Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Business Services Authority
Stella House, Goldcrest Way, Newburn Riverside
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE15 8NY
Contact
Laura Heal
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC22 - Tyneside
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
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
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
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
Nursery Milk Reimbursement Unit (NMRU)
Reference number
C43089
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Buyer requires a supplier to provide a service to facilitate the provision of a registration, validation and reimbursement service to Childcare Settings who provide milk to children in their care and wish to claim payment for this milk under the Welfare Food Regulations 1996. This service is provided by the Buyer, on behalf of the Buyer’s Sponsor, the Department of Health and Social Care in England and on behalf of the Welsh Government. The Buyer is seeking to maintain the effectiveness of the existing service with minimal disruption to current users, with a focus on the prevention and detection of fraud within the system and to ensure compliance by Childcare Settings, Milk Agents and Local Authorities within the rules of the Scheme.Suppliers not already registered on the NHSBSA e-sourcing portal must go to https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome and click Register then follow the instructions. Once registered Suppliers will be able to view and access the full ITT documentation
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1,600,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85100000 - Health services
- 48217000 - Transaction-processing software package
- 48812000 - Financial information systems
- 72253000 - Helpdesk and support services
- 79512000 - Call centre
- 72314000 - Data collection and collation services
- 79420000 - Management-related services
- 98300000 - Miscellaneous services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The broad scope of the contract includes the provision of a registration, validation and reimbursement service to Childcare Settings who provide milk to children in their care and wish to claim payment for this milk under the Welfare Food Regulations 1996. The Nursery Milk Scheme (NMS) is a statutory, universal, scheme aimed at children under five who attend an eligible day-care institution for at least two hours a day. Eligible day-care institutions include childminders, nurseries run by the voluntary sector, the private sector and Local Authorities, and reception classes in schools. Eligible institutions are referred to as ‘Childcare Settings’ under the NMS. Children receive 189ml (1/3 pint) of milk each day. Registered Childcare Settings can claim back the cost of providing milk to eligible children via the Nursey Milk Reimbursement Unit (NMRU), through the Welfare Food Scheme Regulations 1996, either themselves directly or via the use of a ‘Milk Agent’.Around 45,000 settings are currently registered with the NMS and approximately 268m portions of milk worth in the region of £50m are reimbursed annually via the NMRU, through around 450,000 claims per year. The current service operates in England and Wales only; separate arrangements are in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland. This procurement also includes the requirement for the delivery of a robust fraud prevention and detection strategy, to reduce the instances of fraud, abuse and error and any associated overpayments within the Scheme, as well as the provision of a contact centre to manage queries from Childcare Settings, Milk Agents and Local Authorities. The Scheme is supported by a website and an online claiming portal and system, and suppliers can elect to use the existing system or to develop their own to meet the Buyer’s requirements. It is anticipated that the Buyer will award the Contract by January 2022 with the contract Start Date being 01st August 2022. The Contract Term is an initial period of 3 years which excludes transition and implementation up to 31st July 2022 with the option to extend for a further 12 months up to 31st July 2026; such option to be exercised at the discretion of the Buyer. Suppliers who are not already registered on the NHSBSA e-sourcing portal must go to https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome and click Register then follow the instructions. Once registered Suppliers will be able to view and access the full invitation to tender documentation using reference C43089
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: £1,600,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 August 2022
End date
31 July 2026
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
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
two.2.14) Additional information
Pre Tender Market Engagement was conducted for this service - Find a Tender Service Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006028-2021?origin=SearchResults&p=1The Pre-Tender Market Engagement report can be downloaded from the document pack which supports this ITT, available on the NHSBSA e-sourcing portal.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
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 000-006028
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
11 October 2021
Local time
12:00pm
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: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
11 October 2021
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Business Services Authority
Stella House, Goldcrest Way
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE15 8NY
nhsbsa.commercialservicesteam@nhs.net
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
NHS Business Services Authority
Stella House, Goldcrest Way, Newburn Riverside
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE15 8NY
Country
United Kingdom