Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board
Aspen House, Stephenson Road, Severalls Business Park
Colchester
CO4 9QR
Contact
Jane Garnett
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH34 - Essex Haven Gateway
NHS Organisation Data Service
QJG
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://suffolkandnortheastessex.icb.nhs.uk/
Buyer's address
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/snee-icb/aspx/Home
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
Suffolk Night Owls
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
A local 7 nights a week emotional support helpline for registered service users including via text and email for registered people with complex needs. This includes those with a diagnosis of Personality Disorder or who present with behaviours typical of such conditions. The service responds to requests to callbacks offering booked and timed appointments in-bound and outbound calls, and registered users can email and text. A twenty minute slot is allocated and where necessary the helpline staff will make onward professional referrals/contacts including safeguarding.
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: £176,800
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH14 - Suffolk
Main site or place of performance
This service covers Ipswich and East Suffolk and West Suffolk Alliance only.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
A local 7 nights a week emotional support helpline for registered service users including via text and email for registered people with complex needs. This includes those with a diagnosis of Personality Disorder or who present with behaviours typical of such conditions. The service responds to requests to callbacks offering booked and timed appointments in-bound and outbound calls, and registered users can email and text. A twenty minute slot is allocated and where necessary the helpline staff will make onward professional referrals/contacts including safeguarding.
• The service runs 7 nights a week from 6.30pm - 1.00am with calls being taken between 7.00pm and 1.00am.
• The services offer time limited number of calls of approximately 20 minutes to offer support but with boundaries required for people with complex needs.
• There are approximately 1300 people registered with 770 having not accessed the service to date with approx. 80 regular people in contact with the service. Some are in daily contact through to those with monthly contact.
• The calls are RAG rated with the majority being amber rated, with a few being red rated.
• Staff training includes: Helpline Training; Suicide prevention; Risk Assessment and Management; Safeguarding; KUF and MHFA.
- Two trained helpline staff working from 6.30pm to 1.00am manning the incoming calls, ansaphone, emails and texts throughout the night. RAG rating and prioritising calls.
- The staff on the helpline shall:
• Support the client with their immediate crisis and assist them to develop strategies to deal with life events and gain insight regarding their mental wellbeing.
• Suggest techniques for reducing anxiety and negative thoughts.
• Focus on keeping the client safe and encouraging them to develop self-help strategies and resilience.
• Signpost to the relevant service if deemed necessary when the call is ending, and the caller has not been de-escalated.
• Call in the emergency services if required.
The contract will last one year, and this will provide continuity of care for the registered clients.
An external review will take place of all available services for clients to access, and alternative options or recommissioning will be considered based on the findings of the review. No extension has been planned for this service.
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board are awarding the contract named within this notice under the Direct Award C process which is outlined within the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The provider named in this notice is an existing provider and has been reviewed through a Key Criteria assessment to ensure the awarding body is satisfied with current performance and reasonably expects the provider to be able to satisfy the contract which is the subject of this notice. The contract which is the subject of this notice has not changed considerably when compared with the existing / previous contract delivered by the named provider.
The ICB may wish to introduce additional services during the lifetime of the contract ("Contract modifications"). Such contract modifications will be contemplated where additional requirements are similar and or complementary to the services already included in the Specification, at any given time. Such expansion would be by the addition of services commissioned by the Authority as named in the Contract Notice. To this end, after the award of contract, there is a possibility that the contract may be varied as allowable in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 0
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 the 1st May 2024 (8 working days following publication of intention to award notice). They should be submitted in writing to procurement@snee.nhs.uk.
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
Award decision makers: NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Executive Committee.
No conflicts of interest, or potential conflicts of interest, were declared by any decision makers.
SNEE ICB are assured that the provider is delivering value to the integrated care system and the cost of change would not be outweighed by the potential benefit of a new provider. The cost envelope for this service has not altered since 2019 and SNEE are assured by Suffolk Mind that they can continue for a further year with the same value (NHS equivalent inflationary uplift included).
Client feedback has been evident and currently fills a gap in provision including assistance in reducing the use of higher acuity services. The current provider has delivered the service satisfactorily for several years, utilises employment of local people and has been sustainable and reliable.
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
Title
Suffolk Night Owls
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
29 January 2024
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
Suffolk Mind
26 High Road West
Felixstowe
IP11 9JB
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH14 - Suffolk
Companies House
02611510
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £176,800
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board
Aspen House, Stephenson Road, Severalls Business Park
Colchester
CO4 9QR
Country
United Kingdom