal photography is inappropriate (e.g. those having cataracts).
Further information on the DESP is available at;
https://www.gov.uk/topic/population-screening-programmes/diabetic-eye
The contracts are due to commence on 1st April 2024.
The contract values have not been finalised. However, the current annual contract values for 2022/2023, based upon achieving the minimum acceptable 75% uptake, are provided below for indicative purposes:
• Cornwall and Isles of Scilly £1,028,930
• Devon £2,214,103
• Somerset £1,036,922
• Gloucestershire £1,092,286
• BNSSG £1,420,622
These values are subject to change depending on the financial mechanism adopted for these contracts and due to the finance and business rules in the NHS Operating Framework. The contract values could also reduce during the contract term owing to the anticipated national changes to screening frequency for low risk individuals.
The Commissioner seeks responses to a market engagement questionnaire, the aim of which is to determine the level of provider interest in this opportunity and obtain feedback from the market to help inform re-commissioning. This may be followed by a pre-procurement market briefing event, though arrangements are being confirmed. Details of any event undertaken, including confirmed date/s, will be provided to those who express an interest.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please register on the e-procurement system, Atamis (details at the end of this notice), and submit a completed provider market engagement questionnaire by 12 noon 27th April 2023.
The Services will be commissioned using the national service specification for DESP Services. The 2023/2024 national service specification, including Schedules 4 and 6 is available within the Atamis system. Some local tailoring is likely to be made to these documents and published as part of the final procurement documentation.
This exercise is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner(s).
two.2.14) Additional information
The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but are instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
7 June 2023
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right, and therefore publication or response does not commit NHS England or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. NHS England will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise.
Interested providers will be able to view this opportunity via the live opportunities list on the 'Health Family' e-procurement system, Atamis. Click on 'View our Live Opportunities' from the home page, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome.
Once you have found the opportunity (via the search function, using the title or reference number), to gain full access, you will need to click on 'Register interest' - this will take you to the log-in page.
To register an expression of interest, you will also need to complete, attach and return the Market Engagement Questionnaire via the messaging function on Atamis. Expressions of interest must be received by no later than 12 noon 27th April 2023.
If you are not already registered on the system, you will need to do so before gaining full access to the documentation and to be able to submit your expression of interest / market engagement questionnaire.
The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but are instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).
Any future tendering process will be conducted in accordance with the requirements and flexibilities provided by Articles 74 to 76 of the Directive, and Regulations 74 to 76 of the Regulations. The Authority will run a transparent tender process, treating all Bidders equally. For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority will not be bound by the Regulations or any other regulations or legislation except for the specific parts or circumstances that apply to the procurement of these Services.
Neither the inclusion of a Bidder selection stage, nor the use of any language or terms found in the Directive or Regulations, nor the description of the procedure voluntarily adopted by the Authority ("Open", "Restricted", "Competitive Procedure with Negotiation", "Competitive Dialogue" or any other description), nor any other indication, shall be taken to mean that the Authority intends to hold itself bound by the Directive or Regulations, save by the provisions applicable to services coming within the scope of Annex XIV of the Directive / Schedule 3 of the Regulations.