Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKD63 - Cheshire West and Chester
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
The eligible users of the proposed framework agreement are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at: www.nhssourcing.co.uk
UK
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract involves joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
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
National Flexible Framework for the provision of On-Site Surgical and Medical Capacity Solutions
Reference number
F/044/OSMCS/21/IB
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85111000 - Hospital services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The NHS is facing a period of intense pressure to reduce waiting lists. Trusts are looking towards innovative solutions to help reduce their referral to treatment times and increase efficiency through better utilisation of their existing facilities.
NHS Trusts may find it difficult to meet referral to treatment (RTT) targets due to lack of capacity. Locum staff can fill gaps but Trusts still need to manage the patient pathway which may not be possible outside normal hours (e.g. evenings & weekends). On-site Surgical and Medical Capacity Solutions (sometime known as “Insourcing”) will act in a complementary way to partially or totally manage the Pathway for referred Patients.
This Framework Agreement will facilitate maximisation of in-house capacity to a level that the Participating Authorities can reduce the need for additional mobile facilities and outsourcing. At the same time, in-patient and out-patient waiting times will be reduced, referrals will be expedited, service quality will be improved and patient satisfaction will be positively impacted.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s Commercial Procurement Service seeks to introduce a new, flexible commercial Framework Agreement which will allow UK public bodies to procure on-site surgical and medical capacity solutions. This will enable Participating Authorities to act quickly in realising efficiencies.
The services in scope of this procurement process are healthcare services which fall under ‘social and other specific services’ in Section 7 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (‘PCR’) (as amended). In accordance with Regulation 76 PCR, the process is to set up a framework agreement and will follow a procedure similar to the open procedure. However, the Framework Manager and the contracting authorities using the framework are only bound by the parts of the PCR that specifically apply to social and other specific services.
For the avoidance of doubt, the rules that apply to the open procedure under Regulation 27 and framework agreements under Regulation 33 do not apply to this procurement. All providers that meet the minimum requirements set out under the procurement process will be appointed to the framework agreement. There will be no maximum number of providers appointed.
As previously advertised in Contract Notice 2021/S 000-014621 the Framework will be re-opened to new applicants annually, approximately 90 days before the anniversary of the Framework Commencement Date. Previously appointed Suppliers will NOT be obliged to re-apply on an annual basis. Framework Suppliers appointed on the first anniversary of the Framework Commencement Date will be awarded a Framework Agreement of up to 3 years duration; Framework Suppliers appointed on the second anniversary of the Framework Commencement Date will be awarded a Framework Agreement of up to 2 years duration and Framework Suppliers appointed on the third anniversary of the Framework Commencement Date will be awarded a Framework Agreement of up to 1 year duration.
The ITT process will be as described in this document. New appointments to the Framework will commence on each anniversary of the Framework Commencement Date.
This ITT concerns the second re-opening of the Framework to new applicants.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £816,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The overall aims of the Services are to provide NHS Organisations with fully compliant solutions which supplement the delivery of patient care by NHS Organisations in line with the NHS’ core Key Performance Indicators and standards including but not limited to:
• A&E 4 hour wait targets;
• elective 18 week Referral to Treatment targets;
• cancelled procedures targets;
• bed availability and utilisation targets;
• timely and appropriate diagnostic testing targets;
• urgent 2 week GP referral rules for suspected cancer; and
• any core targets and standards introduced over the term of this framework.
The Services will aim:
• To provide high quality support that can be called upon at relatively short notice.
• To prevent inappropriate waiting times for patients and assist NHS Organisations in meeting national targets and guidelines.
• To enable delivery of a Patient Pathway from referral to treatment that removes unnecessary delay in treatment.
• To deliver treatment that is safe and effective in facilities that are owned and operated by an NHS Organisation (that is to deliver an “insourcing” service).
• To establish a positive working relationship between an NHS Organisation and the Supplier to facilitate and maximise service delivery, the emphasis being on timely, quality, cost effective, evidence-based care, with appropriate clinical protocols and audit where possible.
