Contract

Community Ophthalmology Service

  • NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-022179

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-047e55

Published 18 July 2024, 10:02am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board

Windsor

SL4

Email

scwcsu.cbprocurement@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.frimley.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

Reference number

PSCG0013

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85100000 - Health services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission Community Ophthalmology service covering the Frimley ICB geography - diagnosing and, where appropriate, treating specific ophthalmic conditions. It is intended to address conditions which do no require treatment in secondary care but does not include delivery of services which form part of the core GMS Primary Care Contract.

The service provision is for patients aged over 16, delivered in an outpatient setting; with expectation of appointments being made available within a maximum of 3 weeks from point of referral. Referrals are taken via a triage service (currently provided by Evolutio) from GPs and optometrists.

Referrals are passed by Evolutio to The Eye Academy. The service is aimed at conditions which do not require hospital services . Follow-ups are provided only where required, and there is typically a maximum of 1 follow-up for every first appointment/visit.

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: £1,008,912

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ - South East (England)

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission Community Ophthalmology service covering the Frimley ICB geography - diagnosing and, where appropriate, treating specific ophthalmic conditions. It is intended to address conditions which do no require treatment in secondary care but does not include delivery of services which form part of the core GMS Primary Care Contract.

The service provision is for patients aged over 16, delivered in an outpatient setting; with expectation of appointments being made available within a maximum of 3 weeks from point of referral. Referrals are taken via a triage service (currently provided by Evolutio) from GPs and optometrists.

Referrals are passed by Evolutio to The Eye Academy. The service is aimed at conditions which do not require hospital services . Follow-ups are provided only where required, and there is typically a maximum of 1 follow-up for every first appointment/visit.

The Commissioner is directly awarding a contract to the existing provider The Eye Academy (Richmond) Ltd in accordance with the criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The total value of the contract for the initial one-year contract term is £502,947.00. The full lifetime contract value (one year + optional one year extension) is £1,008,912. The one-year contract period will commence on the 1st August 2024.

This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard / Weighting: 100

Price - Weighting: 0

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

Option to extend by up to 1 year

two.2.14) Additional information

Evidence that The Eye Academy (Richmond) have satisfied the existing 23/24 contract to a sufficient standard according to the detail outlined in the contract: they provided all of the required documentation, information and policies for the existing contract. They have followed the contractual service specification, not deviated from Frimley ICB Safeguarding requirements, charged the correct local prices as per the contract, issued invoices correctly in accordance with the Frimley ICB process, complied with Quality reporting requirements, and followed Schedule 6A reporting requirements. They have complied with/not fallen foul of the 23/24 NHS Standard Contract (Shorter Form) Service Conditions, including Service Conditions in relation to the following: service standards, co-operation, information requirements, safeguarding, payment terms and quality requirements. They have also complied with/not fallen foul of the 23/24 Shorter Form General Conditions, including those relating to: liability & indemnity, assignment & sub-contracting, and Information Governance. The new contracting arrangements are based on a rollover of the previous contracting arrangements/schedules which the provider has already satisfied/complied with to a high standard, and so the provider will highly likely to be able to satisfy the new contract to a sufficient standard


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:

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 31st July 2024. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR

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

10 July 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

The Eye Academy (Richmond) Ltd

RyeHurst Barn, Ryehurst Lane, Binfield

Bracknell

RG42 5QZ

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ - South East (England)
Companies House

Companies House

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: £1,008,912

Total value of the contract/lot: £1,008,912


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 31st July 2024. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

The Commissioner made the decision of directly awarding the incumbent provider The Eye Academy (Richmond) in accordance with the following five criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

• Quality and innovation

• Value

• Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability

• Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice

• Social value

It has been advised that The Eye Academy (Richmond) has the evidenced ability to deliver the activity required to meet service requirements within the required region and that can deliver to the tight timescale. A direct award to The Eye Academy (Richmond) would be appropriate and present the best value for the Commissioner in this circumstance.

No declared conflicts or potential conflicts of interest were identified during the decision-making process.

Representations should be sent to scwcsu.cbprocurement@nhs.net

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

NHS Frimley ICB

Windsor

Country

United Kingdom