Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, 2nd Floor Woodland House, Maes Y Coed Road, Heath
Cardiff
CF14 4HH
Telephone
+44 02921834657
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.procurement.wales.nhs.uk
Buyer's address
http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0221
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
HCV "Follow Me" project roll out
Reference number
CAV-STA (23-24) 28
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85323000 - Community health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have a requirement to award contract to Hepatitis C Trust to continue the Follow Me project activities that are contracted until the end of May 2023. The CAV Area Planning Board have agreed to commission the service as part of its Welsh Government Revenue Grant core funding. Thus, ensuring the HCT continues to work alongside commissioned Substance Misuse Services and associated partners to enhance activities aimed at preventing, diagnosis of HCV infections and linkage to treatment and care. This funding will allow seamless continuation of the Follow Me programme which has been successful since the adaptation of the HCT Peer to Peer support programme that has been delivered since 2010. During this time HCT has garnered and built substantial expertise. A robust induction and training package enables peers to access additional skills and an accredited qualification. Regular supervision, one to one support and regular service user feedback ensures the level of skills are monitored and maintained.
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: £300,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKL22 - Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
In response to this the Hepatitis C Trust (HCT) have been successful in developing and implementing projects across the UK, designed to support diagnostic testing and linkage to care of HCV in a variety of settings. This includes a Follow Me Project which sees the deployment of peer support workers (with lived experience of HCV) to settings and services working with high prevalence communities to carry out testing for viral hepatitis. This resulting in individuals being given appropriate advice on reducing the risk of onward transmission, signposted to an appropriate service for further intervention, supported in attending the service and supported through treatment. This peer-based intervention has been designed to improve access to testing and treatment and deliver effective treatments to these high prevalent groups with all of the associated benefits including improved individual health, reduced morbidity and mortality, reduced transmission and reduced need for expensive health care and utilisation of scarce resource.
Despite the outcomes and progress achieved to date, limitations made to National Liver Disease Implementation Group funding has not permitted further extensions to the HCT national contract, and continuation of Follow Me Project activities beyond May 2023. In order to prevent loss of progress, maintenance of peer networks and ensure continuation of service the CAV Area Planning Board have agreed to commission the service as part of its Welsh Government Revenue Grant core funding. Thus, ensuring the HCT continues to work alongside commissioned Substance Misuse Services and associated partners to enhance activities aimed at preventing, diagnosis of HCV infections and linkage to treatment and care. As part of this commission it is expected the service would continue to deliver the following activities (but not limited to):
Delivery of specialist training, awareness raising workshops across APB partner services.
Consult and offer specialist advice to APB partner services on enhancing current BBV diagnosis and treatment pathways.
Undertake community testing events .
Undertake routine testing on those most at risk.
Supporting those with a HCV diagnosis into treatment, including those lost to follow up.
Support local HCV Clinical Nurse Specialists find and follow up patients.
In addition to the above, it is intended the HCT Follow Me Project team (Project Coordinator and Peer Support Lead) would continue to develop its network of volunteer peers across Cardiff and Vale UHB, as highlighted above, to support delivery of workshop activities and directly engage clients of relevant services into testing and treatment where needed. This work would require the project Peer Coordinator supported by the Hepatitis C Trust (HCT) Regional Manager to continue in its development and maintenance of local partnerships across the Health Board and explore opportunities for the project to be scaled up, expanded, and supported through existing services.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: 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 Hepatitis C Trust is the national charity for hepatitis C. Operational since 2001, their aim is to ensure no one dies from this preventable and treatable disease, and it is eliminated from the UK.
As a patient-led organisation the HCT have been established by people with lived experience of hepatitis C, and their working model has always been to put patients and the patient experience at the centre of their work. Their peer-to-peer work is core to this model. Their main points of contact in the early days of their work were through their website, helpline, both of which were, and still are, ran by peers with lived experience of hepatitis C – peers who offer advice and support by drawing on their own expertise and personal experiences. Today, while their website and helpline are still thriving, they offer an extensive peer-to-peer programme across the UK, with 140 staff and peer volunteers.
Their programme has evolved to meet the current needs of patients and the changing landscape of health service delivery through the UK. This has been fundamental to reaching those who face the most challenges accessing services.
In May 2016 the UK signed up to the Work Health Organisation (WHO) goal to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. Since then the HCT’s peer support work has been instrumental in assisting many of England’s Operational Delivery Network (ODN) in overcoming barriers necessary to effectively meeting these targets.
Currently no other single supplier exists which is able to provide the level of specialist knowledge and expertise that is required to this contract
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
CAV-STA (23-24) 28
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
22 May 2023
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
The Hepatitis C Trust
72 Weston Street
London
SE13QG
Telephone
+44 7792949370
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £300,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Please note additional information on this procurement:
1. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to award the contract in whole, in part or annul the tendering process and not award any contract.
2. Bidders should note that they will be required to enter into NHS terms and conditions of contract and that save for matters of clarification or consistency the Contracting Authority will not negotiate the terms.
3. Bidders should note that NHS Shared Services Partnership - Procurement Services is acting on behalf of Cardiff and Vale UHB
(WA Ref:131770)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Public Procurement Review Service
Cabinet Office
London
publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 3450103503
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The Authority will allow a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period between notifying the award decision and awarding the contract. Should additional information be required from the addressee in section 1.1 Aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by breach of the procurement rules have the right to take action in the High Court (England and Wales). Any such action is subject to strict time limits in accordance with the Public Contracts (Amendments) Regulations 2015.