Scope
Reference
C336413
Description
The Authority requires the provision of medical assessments in relation to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS). Further information on the scheme can be found here https://www.gov.uk/vaccine-damage-payment/eligibility The services required are for Medical Assessments of the evidence being presented by applicants making a claim under the VDPS. An 'Assessment' is the end-to-end process to assess causation and level of disablement against the medical evidence presented in relation to a Claimant's health condition and/or disability. The Supplier is required to undertake all appropriate action to complete the assessment. This may include gathering evidence from the most appropriate source/reference/expert/specialist to ensure a definitive view can be provided. The Total Contract Value (Estimated) excludes any payments to be made to claimants. Prior Published Notices Under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 a PIN was published and a Pre-Market Engagement exercise was carried out, the links to these are below. Contracts Finder https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e2f6c1cf-228b-439f-a89e-d9f4bdb9af70 Finder a Tender Service https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028151-2023
Total value (estimated)
- £30,000,000 excluding VAT
- £36,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 20 October 2025 to 19 October 2028
- Possible extension to 19 October 2030
- 5 years
Description of possible extension:
2 x up to 12 months
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85120000 - Medical practice and related services
- 85100000 - Health services
- 85121200 - Medical specialist services
- 79420000 - Management-related services
- 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
The final requirements will be set out in the Tender Notice(UK04) and Tender Documents when published (estimated 9th April 2025). These may include: Legal Terms and Conditions - acceptance of Terms Legal GDPR: Please note that all personal data stored and processed under the resulting contract must be done so within the UK. No personal data can be stored, processed or transferred outside of the UK under the resulting contract. Financial: Insurance (to be in place for the commencement of the contract) Financial: Ratios
Technical ability conditions of participation
The final requirements will be set out in the Tender Notice(UK04) and Tender Documents when published (estimated 9th April 2025). These may include: Minimum Qualification for Medical Assessors which will be called out in the Tender Documents. Contract Examples Standards Carbon Reduction Plan as per PPN 06/21
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
28 March 2025
Submission type
Tenders
Deadline for requests to participate
9 May 2025, 11:59am
Submission address and any special instructions
Interested parties are not required to register an interest at this stage. A future Tender Notice (UK04) will be published (estimated 9th April 2025) for interested parties to respond to via the Health Family Portal. In preparation for the future tender interested parties should create an account via https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome Supplier may also wish to register in the Central Digital Platform (CDP). The CDP is an online portal which will make it easier for suppliers to find and bid for contracts, and for buyers to meet their transparency commitments under the Procurement Act 2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-short-guides/suppliers-how-to-register-your-organisation-and-first-administrator-on-find-a-tender-in-three-easy-steps-html
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
25 September 2025
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 9 April 2025
Other information
Payment terms
Invoices submitted to accountspayable@nhsbsa.nhs.uk The Buyer must pay the Supplier the Charges within thirty (30) days of receipt by the Buyer of a valid, undisputed invoice, in cleared funds using the payment method and details stated in the invoice or in the Award Form. A Supplier invoice is only valid if it: includes all appropriate references including this Contract reference number and other details reasonably requested by the Buyer; and includes a detailed breakdown of Delivered Deliverables and Milestone(s) (if any). the date of the invoice; • a unique invoice number; • valid purchase order number as provided by the Buyer; • the period to which the Milestone Charges relate to; • the period to which the Charges relate; • details of the amount being invoiced; • the amount of any disbursements properly chargeable to the Buyer under the terms of the Order Form and Schedule 3 (Charges); and any VAT payable in respect of the same. The Buyer may retain or set-off payment of any amount owed to it by the Supplier under this Contract or any other agreement between the Supplier and the Buyer if notice and reasons are provided. The Supplier must ensure that all Subcontractors are paid, in full, within thirty (30) days of receipt of a valid, undisputed invoice. If this does not happen, the Buyer can publish the details of the late payment or non-payment. The Supplier has no right of set-off, counterclaim, discount or abatement unless they're ordered to do so by a court.
