Tender

MR-guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (MRgLITT) for treatment of epileptogenic zones for adults with refractory focal epilepsy (Lot 1: North & Lot 2: South)

  • NHS England

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-023997

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03f036

Published 16 August 2023, 11:04am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS England

1st Floor, Quarry House, Quarry Hill

Leeds

LS2 7UE

Contact

Jessica Gaucher-Thompson

Email

jessica.gaucher-thompson@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.england.nhs.uk//

Buyer's address

https://www.england.nhs.uk//

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

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

https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

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

MR-guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (MRgLITT) for treatment of epileptogenic zones for adults with refractory focal epilepsy (Lot 1: North & Lot 2: South)

Reference number

C193142

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85100000 - Health services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU), on behalf of NHS England Specialised Commissioning (referred to as the Commissioner), is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers to respond to this invitation to tender for the provision of MR-guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (MRgLITT) for treatment of epileptogenic zones for adults with refractory focal epilepsy (Lot 1: North & Lot 2: South).

The service is due to commence on 1st June 2024. As a result of this procurement exercise an agreement will be established with the successful bidder(s) for a period of 5 years with the Commissioners having the option to extend for up to an additional 2 years (maximum contract duration 7 years).

The deadline for ITT submissions is 12.00pm (noon) on Friday 29th September 2023.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £2,130,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

Tenders may be submitted for all lots

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 1- North

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85100000 - Health services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKD - North West (England)
  • UKC - North East (England)
  • UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
  • UKF - East Midlands (England)
  • UKG - West Midlands (England)

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

MRgLITT, also known as ‘laser interstitial thermal therapy’ (LITT), is a minimally invasive treatment which can be used in focal refractory epilepsy. Stereotactic neurosurgical technique is used to guide a 3mm diameter fibreoptic laser to the target area of the brain. Under continuous MRI monitoring, laser energy is applied to the target area to destroy the part of the brain causing seizure activity. It is safer than open neurosurgery as there is less risk of collateral damage to other structures in the brain. Open surgery causes damage along the operative pathway to access the part to be removed, which is mitigated by this minimally invasive approach. 

Providers must be able to meet the requirements set out in this Invitation to Tender (ITT) and deliver these services in accordance with the Clinical Commissioning Policy.

Link to Clinical Commissioning Policy:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2006-Clinical-commissioning-policy-MR-guided-laser-interstitial-thermal-therapy-for-treatment-of-epileptogenic.pdf

Providers will be required to have an established epilepsy surgical programme currently that complies with the requirements as set out in the adult’s specification below: 

Link to adult neurosurgery service specification:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/neurosurgery-adults/ 

Providers wishing to be considered for the delivery of these services will need to respond to the provider selection documentation and submit responses prior to the deadline stated in this notice. The ITT documentation including a questionnaire is available through the Atamis (Health Family) portal: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome. The reference is C193142 and the closing date for completed ITT responses is 12:00pm (noon), on Friday 29th September 2023. To express interest and participate in the tender, please register and apply via Atamis esourcing portal https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome. Should Tenderers have any queries, or having problems using the portal, they should contact Helpdesk at: Phone: 0800 9956035 E-mail: support-health@atamis.co.uk

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: £1,046,100

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start date

1 June 2024

End date

31 May 2031

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) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 2 - South

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85100000 - Health services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKH - East of England
  • UKI - London
  • UKJ - South East (England)
  • UKK - South West (England)

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

MRgLITT, also known as ‘laser interstitial thermal therapy’ (LITT), is a minimally invasive treatment which can be used in focal refractory epilepsy. Stereotactic neurosurgical technique is used to guide a 3mm diameter fibreoptic laser to the target area of the brain. Under continuous MRI monitoring, laser energy is applied to the target area to destroy the part of the brain causing seizure activity. It is safer than open neurosurgery as there is less risk of collateral damage to other structures in the brain. Open surgery causes damage along the operative pathway to access the part to be removed, which is mitigated by this minimally invasive approach. 

Providers must be able to meet the requirements set out in this Invitation to Tender (ITT) and deliver these services in accordance with the Clinical Commissioning Policy.

Link to Clinical Commissioning Policy:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2006-Clinical-commissioning-policy-MR-guided-laser-interstitial-thermal-therapy-for-treatment-of-epileptogenic.pdf

Providers will be required to have an established epilepsy surgical programme currently that complies with the requirements as set out in the adult’s specification below: 

Link to adult neurosurgery service specification:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/neurosurgery-adults/ 

Providers wishing to be considered for the delivery of these services will need to respond to the provider selection documentation and submit responses prior to the deadline stated in this notice. The ITT documentation including a questionnaire is available through the Atamis (Health Family) portal: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome. The reference is C193142 and the closing date for completed ITT responses is 12:00pm (noon), on Friday 29th September 2023. To express interest and participate in the tender, please register and apply via Atamis esourcing portal https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome. Should Tenderers have any queries, or having problems using the portal, they should contact Helpdesk at: Phone: 0800 9956035 E-mail: support-health@atamis.co.uk

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: £1,083,900

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start date

1 June 2024

End date

31 May 2031

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


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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

29 September 2023

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

Tender must be valid until: 1 June 2024

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

29 September 2023

Local time

12:00pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

NHS Arden and GEM CSU

Francis Crick House

Northampton

NN3 6BJ

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/