Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board
Charter House Parkway
Welwyn Garden City
AL8 6JL
Telephone
+44 1442284135
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/
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
Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This is a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice and as such provides notification of the intention of the Authority to enter into a contract for the Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) to be provided to the population of West Essex (and Essex wide) by the incumbent provider, Primary Eyecare Services Limited.
The new contract is intended to begin on 1st April 2024 and end on 31st March 2026 with the option to extend for a further 12 months. The value of the new contract is £1,086,480 (excl. VAT). Please note that these are expected values and may be amended post contract finalisation with the provider.
The service has been in place since 1st April 2021 and has a total cumulative value of approximately £920,455 (excluding the value of this new contract).
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: £1,086,480
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH23 - Hertfordshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice and as such provides notification of the intention of the Authority to enter into a contract for the Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) to be provided to the population of West Essex (and Essex wide) by the incumbent provider, Primary Eyecare Services Limited.
The new contract is intended to begin on 1st April 2024 and end on 31st March 2026 with the option to extend for a further 12 months. The value of the new contract is £1,086,480 (excl. VAT). Please note that these are expected values and may be amended post contract finalisation with the provider.
The service has been in place since 1st April 2021 and has a total cumulative value of approximately £920,455 (excluding the value of this new contract).
Primary Eyecare Services Limited provide the following Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) pathways of care for West Essex Place patients:
• Advice and guidance to health care professionals with regard to the MEC service
• Telephone and face-to-face triage to ensure patients are suitable for the MEC service and to assess urgency of treatment required
• Patient advice and education
• Full diagnostic service and management of results
• Appropriate treatment for the diagnosed clinical condition
• One stop shop approach where appropriate
• Timely onward referrals when clinically necessary
• Make appropriate recommendations for medication in line with the agreed formulary
• Planned discharge with guidance for continuing self-care
• Follow up where clinically necessary
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Option to extend for a further year from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2027
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
In line with best practice, the Authority will observe a voluntary 10-day standstill period prior to concluding the proposed contract with Primary Eyecare Services Limited.
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
- New works/services, constituting a repetition of existing works/services
Explanation:
Rationale to explain why the proposed contracting arrangements can only be delivered by the existing provider:
• The supplier/provider for the MECS is being sought from is Primary EyeCare Services, they are the non-profit organisation of the Essex LOC (Local Ophthalmology Community)
• The model is an optometrist-led model delivered by the local optometrists through sub-contractual arrangements with Primary EyeCare Services
• PES are the only provider who can deliver this as it’s a coordinating role through which no other provider has those existing arrangements in place with the local optometrists
• An alternative provider could not deliver the service as the local optometrists are unlikely to engage with an alternative provider given their relationship with PES
• Without a provider to deliver that coordinating role with those existing arrangements, the optometrist-led model could not be delivered
• An alternative model for the service is not being considered as it has achieved significant benefits as demonstrated by the outcomes achieved
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
1 April 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
PRIMARY EYECARE SERVICES LIMITED
Waulk Mill [2.3] 51 Bengal Street, Manchester, England
Manchester
M4 6LN
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
National registration number
06722353
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: £1,086,480
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,086,480
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of Justice for England and Wales
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom