Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland) ("NSS")
Gyle Square (NSS Head Office), 1 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh
EH12 9EB
Contact
Ope Ore
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.nss.nhs.scot/browse/procurement-and-logistics
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA11883
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
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
NP605223 SMS Smart Messaging Service
Reference number
NP605223
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 64212100 - Short Message Service (SMS) services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The service is currently made available to all NHS Boards and its primary uses are to remind NHS patients via text message to attend clinical appointments and to communicate staff rotas to NHSS employees. NHS Boards collectively sent an average of 4,805,793 fragments per month over the period April 2021 to March 2022. For the corresponding period 2022 / 2023 the average monthly fragment volume increased to 6,870,128.
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: £4,320,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 64212100 - Short Message Service (SMS) services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The service is currently made available to all NHS Boards and its primary uses are to remind NHS patients via text message to attend clinical appointments and to communicate staff rotas to NHSS employees. NHS Boards collectively sent an average of 4,805,793 fragments per month over the period April 2021 to March 2022. For the corresponding period 2022 / 2023 the average monthly fragment volume increased to 6,870,128. All figures quoted are based on a fragment containing 160 characters. 20 NHSS Health Boards currently rely on the SMS service for various business/clinical purposes.
NSS Procurement, Commissioning & Facilities conducted a full procurement to establish a single supplier Agreement for the provision of SMS Services. A mini-competition for the requirement was published via CSS Framework RM6261 Lot2 (Network Services). 8 suppliers are included in this framework but only 1 BT, submitted a bid. This bid was evaluated by the project team and are now seeking approval to renew this contract starting on 15th May 2023. Due to market instability, the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have significantly increased pricing over the past 6 months (all the major UK MNOs are investing in solutions to tackle spam/smishing in order to maintain trust in SMS as a communication channel. The UK MNOs are all focused on closing SIM farms and ensuring the protection of all consumers through activities such as the addition of network firewalls and Spam shields) and as a result this will result in an 11.3% price increase compared to the price paid in the previous 12 months. However, prior to running the mini-competition a PIN was published in October of 2022 and the new price offered by BT (1.79p per fragment) is very competitive when compared to other pricing offered by other suppliers via the PIN. 8 suppliers responded to the PIN including BT. BT also offered the cheapest prices with the closest supplier (Reach Data) at 3% more expensive.
Having been offered a final price by BT the recommendation is to award a 3-year contract.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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:
A mini-competition for the requirement was published via CCS Framework RM6261 Lot2 (Network Services). 8 suppliers are included in this framework but only 1 BT, submitted a bid.
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
Contract No
NP605223
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
1 June 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
British Telecommunications PLC
1 Braham Street
London
E1 8EE
Telephone
+44 7423467436
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
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: £4,320,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £4,320,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as National Services Scotland) (‘the Authority’) acting through its division National Procurement, is undertaking this procurement of Smart Messaging Services on behalf of all entities constituted pursuant to the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978, (i.e. all NHS Scotland Health Boards, Special Health Boards and the Authority or other NHS Organisation established pursuant to the NHS (Scotland) Act 1978), any integrated Joint Boards established pursuant to the new Public Bodies (Joint Working) Scotland Act 2014 (collectively hereafter referred to as ‘Participating Authorities’), where applicable, i.e. Scottish Hospices, Northern Irelands trusts etc..
The estimated values referred to in Section II.I.5 and II.2.6 covers the 36 months contract duration of the framework agreement.
(SC Ref:735754)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court House
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Telephone
+44 1312252525
Country
United Kingdom