Contract

Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS)

  • NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board
  • NHS Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board
  • NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
  • NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Partnership

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-025660

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03be73

Published 31 August 2023, 3:53pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board

County Hall, Fishergate

Preston

PR1 8XJ

Email

mlcsu.tendersnorth@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKD4 - Lancashire

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.lancashireandsouthcumbria.icb.nhs.uk/

Buyer's address

https://www.lancashireandsouthcumbria.icb.nhs.uk/

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board

No 1 Lakeside, 920 Centre Park

Warrington

WA1 1QY

Email

mlcsu.tendersnorth@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKD6 - Cheshire

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/

Buyer's address

https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board

4th Floor, Piccadilly Place

Manchester

M1 3BN

Email

mlcsu.tendersnorth@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKD3 - Greater Manchester

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://gmintegratedcare.org.uk/

Buyer's address

https://gmintegratedcare.org.uk/

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Partnership

Goldcrest Way, Newburn Riverside

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE15 8NY

Email

mlcsu.tendersnorth@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKC2 - Northumberland and Tyne and Wear

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.nenc-northcumbria.icb.nhs.uk/

Buyer's address

https://www.nenc-northcumbria.icb.nhs.uk/

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract involves joint procurement

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

Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS)

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (CSU) are publishing this contract award notice on behalf of NHS Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), NHS Greater Manchester ICB, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB and NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB who have awarded contracts for the provision of Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) to cover Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria delivering:

- Planned Patient Transport - for routine outpatient appointments

- Unplanned Patient Transport - for discharges / short notice bookings, and

- Enhanced Priority Service Transport - for time critical transport for patients attending for haemodialysis or oncology treatments.

This contract award notice is for the direct award of contracts with the existing providers, 24 months from 1st April 2023 to the 31st March 2025. This is a modification to the VEAT notice reference 2023/S 000-010668 as the contract length now covers 2 years to 31st March 2025.

The current NEPTS contracts were originally procured by competitive tender. There was then a delay in the recommissioning of these services due to the COVID-19 pandemic however work is now underway to develop a North West strategic approach to patient transport being commissioned by the newly formed ICBs that will meet both local and national requirements. To allow the timescales to complete this work and re-procure the service an extension of 24 months is required with the existing providers.

A review of the North West specifications is required to ensure it meets the evolving needs of the ICBs. In addition the National Review of NEPTS produced its final report on patient eligibility criteria in May 2022. This has broadened the criteria under which patients are able to access NHS funded transport and has required additional work on the specifications. The National Review has produced, and continues to produce, additional guidance to be adopted which will impact the North West specifications.

The rationale for the 24-month extension with the existing provider is that it will maintain the continuity of service until such time as a new service can be commissioned that will meet local requirements and incorporate any new national requirements. The extension is only a temporary arrangement to allow the appropriate timescales to re-procure the service (which have previously been delayed due to the pandemic and therefore events that were unforeseeable to the commissioners).

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £94,132,286

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Non Emergency Patient Transport Services - Lancashire and South Cumbria

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKD - North West (England)
Main site or place of performance

Within the boundaries of the Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB - Lancashire and south Cumbria

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Extension of the existing contract for a further 24 months until 31 March 2025.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Non Emergency Patient Transport Services - North East & North Cumbria ICB

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKD1 - Cumbria
Main site or place of performance

Within the boundaries of the North Cumbria only

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Extension of the existing contract for a further 24 months until 31 March 2025.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Non Emergency Patient Transport Services - Cheshire and Merseyside ICB

Lot No

3

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKD7 - Merseyside
Main site or place of performance

For Merseyside only.

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Extension of the existing contract for a further 24 months until 31 March 2025.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Non Emergency Patient Transport Services - Greater Manchester ICB

Lot No

4

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKD3 - Greater Manchester
Main site or place of performance

Within the boundaries of the Greater Manchester ICB

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Extension of the existing contract for a further 24 months until 31 March 2025.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No


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 services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
    • absence of competition for technical reasons
  • New works/services, constituting a repetition of existing works/services

Explanation:

There was an initial delay in the recommissioning of these services due to the COVID-19 pandemic which was an event unforeseeable by the contracting authority. In addition the existing provider is considered to be the only provider that can offer a continuity of service to patients over the next 24 months, without creating a significant operational risk and disruption to service whilst allowing the timescales for the new service to be planned and implemented safely.

This contract is being awarded under Regulation 32 (2)(b)(ii).

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2023/S 000-010668


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

1

Lot No

1

Title

Non Emergency Patient Transport Services - Lancashire and South Cumbria

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

1 February 2023

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

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Bolton

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKD3 - Greater Manchester
NHS Organisation Data Service

RX7

Internet address

https://www.nwas.nhs.uk/

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: £32,737,212

Total value of the contract/lot: £32,737,212


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

1

Lot No

2

Title

Non Emergency Patient Transport Services - North Cumbria ICB

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

1 February 2023

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

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Bolton

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKD3 - Greater Manchester
NHS Organisation Data Service

RX7

Internet address

https://www.nwas.nhs.uk

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: £5,712,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £5,712,000


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

1

Lot No

3

Title

Non Emergency Patient Transport Services - Cheshire and Merseyside ICB

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

1 February 2023

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

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Bolton

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKD3 - Greater Manchester
NHS Organisation Data Service

RX7

Internet address

www.nwas.nhs.uk

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: £20,106,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £20,106,000


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

1

Lot No

4

Title

Non Emergency Patient Transport Service - Greater Manchester ICB

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

1 February 2023

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

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Bolton

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKD3 - Greater Manchester
NHS Organisation Data Service

RX7

Internet address

https://www.nwas.nhs.uk/

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: £35,577,074

Total value of the contract/lot: £35,577,074


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

This Contract Award Notice is published under the Public Contract Regulations 2015. It is for clinical services which are Light Touch Regime services for the purpose of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as specified in Schedule 3 of the Regulations ('Regulations'). Accordingly, the contracting authority is only bound by those parts of the Regulations detailed in Chapter 3 Particular Procurement Regimes Section 7. The contracting authority is not voluntarily following any other part of the Regulations.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

NHS Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Board

Preston

Email

lscicb.bl-nwambulancecommissioning@nhs.net

Telephone

+44 3003733550

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.lancashireandsouthcumbria.icb.nhs.uk/