Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS England
Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Rd,
London
SE1 8UG
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI - London
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
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
Prison to Community Specialist Clinical Pathways Service
Reference number
C319347
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS England South West (the Commissioner) launched a pilot scheme to improve the transition of individuals from prison into community-based support services. The pilot phase was developed in close collaboration with prison healthcare services, criminal justice agencies, local authorities, and other relevant organisations. The initiative focused on specialist clinical pathways, aiming to enhance continuity of care and reduce reoffending risks.
To continue this work, NHS England South West has commissioned the Prison to Community Specialist Clinical Pathways service for 2025-26.
The Commissioner intends to contract for the Services using the latest version of the NHS Standard Contract. The total contract value is £893,000, over the 1 year period which will commence on 1st April 2025.
This notice is placed to set out NHS England South West's (the Commissioner's) intention to award a contract under the Most Suitable Provider Process of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
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: £893,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK - South West (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS England South West has commissioned the Prison to Community Specialist Clinical Pathways service for 2025-26, which consists of two key elements:
1. Enhanced Reconnect (ER) - A psychologically led service providing complex case management for individuals transitioning from prison into existing community services. ER focuses on those considered to present a particularly high risk due to serious violent, sexual, or terrorism-related offences.
2. Medication to Manage Sexual Arousal Service (MMSA) - A service offering assessment and prescribing of medication to help individuals manage problematic sexual arousal and sexual preoccupation. MMSA is offered to individuals convicted of sexual offences, with the aim of improving their well-being.
A notice (ref. 2024/S 000-039051) was published for 14 days informing the market of the intention to follow the Most Suitable Provider Process. The Commissioner sought a provider/s who were suitable and capable to continue the delivery of this work.
To express an interest, providers were required to complete and submit a short Most Suitable Provider Questionnaire through the Atamis portal.
Three providers submitted an expression of interest in being considered as the most suitable provider.
A Request for Information (RfI) was then sent to these three providers seeking the return of further information to support the Commissioner's assessment.
Two of the interested suppliers did not submit the requested information and as such, were deemed 'not assured', resulting them in not being nominated as the most suitable provider to deliver this service.
Devon Partnership Trust (DPT) submitted a response to the RfI and after conducting an assessment, taking into account the key criteria and applying the basic selection criteria, NHS England South West is content that DPT will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard.
The Commissioner intends to contract for the Services using the latest version of the NHS Standard Contract. The contract term will be for a duration of 1 year, and will commence on 1st April 2025. The total contract value is £893,000.
This notice is placed to set out NHS England South West's (the Commissioner's) intention to award a contract under the Most Suitable Provider Process of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
This is a new service being awarded to a provider delivering the existing pilot service.
This exercise was carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Most suitable provider process with regard to the key criteria / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 20
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. 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 on 1st April 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
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
19 March 2025
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
Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Wonford House, Dryden Road
Exeter
EX2 5AF
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKK - South West (England)
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £893,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £893,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The decision to award this contract in line with the Most Suitable Provider Process was based on evaluation against the basic selection criteria, which were assessed on a "Pass" / "Fail" basis, and the 5 key criteria (see below), which were assessed on an "Assured" / "Not assured" basis. The key criteria were weighted equally.
Assessment of the provider was based on the evidence available through the commissioners existing knowledge, as well as further information that was requested as part of the MSP process. DPT attained a "pass" on all elements of the basic selection criteria and "assured" on all elements of the key criteria assessment, meeting the requirements of the assessment.
Award decisions have been recommended by the NHS England Planning & Contracts Lead, Health & Justice Commissioning Team. Award decisions have been made by the NHS England South West System Oversight & Co-ordination Leadership Team, with key decision makers being
Managing Director - System Commissioning Development, Director of Commissioning Finance, Director of Collaborative Commissioning.
No conflicts of interest were declared.
The key criteria for review were as follows:
a. Quality and innovation
i. Provider to give an example of an improvement in care delivery relevant to the service(s) that they have implemented within the last three years
ii. Evidence of robust clinical governance and safeguarding policies for the service, including arrangements for effective governance around Forensic Psychiatry.
b. Value
i. Assurance that the provider will be able to meet all of the requirements of the service over the life of the contract within the stated annual and overall financial envelope
ii. Assurance of the provider's financial planning and resilience, including the management of financial risk.
c. Integration, collaboration and service sustainability
i. Evidence of collaborative working and integrated delivery within the clinical service pathway within the geographical areas of the South West, including with prison providers and prison healthcare providers.
ii. Review of provider workforce structure for this contract, including Forensic Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology.
iii. Evidence of recruitment, retention and training strategies.
d. Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice
i. Evidence of the provider's understanding of the stakeholders they will need to work with to deliver a high-quality service.
ii. Health inequalities reporting and evidence of improvement.
e. Social value
i. Evidence that the provider over the last five years has taken measures to reduce their carbon emissions and/or contributed to the local community with recruitment opportunities and career development
ii. Evidence of staff wellbeing policy.
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. 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 on 1st April 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: scwcsu.procurement@nhs.net
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS England
London
Country
United Kingdom