Description of risks to contract performance
The scope and value of the contract may be directly impacted by a number of risks which may materialise during the term of the contract. These include: 1. The variable volume and complexity of claims received by the NHSBSA under the VDPS which require assessment. The volume of claims and subsequently the scope and value of the contract may be impacted as a result and may increase or decrease the estimated scope and contract value stated at the time of publishing the Tender Notice, commencing the procurement process or at Contract Award Stage. 2.Volumes can be impacted by a combination of external factors which the NHSBSA cannot fully control, eg. media coverage, addition of new diseases, and therefore vaccinations, to the Scheme. 3.Future Policy changes and/or changes to the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 may ultimately impact how the services may be are delivered by the supplier e.g. impact on claims volumes and/or requirements. 4. The completion of the Implementation Period is expected to take 6 months to 12 months. The value and scope of the number of assessments completed over the remaining term of the contract may therefore be impacted by the duration of the implementation period. 5. Impacted following another pandemic or increased roll out of vaccines where the vaccine is on VDPS. 6. Changes that come out as recommendations of the Covid Inquiry.
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
The contract will be awarded through a competitive flexible procedure in accordance with section 20(1) and (2)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23). Details of the process is set out below and the final process will be as outlined in the UK04 Tender Notice and associated Tender Documents. Suppliers will be required to complete a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), which will set out the Conditions of Participation. Supplier will be excluded from the Procurement in accordance with Exclusions and Modifications Section 27-30 of the PA2023. Where a Supplier is not an excluded or excludable supplier, the NHSBSA, in accordance with Section 22 of the PA23 will set conditions of participation to ensure suppliers have the legal and financial capacity to perform the contract or the technical ability (qualifications, experience) to perform the contract. Further details are set out the Participation section of this Notice. If a supplier does not satisfy a condition of participation, the NHSBSA may exclude the supplier from participating in, or progressing as part of, the competitive tendering procedure. Those bidders that meet the Conditions of Participation will be invited to the next stage of the procurement. This will include a pre-tender dialogue phase in advance of tenders being submitted. This period of dialogue will be focused primarily on the input costs of the Cost Plus mechanism, in addition to the incentivisation mechanism, and other elements of the pricing approach and payment mechanism, that will be used following the completion of the Implementation Period by the Supplier. NHSBSA will present a draft version of the financial model, incentivisation mechanism, and pricing approach and payment mechanism to be used within the tender documents. This dialogue is intended to agree the input costs, costs that are fixed and those that are variable, in addition to how the model will be structured. Dialogue will also include the pricing approach and payment mechanism including incentivisation. Following the Pre-Tender Dialogue the NHSBSA will update and re-issue the tender documents to all shortlisted suppliers to submit a tender response against. The Pre-Tender dialogue stage will not be used to reduce the number of suppliers who progress to the next stage through a selection process (down selection) (PA23 section 20(4)(a)). The NHSBSA will not be relying on section 24 of the PA 2023 to refine award criteria. There is no minimum or maximum number of suppliers to be taken through to each stage. Only conditions of participation will be used to limit the number of suppliers to enter into a dialogue stage and tenders. The NHSBSA has determined that service could not be reasonably delivered under more than one contract and the contract will not be awarded via lots. The tender will be assessed and awarded using the "most advantageous tender" (PA23 Section 19). The Criteria that will be used to assess the Tenders will be weighted as a percentage of total importance. The assessment methodology will be disclosed within the Tender Notice(UK04) and Tender Documents when published (estimated 9th April 2025.)
Contracting authority
NHS Business Services Authority
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PRLZ-1599-JGTT
Stella House, Goldcrest Way, Newburn Riverside
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE15 8NY
United Kingdom
Contact name: Commercial Services
Email: commercialservicesteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
Website: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/
Region: UKC22 - Tyneside
Organisation type: Public authority - central government