• To provide medical, nursing or other staff as a part of the Services to perform clinical and support activities, including therapies and administration.
• To help Trusts to avoid unnecessary, inappropriate primary and secondary referrals.
• To provide tailored audit and review processes with national and locally agreed Key Performance Indicators.
The Services will cover the full range of Surgical and Medical specialties and sub-specialities, including but not limited to:
• Surgical specialties
o Cardiothoracic
o General
o Neurosurgery
o Oral & maxillofacial (including minor oral surgery)
o Ophthalmic
o Otolaryngology (ENT)
o Paediatric
o Plastic
o Trauma & orthopaedic
o Urology
o Vascular
• Medical specialties
o Anaesthesia
o Clinical oncology
o Clinical radiology
o Emergency medicine
o Intensive care medicine
o Medicine
o Acute internal medicine
o Allergy
o Audiovestibular medicine
o Cardiology
o Clinical Genetics
o Clinical neurophysiology
o Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
o Dermatology
o Endocrinology and diabetes
o Gastroenterology
o General internal medicine
o Genitourinary medicine
o Geriatric medicine
o Immunology
o Infectious diseases
o Medical oncology
o Medical ophthalmology
o Neurology
o Nuclear Medicine
o Otolaryngology (ENT)
o Palliative medicine
o Pharmaceutical medicine
o Rehabilitation medicine
o Renal medicine
o Respiratory medicine
o Rheumatology
o Sport and exercise medicine
o Stroke medicine
o Tropical medicine
o Obstetrics and gynaecology
o Occupational medicine
o Ophthalmology
o Paediatrics
o Paediatric cardiology
o Paediatrics
o Pathology
o Chemical pathology
o Haematology
o Histopathology
o Medical microbiology and virology
o Psychiatry
o Child and adolescent psychiatry
o Forensic psychiatry
o General psychiatry
o Liaison psychiatry
o Medical psychotherapy
o Old age psychiatry
o Psychiatry of intellectual disability
The Supplier will offer managed solutions covering full or partial Patient Pathways (e.g. outpatients, diagnostics, surgery, ward, administration). The extent to which the Supplier manages Patient Pathways will be agreed with the NHS Organisation and described in the Call Off Contract Project Specification. Any prescribing requirement will be agreed with the NHS Organisation and described in the Call Off Contract Specification.
The Services may include Patient Pathway management tools, such as digital pathway management and digital triage solutions.
The Services may include the sourcing by the Supplier of additional high quality capital equipment and/or infrastructure upgrades.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £816,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
24
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: Yes
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 three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with several operators
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2021/S 000-014621
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
25 July 2023
Local time
2:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
27 July 2023
Local time
2:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
Supplier instructions how to express interest and bid:
1) Browse to the esourcing portal https://www.nhssourcing.co.uk and click on view current opportunities;
2) Register your organisation on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once);
3) Accept the portal terms and conditions and click 'continue', enter your organisation and user details; note the username you chose and click 'Save' when complete; you will shortly receive an e-mail with your unique password (please keep this secure);
4) Login to the portal with the username/password;
5) Click the 'PQQs/ITTs Open To All Suppliers' link. (These are pre-qualification
questionnaires or invitations to tender open to any registered supplier);
6) Select the title of the ITT;
7) Click the 'Express Interest' button at the top of the page. This will move the PQQ/ITT into your 'My PQQs/My ITTs' page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only). You can now access any attachments by clicking 'Buyer Attachments' in the 'PQQ/ITT Details' box;
8) Review the ITT documents;
9) Responding to the ITT. Click 'My Response' under 'PQQ/ITT Details', you can choose to 'Create Response' or to 'Decline to Respond' (please give a reason if declining). You can now use the messages function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification. Note the deadline for completion, then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the ITT
There may be a mixture of online and offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available). You must then submit your reply using the 'Submit Response' button at the top of the page. If you require any further assistance please consult the online help, or contact the eTendering help desk.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Chester
Country
United Kingdom