Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Commercial Solutions
The Atrium. Curtis Road.
Dorking
RH4 1XA
Contact
Seun Ayandipo
Telephone
+44 130646816
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://commercialsolutions.bravosolution.co.uk/
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from 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
Autism diagnostic assessments for children (3 - 11 years) living in North and West Kent
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Prior Information Notice(PIN) is issued by Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust for Autism diagnostic assessments for children (3-11years) living in North and West Kent. Please note that this PIN does not represent a formal stage in the procurement process and will play no part in any subsequent evaluation process. The current contract will expire as at midnight on the 31st March 2023.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
Kent, United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provision of Autism Spectrum Disorder clinics including assessment and diagnosis for children and young people 3 years to 11 years in Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley and west Kent.
The provider will contribute to the bespoke face to face clinical MDTs for ASC assessment and diagnostics provided by KCHFT.
The provider will provide a suitably qualified and experienced team of clinical staff (the Team) comprising of the following as appropriate.
Either:
• A consultant community paediatrician; or
• A consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist
Plus
• A clinical psychologist; and/or
• A speech and language therapist; and/or
• An occupational therapist
The Team will be (as appropriate):
• registered with the relevant professional regulatory body, e.g. Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• clinically supervised by the provider, ensuring that all work falls within their Governance Framework.
The Team will undertake autism specific case history (using a standardised case history format) and a clinical observation assessment for autism reaching a conclusion regarding diagnosis and sharing this with the family at the time of assessment.
The autism diagnostic assessments will be undertaken utilising appropriate clinical assessment tools, e.g. Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and clinical judgement to support the differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The provider's clinical staff will supply and use their own Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) Kits for each clinical assessment undertaken as well as the relevant ADOS Module forms that are required as part of the assessment (the cost of these forms will be covered by the provider).
All autism assessments will be carried out by two or three clinicians one of whom will always be either a consultant community paediatrician or consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist. The others will be, either, a clinical psychologist, a speech and language therapist or an occupational therapist.
All assessments will follow the format detailed below:
• ADOS and developmental history carried out simultaneously
• Team confer and reach conclusion
• Conclusion offered to parents immediately with opportunity for feedback and questions
Full diagnostic reports with signposting to local services will be sent out six to eight weeks after the assessment.
Written reports completed by the provider following each assessment will be distributed directly to the child's family and relevant professionals. Copies will be sent electronically via secure email (nhs.net or similarly encrypted email) and within six to eight weeks of the assessment being undertaken, to the KCHFT Community Paediatric Service to be added to the clinical files.
The provider will ensure that the content of the reports are clinically appropriate to the assessment carried out and details the assessment findings and recommendations made by their staff during the assessment.
A full audit of the service will be provided at the end of the contract to include statistics on diagnosis rates, satisfaction scores and feedback from parents.
An identified provider staff member to be available five days per week as project manager for KCHFT staff to liaise with as required.
Where the individual exhibits behaviour which places them at risk of offending, then onward referral to the local forensic service for assessment may be required.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
30 September 2022
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The purpose of this notice is to alert interested parties to the intention of the Awarding Authority to publish a tender for the services identified.
Full tender information and documentation will be provided on the issue of the Invitation To Tender anticipated towards the end of September 2022.
The current contract will expire at midnight on the 31st March 2023.https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/022157-2022?
The contract to be awarded will commence 1st April 2023 for a proposed term of 3 years (exact contract terms will be available with tender documentation).
The successful Provider will be expected to:
Deliver provision of Autism Spectrum Disorder clinics including assessment and diagnosis for children and young people 3 years to 11 years in Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley and west Kent
Tender documentation will be made available on publication of the ITT. The process will be a single stage although an early submission of intent to bid will be sought.
The Invitation to Tender will be open to all suitably qualified providers.
This notice is voluntary and does not mean that the Awarding Authority accepts that the Regulations apply to this intended procurement to any greater extent simply by virtue of the publication of the notice or utilisation of a particular procurement process.
This notice is published for information only - it is not a call for competition.
Please note that this PIN does not represent a formal stage in the procurement process and will play no part in any subsequent evaluation process.
Expressions of Interest at this stage do not in any way constitute pre-qualification for this opportunity.
Suppliers wishing to express an interest for this opportunity need to:
1. Register your company on the eSourcing portal -
Browse to the eSourcing Portal: https://commercialsolutions.bravosolution.co.uk and
click the link to register. Bravo Project reference = Project_4944 and PQQ reference
= PQQ_1133 Titled: “Provision of Autism diagnostic assessments for children (3 - 11years) living in North and West Kent”. Accept the terms and conditions and click ‘continue’ -
Enter your correct business and user details - Note the username you chose and click 'Save' when complete - You will receive an email with your unique password (please keep secure)
2. Express an Interest - Login to the portal with the username/password - Click the PQQs/ITTs open to all suppliers' link.
- Click PQQ_1133 to access the content. - 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).