Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
N H S Dorset
Vespasian House,Barrack Road
DORCHESTER
DT11TG
Contact
Andy Squire
Telephone
+44 1305368900
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKK25 - Dorset
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) - Discharges and 'On the Day' Activity
Reference number
C252350/QVV/8F231/PTS/FL/PSRUA/24
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85143000 - Ambulance services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Provision of Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) - Discharges and 'On the Day' Activity service
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: £5,110,158
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK - South West (England)
Main site or place of performance
Dorset
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provision of Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) - Discharges and 'On the Day' Activity service
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:
The contract with current incumbent terminates on the 24th April 2024, earlier than anticipated following a request from the current incumbent. NHS Dorset can issue an NHS contract of their choice to a new provider, in terms of value, model and activity.
Under the new Provider Selection Regime there is an option to evoke the urgent award clause in urgent situations when the requirement does not follow one of the provider selection processes in the Provider Selection Regime Regulations 2023, Part 2 Procurement processes.
NHS Dorset intends to evoke - Regulation 14 - Urgent award or modification 14. (1) (2 a b & c) page 12 as the The Suitable Provider process was considered as it has an element of competition to it but following the eight-step process, even with no challenges it would leave a 5-week mobilisation period. This is not felt to be sufficient and would increase the cost of delivering the service.
This provider already delivers a similar service within the system and therefore recent due diligence exists. Due to the circumstances there was no time to carry out a full procurement process and patient transport is a commissioner requested service and the responsibility of the ICB to commission and the system would fail without a service, leading to potential patient harm. Due to having existing service mobilising a smaller similar service alongside was felt to be achievable in the timescale available.
The reasons why regulation 14 applied:
1. The early termination of the current contract by the current incumbent made the contract award urgent in order to maintain continuity of service
2. This early contract termination was not foreseen as the current incumbent only signed the contract in July 2023 and there was no indication at the time of contract signing that the current incumbent would terminate the contract early.
3. A delay in the award of the contract would likely pose a risk to patient safety
4.Timescales imposed on NHS Dorset by the early termination of the current contract mean NHS Dorset would not be able to satisfy the requirements of The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 regulations 6 to 13
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/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 March 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Health Transportation Group UK Limited
Lincoln
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKK - South West (England)
NHS Organisation Data Service
ODS 8F231
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £5,110,158
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £5,110,158
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS England Independent Patient Choice and Procurement Panel
London
Country
United Kingdom